WALKING MY WAYS
WALKING MY WAYS. When I was nine, we played Kick the Can. Cops and Robbers. Hide and Seek. Nowadays, of course, things have changed. Even more so, with birthday parties. Last week, I was invited to a 9 year old’s birthday. Something very unusual for me, who may attend a 70th or a 90th. But a 9th? I felt honored. But even before I went, I was intrigued by the EVITE invitation. To see how many people I would know.
And not surprisingly, I knew very few. But what also amazed me, is how many people didn’t respond. Which was rude and unacceptable. In my opinion. How can the hosts know how much food to order? They can’t. When I was 90, I had a party. And spelled out what RSVP meant. And even wrote reminders. But still, there were those who never answered. Which I didn’t understand. Then or now.
And, of course, the actual taste was in the pudding. Or in this case, the cake. Meaning, how was the party? Which was wonderful. First of all, almost everyone came. With or without responding. Secondly, the hosts had assumed this, and provided enough vitals for all. And third, everyone had a good time. Many children. Many adults. And even some dogs. All well behaved. With a wide array of ages. Including sisters and brothers. Who often were under nine. Which added vitality.
And they had two giant “bounce houses.” And an excellent face painter. And a host of different pizzas. Spicy. Vegan. Pepperoni. You name it, they had it. Plus sun. As it was in Carmel Valley. Until the wind came up. And then it got cold. I asked one of the younger girls, what she liked most, about her face painting. “Because it is so pretty and glitters,” she immediately responded. And in this way, I eventually made it home. Without the glitter but with a full stomach. And the realization that nine year old birthday parties were really very appealing. Especially for me. Finis.
It was amazing to see Hans bouncing around in both of the bounce-houses - he was so agile, and holding a pizza in each hand .... amazing! Lorraine and I were at Hans' 90th and we responded in advance - just like we are now responding to his anticipated 100th - G-d willing! What a fabulous young man!! Much love, as always, Hugo
Hans, it sounds like you were invited to a 9th birthday party given by very thoughtful parents. You and I are so OLD, my dear, and the expectations that were firmly in place during our early lives are as mysterious now as why women cut up their faces to look more “beautiful.” First, the mix of ages makes a party more fun for everyone. Coming from a big family of Italians—lots of cousins—I could always depend on a crowd. And I learned as a youngster that grown-ups give the best presents! When there are parties today, so I have heard, the parents sometimes say ON the invitation that siblings are not included.
In the 1950’s when I was at Marymount Junior School in Brentwood, all your siblings were included in an invitation to a birthday party. Once, a family with one little girl—wanting to make her day very special—asked all her classmates and their siblings. We were picked up in stretch limousines from our homes and driven first to the Hotel Bel Air where an elaborate lunch was laid out in one of the largest party rooms at this iconic spot. We ate, we ran around and teased the swans. And, of course, all the girls were in frilly party dresses, the boys in whatever passed as dress-up in 1957. The cake was from Hansen’s famous bakery where I would order my exquisite wedding cake two decades later. Needless to say it was both beautiful and delicious.
After the party and gifts, we were loaded back into the limos and driven to The Nine O’clock Players theater in Hollywood to see a children’s play. Strange to say I don’t remember what the play was😂 But I suspect one of my siblings could tell us. BTW, the birthday girl was in First Grade and her classmate was my brother Greg, my sister who was in Second grade was along. And I was in Fourth grade—quite old enough to be overwhelmed by it!