24 Comments
Aug 30, 2022Liked by Elizabeth Aquino

Happy belated birthday dear Elizabeth. I hope your next year is well happy and peaceful.

Expand full comment
Aug 30, 2022Liked by Elizabeth Aquino

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth. I'm glad you were able to celebrate in style.

Expand full comment
Aug 29, 2022Liked by Elizabeth Aquino

Thank you for sharing your wonderful 59th birthday. You are loved and loving!

What a relief that Sophie is recovering from her bout with COVID and that you have remained healthy.

Expand full comment
Aug 29, 2022Liked by Elizabeth Aquino

I've been out of the loop re Sophie and Covid. Strange about the lack of seizures. And amazing that you didn't get it. It is indeed very strange to experience your first birthday without your mother. My mind spun and spun. You sure ate great food on the day - breakfast and dinner! Drool. I have to say I loathe loud restaurants, and loathe even more that they PLAN it that way. Seriously. The idea being that if people walk by or in and it's loud, they figure it's a popular place. Grrrr.

Expand full comment
Aug 29, 2022Liked by Elizabeth Aquino

Oh my word, that meal sounds orgasmic! I'm so glad you had a good birthday, and that you evaded the virus, too. May you continue to be feted by your beautiful beloveds, you deserve it so.

Expand full comment
Aug 29, 2022Liked by Elizabeth Aquino

So much to say. Happy Birthday is the 1st thing. And really in my not so humble opinion, the 60's have a lot going for them if you discount anything to do with bodies falling apart. My own mother died at 62, I'm 66 (until later this year when I jump another notch) and some of the best times are being had. I just don't give a shit what other people think of me. I miss my mother. I have a daughter just about to graduate college in a year. (Old mother here.) And again, if you discount the body aches and now greying hair (pandemic cured me of any need for dying it), then the 60's are amazing. Of course, there is that other "dying" thing which does seem much closer and I'm losing friends already to the big C and even alzheimer's---and who knows what the long term neurological effects of this VIRUS will be on the already compromised brains of so many of our social media-ized generations. Nonetheless, I am so sorry for Sophie's continued decline and I am glad you have friends and family around, alive, and aching to share amazing meals with you. Love to you.

Expand full comment
Aug 29, 2022Liked by Elizabeth Aquino

Sounds like pretty near the absolutely perfect birthday. Looks like it too.

I'm so glad you didn't get covid for all of the obvious reasons but also for the fact that you were well and able to enjoy your day with such gusto! You absolutely needed and deserved that. It's been a very hard year.

Expand full comment
Aug 29, 2022Liked by Elizabeth Aquino

Needing to scream to be heard by your tablemate is not you, it’s the restaurant. Big open industrial spaces are increasingly popular and noise mitigating with table cloths, wall tapestries, drapes, plants are mostly out of fashion. There’s also the idea that loud music sets up a vibe encouraging folks to drink more and faster and faster table turnover. This is a summary of my looking into this because it drives me crazy. I used to be an afternoon tea person. But one of my favorite places, a high-end hotel in DC, starting bringing in a pianist who played music so loud my friends and I couldn’t hear each other in the very small room. I was a regular and finally was told that the management belief was that noise encouraged people in the halls and entryways to come there for happy hour in the same space after tea time was over. Sigh.

Expand full comment
Aug 29, 2022Liked by Elizabeth Aquino

Sophie is well and getting better. You're another year older. Good food, good friends. What more could you ask for?

I'm glad you had a good birthday. Sending hugs and love.

Expand full comment
Aug 29, 2022Liked by Elizabeth Aquino

Happiest birthday, Elizabeth! The descriptions of your birthday meals are delectable, I’m ready to jump through my screen and taste test everything and I need butterscotch budino in my life. My best to you and sweet Sophie.

Expand full comment

Happy, happy birthday dear Elizabeth! So very glad that your birthday was filled with great people, wonderful food, presents, and general merriment. May you have much more of that in the year ahead. More “little mother mind” celebrations as well!

Expand full comment

Happiest of birthday, Elizabeth. I leap ahead of you by a decade, but connect across the seas. And a shared first name despite the different middle letter.

Expand full comment