"They come to see the fire burning in your heart. They want to witness, this love..." - Sade
Last Sunday was my mother's 89th birthday! We're in the midst of planning a trip to Paris for her 90th, and mom was expecting our usual trip to our favorite French restaurant for this birthday. She never suspected I was planning a surprise party instead. Little did I know, while planning, plotting and scheming, that Celebrating Dorothy would be my next Postcard to Paris.
Do you have any idea how difficult it is to plan a surprise birthday party, in your home, for someone who lives with you? I invited 20 of mom's closest lady-friends and had to be creative about it. No traditional posted invitations, I couldn't ask mom for addresses. So I texted one of her closest girlfriends, she created a text group message, for all the invitees, leading with this adorable bright pink invite.
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"[Paris in Springtime] exudes a special atmosphere of elegance, freshness, joie de vivre." - Miruna, Travel Away
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Ma mere's birthday is two days before the calendar start of Spring + Paris is her favorite place on Earth (this apple doesn't fall far ;-} Thus, the theme for mom's 89th was fait accompli: Springtime in Paris, with more than a bit of Sistah-Spice...
In my foyer, a vase of white roses stood guard over iridescent bejeweled picture frame-keepsakes, with each guest's name.
The Green Room:
Yellow Daffodils, blue and green Hydrangeas, white and pale pink Hyacinth.
The White Room (my photography-studio):
My second guest keepsake: a group photograph. Rory patiently stood while I arranged the lighting.
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Temple Tip: Ask for help!
"Oh, baby I get by with a little help from my friends." The Beatles
The Plan: while the grandchildren were at church with mom, I would arrange the decor (tables, champagne, glasses, napkins, plates, silverware, etc) and prepare the appetizer table and luncheon buffet - all within a two hour window. The Reality: given that timeframe, there was no way I could cook for 25+ people and set up the house - so I asked a few of mom's friends to bring a French cuisine inspired dish and asked two of my Lady-friends (Ellen and Sylvia) to come over, as soon as mom and the kids left, to help set up (they also brought several amazing and delicious pre-prepared dishes); and served drinks, cocktails, food and did cleanup, alongside Mr. G and me. Dorothy's birthday party was truly the result of a loving group effort. The Takeaway: never, ever be reluctant to ask for a little help from your friends.
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The stage was set, the guests arrived on time, all that remained was:
!Surprise!
time to party
Essential Sustenance: a perfectly chilled case of bubbly- Flor Prosecco Rose Brut NV
Red Roses in a vintage Tiffany ice bucket (a wedding gift to my parents, forty years ago),
vintage French lace and silver, large and small votives made from chandelier crystals (an Ellen contribution)
accompany Texas flea market glass dishes (one of mom's engagement gifts to Mr. G and me, twenty-one years ago).
Menu: a Paris inspired buffet Plat du Fromage et Fruits, Charcuterie, Salad Nicosie, Smoked Salmon Platter,
Cream Cheddar Saffron Asparagus Soup; Shrimp Pasta with Sugar Snap Peas; Poulet Cuit
Birthday cake, bien sur. Eighty-Nine candles plus one for luck!
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"Like diamonds, like my love, they want to know it's true there's someone in the world, lovely as you." - Sade
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What to do after a decadent luncheon, free flowing bubbly, gifts, a birthday cake and song? Dancing of course!
Oh how we danced!
My beloved mother is the jewel of our family. She equally co-parents our three, has an incredibly close, loving relationship unique to/with each of them. She is a true friend to Mr. G. She is my heart, reminds me who and what I am in my moments of weakness and strength, augments my feminine power with her mighty own. Her wisdom, sassiness and grace are constant blessings to us all. But it wasn't until this day that I realized that she has touched, positively effected and is greatly loved outside of our family circle as well. Throughout the festivities, at some point, each one of the ladies stood and testified to how la Dorothy personally touched their lives, gave them advice, listened to their problems and/or simply gave one of her sweet but firm hugs of love that make everything right and remind you how wonderful and special you are. Dorothy is not just the jewel of our family, she's a jewel.
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"This love is far and wide. When you smile the stars align. Flower of the Universe." - Sade
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My mother was born ten years after women got the right to vote in this country (1929); was raised by her grandmother - the last enslaved person in our family. She was sixteen years old the day WWII ended (1945); twenty-six years old the day Ms. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on that bus in Montgomery, Alabama (1955); thirty-five years old when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law; thirty-eight years old when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated (1968); forty years old the day the U.S. landed on the Moon (1969, my sister was one, I was one day old); seventy-two years old on 9/11 (2001); seventy-nine years old the day Barack Obama was elected U.S. President (2008). After nearly nine decades on this Earth, after witnessing and living through some of our brightest and darkest days, she still believes in righteous justice, that hard work makes the humble man and woman mighty, loving simple things keeps the world spinning on its Axis, nothing beats a no but an ask, a strong unified family can get you through anything, and there's nothing a perfectly chilled glass of champagne can't help fix. Dorothy is a living testament to all that's right, bright and beautiful in this world. At Eighty-Nine years young, la Dorothy is a Flower of the Universe.
!Happy Birthday Mommy!
Vivre! Aimer! Rire!
Temple
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