Playing with a full deck

My last two birthdays have been quite extravagant events. The 50th was celebrated in downtown San Francisco, (the place of my birth) ensconced in a beautiful suite off Union Square in the Hotel Savoy, surrounded by friends and family who made the journey to join me, and washed down with multiple bottles of Veuve Cliquot. Last year, I turned 51 in Torino, and together with Italian cousins, enjoyed a lovely home-cooked gourmet dinner in a trendy apartment with a full-on view of the Olympic flame. This year, I sat on my sofa, drinking Cabernet, eating Von’s California rolls and watching Sex and the City reruns. (At least they were the ones with Barishnikov.)

Well, it wasn’t quite as bleak as all that. I have a penchant for stretching birthdays into weeklong events, and this year was no exception.

It began at the Montbleu Resort and Casino at South Shore, where I spent Saturday evening enjoying a fabulous concert by Shawn Colvin. I sat about twenty feet from the stage, and was inspired by her evocative singing and awesome guitar work. The next day I lucked into the sale- of-sales at Carson City’s Old Navy and dropped my $80 Christmas gift certificate on 3 pairs of pants, a stretch velour track suit, a jean jacket and two tops (okay, I had to fork in an extra $9). I popped into Maytan Music next door to pick up guitar strings and an instructional book (Shawn motivated me) and then visited the Nevada History Museum before stopping in at Red’s Old Highway 395 for a pulled pork sandwich and a microbrew.

I tried to set up a massage for my b-day (using another gift certificate) but no room at the spa. My office mates were oblivious to the special day, but after a well timed phone message from my friend Nancy in Sandpoint, gift and card appeared along with lunch at Robertos. The evening of my actual birthday was spent in the aforementioned manner, enhanced by numerous calls from family and friends. I had a belated herbal hotpack massage the following day and it was a sweet indulgence.

Last night, T-Mark and I enjoyed out ritual birthday fine dining event, this year at Alpenrose, sharing marinated black cod and ginger chicken, a split of champagne and goat cheese ice cream for dessert (sounds disgusting but it’s really divine).

And now, I’m just a year older – and beginning to feel the effects of looming senior citizenry. The outlook a little less optimistic, the hopes and dreams more muted. But I can still manage to have a heck of good time, and maybe this will be the year I finally get good at guitar.