This past Saturday evening we attended a birthday party for our friend Dawn. This event is surely the highlight of the annual social calendar for our small group of friends and acquaintances. Over the years Dawn has managed to cultivate a number of interesting, smart, funny, and attractive people in her cadre of pals (thankfully, none of them can boast all those attributes; nobody likes a showoff), and her gatherings always involve lots of pithy talk, good food, and cheap booze.
Dawn and her husband Jim — with the assistance of their friend Camino — put together a mouthwatering paella for dinner. There was also a delicious green salad and a lemon sorbet that Jim whipped up. Simple and fun. Jim had purchased a 12 pack of Miller High Life for those in the mood for a beer (there was also Newcastle), and the small kitchen table absolutely bristled with bottles of red wine. The corner of the table was dominated by a big stewpot full of sangria. Champagne was served with the cake and sorbet, and Jim was just firing up a batch of chocolate martinis when Leah and I had to say goodnight.
Now it’s another whole year before Dawn has another birthday. The minutes will pass like hours. Happy Birthday, Dawnie B!