A Happy Birthday

Peggy, George, and Cathy have combined to make yesterday my happiest 70th birthday ever. Peggy didn't get her warmth and her sensitivity from me, especially regarding birthdays. I forget as many as I remember, and I never held actual birthday parties for the kids involving guests outside of the family. She's blossomed on her own. Thanks, Peggy, for all the birthday treats: the "birthday girl" badge (which--typically--I refused to pin on), the little happy birthday confetti things sprinkling the plate of delicious pastries, the swell presents: the beautiful sweater, the cool perfume (from George and Henry), Thank you, Peggy, for flying over from Scotland and helping to make my 70th birthday one of the best I've ever had. Thanks to George, too, for coming along. What a treat it was to have this bright, sensitive, happy 13-year-old here. Thanks, also, George, for reminding us that fish, chickens, cows, pigs, and sheep (escargots, too) are our FRIENDS and not just something to eat.

Thanks to Cathy for the best 200 euro birthday lunch ever at A La Pomponette, and for sharing the mundane costs of this trip--the tickets from USA, the rental on this apartment for six days--without which it all would not have happened. And thanks for your wonderful friendship and love that light up my days at the salt mine and beyond.

Thanks to all for being your fabulous selves and for being in my life. What a blessing!