A Mom, a Blog, and the Life In-Between

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

This Birthday was Great for Unexpected Reasons

A Monday birthday pretty much seems to be all about relaxing and taking it easy (and sharing creme brulee, mango mousse and tiramisu in one sitting). Lunch with Wide Lawns was great, as it always is when we get together.

But the real celebrating was on Sunday, when my family gathered for breakfast at my parents' house, a ritual we do regularly enough, but which this time included a big, gooey cookie cake baked in my honor.

These Sunday-morning breakfasts are never a big deal, but with so many people (my *immediate* family is at least 13 people), it always has a bit of a clusterf**k element to it. Personally, I love the chaos; it's this crazy jumble of conversations, yelling, laughing, crowding and delicious food where we all catch up and talk crap and make plans. It is these breakfasts that best exemplify my definition of "family" - because there will always be individual moments where we discuss something important, where we fight, where we agree to do something together, where we do a whole lot of nothing - and then we break (delicious, soft, heavenly Cuban) bread and drink cafecito. Family is nothing if not these things.

My birthday breakfast ended up being among the funnest and funniest we've had in a long time. It turns out that my sisters and brothers-in-law all recently got the iPhone (and I felt bitterly left out, so much so that I may just have to get that damn iPhone now to fit in with the cool kids), and they pulled them out to compare. Soon enough, my brothers-in-law were engaged in a full-on war, with their iPhone lightsabers as weapons. It was the most hilarious thing we've seen in a while, and the video I filmed of this battle is priceless.

Later on, the cookie cake was brought out, and it was so incredibly sweet to hear that boy of mine sing "happy birthday" to me - I was a puddle of melted bliss on the floor. Unfortunately, for a family so full of photographers (professional and amateur), there wasn't one shot taken of me in all my candle-blowing, cake-sampling glory. However, right after that, everyone whipped their precious iPhones out again, this time to take pictures of everyone else so that that person's picture pops up when they call. We had a total blast making silly poses and acting like fools. Seriously, this is my idea of the perfect Sunday morning.

Later that afternoon, I learned that for all the hype that Miami is all about luxury, flash and designer goods, people here really are a bunch of cheapos. We decided to take advantage of free Sundays at Vizcaya, and ohmygod, was it ever crowded. Cars were parked all over South Bayshore Drive and people were everywhere. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. O.k., in my head, Vizcaya was empty and we had it all to ourselves and there was plenty of shade and water was readily available; but in reality, we were among 2,000 people, the sun was blazing hot (seriously, the sweat was trickling down my back and gathering in my pits), and I was so thirsty I could cry. Later on we found out that there had been more than 7,000 visitors to the museum that day. And I thought, oh yeah, this place is usually empty, yet the day there is no fee, every soul in Miami decides to visit. Including me, so I can't really complain.

The truth is, I hadn't been to Vizcaya in ages, and it really is a lovely place. The house was closed because it was at maximum capacity and they would soon be closing, but the gardens were simply beautiful. The area by the bay was breathtaking, and had it been less crazy, sweltering hot and less crowded, it would have been absolutely perfect.

Behold, part of the gardens:

The spot between the house and the gardens:

Shot of the house from the bridge/dock:

Oh, and yes, I was there!

From there, it was off to Scott's place for a very cool, relaxing get-together with friends and some very nice new people. His sons are absolutely beautiful, and it was just such a great evening, full of interesting conversations, fabulous fresh salsa, and a Cocker Spaniel so sweet I almost stole her and brought her home.

The day ended with the best burger in town: the Caribbean burger at the Loggerhead (Flannigan's). Devoured at the bar, with a few bites of the baby back ribs, while the jukebox played some good old rock n' roll.

All these things - the simple, completely normal activities of one hot, ordinary Sunday in July - they came together so sweetly, so unexpectedly, that it made for a wonderful, special day.

To say that I feel blessed and happy for this - for my son, my family, my friends - it wouldn't even begin to express what I feel. The words for that are right now really hard to find.

Labels: birthday, family

Posted by Tere @ 7/29/2008 | Permalink |

4 Comments

carlos miller posted at 7/29/2008 8:52 PM
The Caribbean Burger rocks. It's my favorite.

Carrie posted at 7/29/2008 11:30 PM
I can't think of Vizcaya without seeing girls in quince dresses and parasols...

Holly at Tropic of Mom posted at 7/30/2008 3:58 PM
Ah, Vizcaya! Like Carrie, I have seen so many quince photo shoots taken there. What a great place to celebrate your birthday. You look great!

That lightsaber thing is too funny! My friends have it on their iPhone -- and I don't have one, either!

Jenny posted at 7/31/2008 5:49 PM
Sounds so awesome!! I hope I can be a part of a slightly delayed little celebration. I will totally pamper you with sweets and cafe. :) I'm only here for another week, so let's hang out one last time!!!