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I had a fabulous day yesterday. The Bliss Chicks (my art group made up of 5 wonderful, inspirational women), took me for lunch at the Sushi Bar 5517 in Sechelt. I love it there. We then came back to the studio where they gave me a huge gorgeous basket of gourmet Italian goodies, beautiful hand made birthday cards and presented me with a yummy almond cake/torte, which we all shared in. What a great group of 'chicks', don't you think? We spent the rest of the afternoon making a greeting card using the easel card technique which I had done with sister, Deb, earlier in the year. Way cool. I had a great day which was capped off with dinner out with my husband (see below).
Owen took me out to the Painted Boat for my birthday dinner last night. It was fabulous. I should have had my camera. Many of my family, friends, and students have heard me say that "presentation is everything" and in this case, the presentation was not only elegant but the whole meal proved to be right up there in the 'best ever' category. We chose to have our meal with wine paring. Yep, me too! In total the wine paring only amounted to a large glass of wine but gave us a nice 'taste test' variety. But the menu... I started my meal with Rare Albacore Tuna, Warm Prosciutto, Cucumber & Ginger Water, Soya Couscous; moved on to a main course of Roasted Queen Charlotte Halibut, Root Vegetable Fricassee, Shitake Mushrooms, Dashi Broth and completed the meal with Almond Chili Chocolate Torte, Meringue. Delicious! It was a lovely evening and Owen and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend the Painted Boat Restaurant for a complete dining experience on the Sunshine Coast. It has a fabulous view and is fine dining in a casual atmosphere at it's best. hmmm, was this a post about my evening out for my birthday or was it a testimonial for the Painted Boat Restaurant???
I have oftened pondered the idea of birthdays. The celebration of the day you were born. The year we 'add on' to each anniversary. Once I thought turning 13 was a milestone, then 16 (legal driving age), then 18, then 21, then 30, 40, 50, 55, and 60. "Why 13 (thirteen)?" The beginning teen years; the year one becomes independent and grown up. A young lady. That was my wish. Whether I accomplished those things at such an early age is unclear. 18 and 21; in one State, 18 was a legal drinking age and in another it was 21. In Canada, I think it went from 21 years old to 19 years old. Either way, one of my claims, was ignoring the legal drinking age! But voting; now that was another story. 21 has always been very important to me. I was 21 in 1970. I was in Canada, no longer living in the United States; unable to vote there and unable to vote here; it meant getting my Canadian Citizenship to be able to have a say in how my government would make decisions (what did I know?). It took me a few years, but I gained my citizenship in 1976. I now exercise my right to vote when the opportunity presents itself; keep in mind our Federal election is only 17 days away - I need to do some serious homework before then. Right now, in Canada, and I imagine throughout the world, many eyes are focusing on the upcoming Royal Wedding, only a mere 14 days away. But I digress... 30 passed me by, then 40. Wow 40. I had no idea it would be such a tremulous year for me, until I reflect back.. At 40, I felt I'd turn some corners, made some important life altering decisions and began to fully appreciate where I'd been and where I was going. 50 was just another year with a new decade in front of me ("Why 55?", you ask - the year of my retirement!) and 60 was just another year, BUT oops - I had major health problems the year I turned 60. I just realized that age 60 went hand and hand with my pancreatic attack. Yikes. A near death experience, months in the hospital, and finally, major surgery. My niece just wrote about the number '3' and things that are in 3's. Since that turning point - age 60 onward - I have had 3 major changes in my life. Health issues (resolved), Jeremy's death and Mom's passing on. Life altering events. On days, like today, when the sun shines, the moon is full and bright, and I open my heart; I breath deep and realize how fortunate I am. I am truly, truly grateful for all that I have had and all that I have. These 60 years plus 2 are good and 62 is just another number. I have a loving family, wonderful friends, a supportive husband, and I am blessed. 62. Yahoo! Happy birthday to me.
