Ushering in the Next 50

“Some may try and tell us that this is the end of an era. But what they overlook is that in America, every day is a new beginning, and every sunset is merely the latest milestone on a voyage that never ends. For this is the land that has never become, but is always in the act of becoming. Emerson was right: America is the land of tomorrow.

– Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the U.S.

Buenos Aires – The party was a success. Lots of guests, more than I knew, or imagined were coming. A few who couldn’t make it at last minute. Fun gifts. Wine, champagne, pizzas (my “Chicago style”, of course), empanadas (spicy bbq, squash & green onion), chips and dip, the ubiquitous crudité (which people actually finished off, who knew?), and ceviche. Quite the combo, no? I leave the rest in the hands of captioned photos – a picture being worth, and all that…

50th Birthday party - Amy & Adam
Amy (in from Boston) and Adam (in from San Jose)

50th Birthday party - Me, Kevin
Me chatting away, Kevin (local restaurant owner) looking on

50th Birthday party - Henry's family
Henry’s niece Jheny, sister Silvia, niece Viviana, who wouldn’t leave the kitchen to mingle until I threatened to send them back to La Plata for the night…

50th Birthday party
On the outsides, Adriana and Eduardo (in from Uruguay), Elizabeth (now 7 months pregnant), and Juan (both local)

50th Birthday party
Diego, Nestor, and Martha, all local

50th Birthday party - Henry and the boys
Henry with friends Lucho, Jorge, and Damian, all in from La Plata

50th Birthday party
Kevin, Mike, Bettye, Allan, Martha and Barbara – all local friends

50th Birthday party
Wow… Adam (San Jose), Brian (Seattle), Bob (Brooklyn), James (Prague), Lucho and Jorge (La Plata), Hernan (local)

50th Birthday party - Henry with the cake
Henry entering, singing, with my birthday cake (spiced chocolate, chocolate ganache frosting, toasted coconut, lots of candles, though thankfully, not 50 of them)

50th Birthday party - cake time
Ready to blow out the candles, whenever they finish singing…

50th Birthday party - cakes
The cake, plus a chocolate strawberry cheesecake and a vanilla orange cheesecake – all reduced to crumbs within five minutes

50th Birthday party - champagne time
I’ve been saving this three liter bottle of sparkling just for this occasion! Lots of trouble getting the cork out – took five of us taking turns!

50th Birthday party - champagne time
And, in case you were wondering, it’s a bottle of 1998 Iron Horse Vineyards “Good Luck Cuvee” – thanks go out to friend and winery owner Joy Sterling, who gave it to me years ago, though didn’t know I’d save it for this event.

50th Birthday party - presents
Opening presents…

50th Birthday party - presents…there were lots of them!

In bed by 1:30, a good night’s sleep, and… on with the next 50!

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4 thoughts on “Ushering in the Next 50

  1. Happy Birthday, and like my Granny used to sing: Apio verde to yuuuuu!!!

    What better place to spend it than with your family and friends. Wish I could have been there to toast you on!

    Andrea
    Chapel Hill, NC
    (was Seattle)

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