Happy Birthday to Me, Parts 4 & 5

The Main Event. My friend Joanna really came through on my actual birthday, and I am so grateful. I admit that my birthday has been a day that leaves me emotional since I lost Henry and John. For decades they – like my mom and my oldest friend – were the ones who fussed over me the most. When you share a birthday with a national holiday, like me with Thanksgiving, friends tend to say things like, "Let's do something after the holiday." As an adult, it's hard not to sound petulant when you insist, "NO! I want to tear paper off a giftie on my special day!" Yet it's true. On the actual day, I want to feel special and celebrated. If I don't have that, I'm afraid I feel bad and lonely.

Enter Joanna. She started planning my birthday in October, when she got back from her month-long holiday in London. I know she has had severe financial/business woes, so when she first brought up the topic, I suggested inexpensive options. "No," she insisted, "that's not good enough for your birthday." And she kept reiterating – Saturday, November 22. She said she wanted to celebrate me on my birthday (so important). 

It began at the Cultural Center. If you ever visit Chicago, be sure to swing by. It used to be the Chicago Public Library and it is impressive, with a shiny spiral staircase and a Tiffany glass dome. There are always free art exhibits and, since it's right across the street from Millennium Park, lots of good places to eat.

So I was excited started my special day with a one-performance-only play – Siskel & Ebert at 50. The two Chicago movie critics who became national figures and shaped film-going for 25 years got their start here on our PBS station in 1975. Before the play, a live band played their original theme, Billy Joel's "Root Beer Rag," and afterward, both of their widows told stories. Since Joanna and I are both film lovers and met at through out movie group, this was perfect (and free!).

Original artwork created for this performance

 

Then we went to The Walnut Room for a late lunch/early dinner. Can't put too fine a point on what a big deal this is as Christmastime here. We had their famous chicken pot pie for lunch and then split a slice of Frango Mint pie for dessert. (Where better to enjoy Frango Mints than where they were introduced?) Here's a shot of the beautiful Walnut Room tree, this year a salute to Marshall Field's. Joanna and I posed in front of it as a waiter patiently took our photo (we were probably the 2000th customers he did this for).

 

While I enjoyed our meal, I felt a little bad about it because I know Joanna is cash strapped. But this was her choice. She was very proud that she managed to get us a table. I appreciate that she wanted to make my day special. She also gave me a Beanie Baby – a white angel bear. It's a collector's item. She wants me to have it. That's the important thing.

The Final Act. Last week I was surprised to get a text from my former co-worker. I haven't heard from her in forever! She said she and her husband wanted to come out to my neck of the woods to celebrate my birthday. I was so touched that she remembered. So yesterday, the day after my special day with Joanna, we had a lovely lunch at Cooper's Hawk, a restaurant we all like (even though only her husband had wine).

 

My birthday these days isn't the same as it was a decade ago. I miss my mother fussing over me, I miss John wanting to party down, I miss my oldest friend wanting to take me to lunch and then start our Christmas shopping, I miss Henry telling me how I must I would always mean to him.

But it's not without joys. I savor them.