Open Writing

In everyone’s lives there are milestones to be recognized, accepted and anticipated, sometimes with joy and sometimes with trepidation: that joyous moment when a baby first smiles, takes its first step, says its first word; or the first day of school, when Little One’s hand has to be pried out of Mother’s and the child led protesting to the classroom.

Achievement of goals should always be celebrated – acquiring a driver’s licence, finishing school, coming of age and graduation. Marriage or the death of a loved one are occasions that mark moments of change in our lives and should be shared with family and friends. One’s thirtieth birthday is one that is looked on by twenty-something-year-olds with terror – and yet, celebrating helps one realise that Life Goes On – and in many cases, improves! ‘Life,’ it is said, ‘begins at forty’ – I can vouch for that. Then fifty arrives, anticipated with some dread, but when celebrated is found to be better than expected.

Like all of life’s milestones, becoming sixty needs to be accepted and marked with festivities. This party – Leon’s sixtieth – was a grand occasion. It was a hot summer afternoon. The rooms and garden buzzed with chatter and laughter. Tables were laden with food, crockery and cutlery. We provided a buffet lunch of cold roast meats and huge salads. To our surprise, fruit juices and soft drinks were far more popular than wine and other alcoholic beverages, though a fair amount of those flowed, too.

Our friend of longest standing gave a marvellous speech which everyone enjoyed; I spoke, too, telling tales of Leon’s childhood sent to me by his sisters. Toasts were proposed, and of course, Leon replied to our reminiscences with good humour and some stories of his own.

My two accompanists were with us and a friend who plays piano in upmarket restaurants, so there was plenty of live entertainment with some of my poetry thrown in for luck. A file of photographic memories was passed among the guests, which triggered much animated conversation.

Our friends stayed with us through the afternoon; it was early evening before we waved goodbye to the last.

After cleaning and tidying, we sat down with satisfied sighs to open the gifts which had been piled on a small corner table. To our delight, amongst the wonderful books, after-shave, plaques and pictures, were many gift vouchers for our local DVD store. I had suggested to friends who asked, that these would be most welcome as we wanted to purchase a BBC collection of thirty-seven DVD’s, which included all of Shakespeare’s plays. This, I said, would occupy our less busy moments over the next sixty years.

Next day we visited the DVD store where we retrieved the coveted Shakespeare collection from the shelf, and presented it at the counter. “This,” we told the cashier, Joseph, “is going to be really interesting!”

Joseph looked at us, somewhat puzzled. “It’s certainly the biggest amount I’ve had to ring up for a while,” he said, looking at the price tag. Then we presented him with our pile of electronic gift cards, and his eyes grew round. It was a long process, but eventually, Joseph, still smiling, produced our receipt with a flourish, carefully placed our wonderful collection of DVD’s into a large plastic bag and handed it to Leon. We felt as if we were floating as we walked out of the shop into the crowded corridors of the centre.

Turning sixty was such an enjoyable experience for Leon that I’m looking forward to my turn in just a few short years. It seems that life just gets better and better!

Until next week… “Here comes Treble!”

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