Birthdays are for Celebrating....Whatever Your Age!

As we get older, celebrating birthdays can sometimes be met with reluctance. We don't want to face the number going up on our calendar,

we feel like we're getting older and there's nothing to look forward to, or we just don't have the same youthful outlook like we used to.

The current life expectancy of a Canadian woman born today is 83 years old. That's alot of birthdays! I have decided that not celebrating in style is just NOT an option! Afterall, it's MY life, and another year passing by is a pretty terrific thing. Each year adding on to the one before, bringing experience, more knowledge, new memories etc. When it was pointed out by a friend that my birthday was rapidly approaching, and she emailed me, asking what I was doing, the answer that came to mind was kind of on the boring side. Having a nice dinner with my children. Of course, I would be the one cooking the dinner....and probably cleaning up afterwards.  And though I very much enjoy the company of my wonderful children, eating dinner with them is not an out of the ordinary experience. I quickly comprised my reply to my friend.....Having a party! Ummmm...okay, now what. She, in turn, quickly volunteered to help out. Not wanting to make it a big, fancy affair, I sent out a facebook invite and planned a very simple 'appies and drinks with good friends' type of evening. The ensuing result was a houseful of friends, good food, good wine and so many beautiful, flower bouquets that my house looks like a garden. Of course, it's never a bad idea to have good wine, and this was no exception. The wine flowed into glasses with ease. My favorite of the evening was a bottle of Masi Valpolicello Bonacosta 2009. Given to me by a good, wine-loving friend, I found it to be an extremely smooth, medium bodied wine. A simple wine, it's lack of complexity makes it a good choice for sharing with a group. 

While drinking wine, discussions often occur about different types of wine and what to try or not try. I love hearing about new wines and look forward to sampling one that has been recommended. My next purchase will be a South African red called Root. It makes me think of a strong, terroir rich wine with a lengthy history.

 One of the wines that didn't get opened was a bottle of Fuzion, a Shiraz Malbec from Argentina.  For this, I checked out the website. http://www.fuzionwines.com/about-fuzion  It has me intrigued with its claim to blending old world with new. It brings me back to celebrating birthdays. An old custom, with friends, both old and new. Experiences, both old and new. A coming together, a blending of what has been and what is yet to come. So, for your next birthday, remember that whatever your age, your life is deserving of a special celebration. Throw yourself a party and toast yourself! You'll be glad you did.

Cheers!