• previous post
• next post

Cause for Celebration

• September 18th, 2006

The evening started with my friend Marc calling me and asking if I was going to attend the birthday party for “Hollywood”, a person my organization supports. He said he was going and that everyone that went to Faire Grounds, a local coffee shop in my neighborhood had been invited. So I went.

There was a crowd of about 40 folks when I arrived, all there to celebrate the indomitable spirit of this woman who was turning 50. The place was packed and the presents were stacked all the way to the ceiling. In attendance was a Buddhist monk wearing brightly colored orange robes, bringing back memories of my recent visit to Thailand. Clean cut Navy guys, gray haired ladies with canes, a bevy of beautiful women and other assorted individuals lined the entire shop, with people still arriving by the minute, presents in hand.

I’ve known the person they were coming to celebrate for over 20 years; she is kind, enthusiastic, a NASCAR supporter and an artist. She makes community for herself without fancy maps, paths or person centered tools by just being who she is; a person that loves people and believes birthdays should be celebrated.

As I was observing the festivities, and reflecting on the fact that I was the only person there from the organization that supports her, I was remembering my last birthday, which of course was nothing like this. I suppose I have fallen in to the habit of relying on those who care and love me to make my celebrations. Maybe that’s not the best approach, though a polite one.