bday57 dinner with Sandy!

"Um.. two things wrong about that. Your birthday isn't until next week, first of all. Second, your 57th was a decade ago."

Silly rabbit. The dinner at Ta Ca was her 57th, something already planned, kinda sorta, by her trivia friends. That means the treat and date were definite, just not the location. I regarded that as one of my birthday celebrations for this year. Why not?

"Why not? You've been known to celebrate your birthday for more than a month on more than one occasion!"

I'm just saying that I won't be seeing mi amiga around my bday67 as I'll be off with the first niece and her two girls. "Her two girls" - how wonderful to be able to say that after all these years!

"I agree! It still seems like a dream for the adoption to have finally been finalized. Also, I thought Sandy's birthday was the night of the Spook-Easy... no?"

Yes, it was, but she's having multiple days of celebration. Isn't that wonderful? These are some good folks she's been hanging out with, going to Trivia on Thursdays, Music Bingo on Mondays, karaoke at The Diner on Saturdays... and that's just what I know about. Tonight, the three I met at that Bingo a few weeks ago - Marcia, Elissa, Joel - were all there. Also, remember Kelly, the one who went to Rancho Alegre with us after the dance? She was there, too, and gave me big hugs! That was very nice.

"Sounds like a nice party!"

It was! There were seven of us all total, including me and Sandy and two others I didn't know. Fortunately, I sat beside Joel and across from Elissa and Marcia, so I was able to get to know them a little better. That's good! I know Sandy invited me to be there, but, as I told her, I didn't really know these people and didn't want anyone to think I was just barging into their party. She assured me it would be alright... and it was! Very nice! I'm glad I went!

"I'm glad you went, too, dear. I know you can be a bit reluctant to hang out with strangers at close quarters, but you have met several of these people multiple times now. You should be getting a bit more comfortable around them. Right?"

Yes, you're right on all counts. I know part of that trepidation was the cost. I've been forgoing a lot of activities this month, as I have that bday67 vacation coming up. Plus there's the city and county property taxes, all of which need to be paid early as I won't be here when they're due. I'm still working on paying off those taxes from the fall, as I'd had to charge them. Ack. I keep trying to steer folks toward luncheons and dinners at restaurants where I have gift cards, but that hasn't worked out.

"That's okay, you'll still have those for when you return home in June."

Yes, I will! Thanks for that cheery reminder.

"You betcha. I got your back, g'friend. Now, go out there and enjoy yourself, wherever you go to next!"

Thanks! Actually, I was meant to be there tonight. When I pulled back into my driveway, just before I turned off the engine I caught the lit odometer reading. It wasn't a palindrome, nor was it quite right, but it was rather symmetrical. The mileage was 241124. Right place, right time. 

"Exactly what I was saying. (smile!)"