It has become a ritual, celebrating our birthdays by “doing lunch”. Today Sheila is the birthday girl and we have gathered at Pumpkins Pastimes to celebrate her day. What a lovely spot.. a little tea house with a large antique shop right next door, enabling us to take part in our favourite pastimes, shopping and dining. First, a little shopping. I bought the cutest little silver bell “thing-a -ma-jig”. I have no idea where or why I will use it, but I quite like it. I also purchased two lovely tea cups with flat bottoms. We girls.. we sure can shop. Then into the tea house for lunch.
I don’t remember how this part of the ritual came about, but we always adorn special head-wear for the occasion. Often these hats are rather unconventional. Today they consisted of crowns obtained from the dollar store. Picture this if you can.. four mature women eating in a public restaurant wearing outlandish hats. It always makes us laugh and usually causes a bit of a stir with fellow patrons and staff. The hats do not stay on for very long.. but obtaining a photo is always a must.
We are old and comfortable friends, having known each other since our high school days. I feel so very fortunate to have been able to share so much of my history with these women. We have seen and shared it all.. school, marriages, children, careers, and now grandchildren. The afternoon sped by as we ate and, once more, caught up on our daily lives.
The next birthday in our small group does not happen until December. This is far to long a wait to get together.. so we are planning a luncheon for the end of October. On the way to the car I thought I heard someone say, “So if it is not a birthday celebration.. does that mean we can forget about the hats?”
Ah, how good it feels, the hand of an old friend.
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
