60th birthday brings more outreach from Coloradans
by Mila Glodava
I usually don't make a big fuss about my birthday, often celebrating it very quietly with my family. My 60th was one birthday weekend I will never forget, however. On Friday, I celebrated my birthday pretty quietly -- going to Mass to thank God for 60 years of many blessings, and to pray for my parents who gave me life. After Mass I went to the local garden shop to purchase some flowers and vegetable plants for my garden, then started getting my garden ready for planting. In the evening, Mark and I had a nice dinner at Red Lobster.
On Sunday, Mark, Kirsten, Kevin and his wife Trish, and a few friends treated me to a surprise birthday party at Mt. Vernon Country Club (thanks to my friend Dolly Banzon, who is a member of the club). After a very sumptuous brunch, Dolly initiated the fun part of the party with a roast, as a payback, she said of many times I told them what to do. You see, I'm known to be very bossy, someone who does not take no for an answer and one who is always asking for money. Everybody had a great time listening to my many idiosyncrasies and anecdotes. Kirsten, who was really nervous, made everybody laugh and cry at the same for her tribute of her mother -- the fun time we had when they were little, the heartaches she had caused me during puberty, and her looking up to me as her role model. Everybody forgave her of course for saying all those nice things -- she's my daughter.
In addition, Kirsten, who knows all too well that I never want any gift that would sit and collect dust, asked everyone who wish to give me a gift to give in my honor a donation to Metro Infanta Foundation for the disaster relief. And they did!
Last night, during our annual Memorial Day barbecue we officially ended my 60th birthday celebration by opening all the cards that I received and was happy to see $895 in checks. Some friends also sent checks in the mail or placed them in my mail box in the office making the total at nearly $1,200 (will not know total until the end of the week). What a way to end a very memorable birthday weekend!
My thanks to those who sent me birthday wishes by email and by phone! I wish you were all here to celebrate my milestone. In any case I ask you for your prayers for continued blessings and good health. It's been a great 60 years and am ready for more!