Happy Birthday to Me!

It happens every year about this time -- the date creeps up and suddenly it's my birthday. Today was the official day, so a birthday celebration with girlfriends at a local French restaurant, hosted by the dearest of friends, was in order. The final party of the year, this one lasted three hours as we laughed, shared secrets and touted the best anti-aging secrets around. Celebrations are an important part of our lives -- and big birthdays, such as this one, require parties that last six days. Mine did.

On Saturday the family met at the race track where we placed our bets, ate, laughed and in most cases, won. The cake was delicious, the Happy Birthday song was perfectly sung, the company exquisite, and the present, extravagant. After several hours of chatting and trying to figure out which Thoroughbred was to be the winner in each of the eleven races, pictures were taken and it was time for good-byes.

Sunday was yet another celebration at a local country club, thanks to a dear couple. Dinner and ice cream sundaes, complete with the Happy Birthday song with a candle, and shared stories of birthdays past, providing another wonderful birthday party memory. And today, June 2, the day, the birthday, was a girls only party -- perfect -- with crepes, French pastries, and Pellegrino. A swim in Val's heated pool made the day even more relaxing. The best part of a birthday celebration is said to be the gifts, yet the cards say a lot about the giver and help create memories, and the friends and family in attendance are what make the entire event unforgettable.

Since birthdays come only once a year, they are celebrated for a long time in this Chicagoland family. For the past six days my birthday has been celebrated in style, starting with a two night stay at the Chicago Four Season's Hotel, and three parties with people I love. What more could the birthday girl ask for? Happy Birthday to me.