On being forty 3

February 2005...

two dayz ago..... the third year of my fourth decade was achieved.... here on the east coast, with family and good friends.... great atmosphere (the BIG APPLE)... and fantastic weather-- 8 inches of SNOW.... who could ask for better, right? The day started with meeting up with my childhood friend on the train in Joisey.... joining the commuters enroute to the city. She arrived in the second car where I had quickly planted myself after figuring out the ticket machine at the train station (thank you to a very helpful gent who guided me through the electronic screene...) and racing onto the train with the conductor hurrying me up the steps to the awaiting car... ALL ABOARD already!

We girlfriends hugged hello in all our excitement.... and Boo handed me a prettily wrapped parcel and bejeweled tiara (actually, the precious jewels were painted onto the fancy plastic head ornament - a museum piece, indeed!), the special day started out with a bang at the crisp-aired hour of 7:33am. On a day of vacation THAT is EARLY!

As we headed into the Hoboken station to catch the Pass train into Penn Station, Boo continued to laugh in amazement at how natural I looked in my tiara among all of the suited commuters. Hey, maybe it broke up the regularness of their day and got them to crack a glimmer of a smile! That wouldn't be a bad thing....

We arrived to town and walked up to 33rd and Fifth Ave. together before going our separate ways for the beginning of the day. Boo was off to meetings (drag) and I was over to 30 Rock to visit an old (he's not that old) friend at NBC. Starbucks was a necessary stop before hand.... 1) because I hadn't had but a drop of water, let alone a morsel of food as of yet that morning, and 2) because it was rather chilly out and I needed to warm my bones. So, I got my coffee.... and headed around the corner into Rockefeller Center..... Had a nice visit with JW up there on the 46th floor... So damn high! It was great to see him, and to be back in a place that held so many still-familiar memories. Where the hell did 20 some odd years go???

Mid morning arrived, and I headed over to Saks for a brief stroll around the first floor..... then to St. Patty's to light a candle for St. Bridgit before going up to the Plaza to check out The Gates exhibit in Central Park. Looked like a bunch of orange flags hanging over walkways.... I chose not to go further than the entrace... once you've seen one orange flag, well, you've seen them all.... (but that's just my opinion)...

I turned around and went back down fifth... ducking into shops along the way to bring some much desired warmth back to all of my digits. Madison and 48th was my next stop... meeting up with JZ who escorted me to lunch at the Waldorf. Very nice, indeed.

Boo was still to be held in meetings for the next couple of hours... so, I discarded the thought of cabbing or bussing my way downtown, and instead, took a leisurely stroll down 5th avenue until I reached 17th street and a much needed break at Starbucks!

We girlfriends met up late in the afternoon and took a cab over to Elizabeth and Prince.... I had a bit of cash burning a hole in my pocket and was required to give it to a merchant in exchange for a lovely b'day gift that I chose for myself. Hopefully it will guide me with the wisdom I seek!

Thereafter, we headed for the train back to Joisey.... with enough time to kiss baby Mia, grab Nancy and head out for a delicious feast at Friendly's in Hillsdale - just like we were teenagers again. And, in an effort to act our shoe size.... we went for the full blown non-diatetic dinner, with a Fribble appetizer.... and finished off the meal with a low-cal (NOT) icecream cake! How fun it was to dish with the gals like old times! Made adding another year quite fun and vertually painless. So, welcome on in 43! Let's hope this trip to 44 is as enjoyable a journey!

Quote for the (birth)day: The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowley, and lie about your age.

Lucille Ball (1911-1989)

K - i gotta go slather on the wrinkle cream!