How was your weekend? We celebrated my birthday with a few fun things, including an eggy breakfast and lanky teenagers…
First, I woke up early and met my friend at Head in the Clouds, a woman-owned Brooklyn spa where they give you tea and cookies, and massage your face and shoulders, and wash and dry your hair, and by the end, you’re basically in a dream state. Have you ever had a head massage? Such a treat.
Then we walked over to Diner for eggs and mimosas, where we spotted a few cute toddlers in enormous winter snowsuits, which felt like a birthday gift in itself, haha.
Afterward, I went home and treated myself to a lazy afternoon on the sofa reading Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy (of I’m Glad My Mom Died fame). The novel follows a high schooler living in a trailer park who sleeps with her married English teacher. My first thought was that the last thing in the world I wanted to read about right now was an affair between a mediocre older man and a bright young woman — but the book is actually extremely smart and vulnerable and raw and revelatory and, of course, about much more than their affair. Pandora Sykes pointed this out in her recent newsletter, as well: “Was I up for yet another story about pathetic old professors and world-weary teenage students? Apparently, in the right hands, yes.”
Then, at 4 p.m., my doorbell rang. When I opened the door — surprise! — my friend’s daughter walked in with a GIANT bundle of balloons. After her followed her brother with another GIANT bundle. Behind him, another brother…and so on, until the room was filled with balloons, and my friend’s family started singing “happy birthday,” and we were all laughing hysterically. Their delivery reminded me of a quote from the book The Power of Moments: “beware the soul-sucking force of reasonableness.” Yes! It was an elite drop by.
That evening, a few more friends, plus Toby and Anton, gathered for ice cream sundaes and funny conversations. It was such a lovely day, and even though I’m the only adult in our house, I feel like we have such a big family around us. Thank you for the sweet birthday wishes! What were you up to this weekend?
Through it all, of course, Minnesota and the state of the country is always on our minds. Here are ways to help and a food pantry that makes deliveries.
P.S. 12 readers share their favorite birthday celebrations, and what’s the most helpful thing a therapist ever told you?
Joanna Goddard
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