The Thursday Downer, on Wednesday

We spent a lot of time yesterday thinking of past birthdays. 

We recalled a couple of nice parties as a kid. Usually we got an ice cream cake with an X-Wing fighter on it. We miss those summers. The outside time, heading in at 10 PM to a house blasted by AC, watching some TV and reading a book before bed. You know, we used to miss summer almost as soon as it was over.  

We got nostalgic about a huge birthday party held for our 26th in 1999. We had a house full of friends. We barbequed and then we drank and drank. We ended the party on the back porch at three AM, sharing a bottle of whisky with our childhood best friend. We repeated the experience in 2000. 

In 2001 the in-laws took us out to dinner at South Philly Italian restaurant, and then this game between the Phillies and Yankees at the Vet. 

For our 30th in 2003, we had a couple of dozen people over at our rustic farmhouse in bucolic Peapack, NJ. Just a great party in a great summer of a great year. 

These parties were never about the birthday, but about getting together with family and friends and everyone enjoying themselves.

During the last decade or so we've done our birthday low key, up in the Berkshires. Last year Mrs. Stroock was with the girls in Indiana. We celebrated with an Arturo Fuente and a bottle of Cavaliere D'Oro.

This year our birthday has gotten us a bit down. It's hard to explain why. We mourn the loss of family and friends, the loss of those birthdays. There's more gone then are coming. Mostly, we mourn the passage of time. 

We didn't want to have and didn't have time for a big party this year. Yesterday was a day like any other.  Besides, it was a Tuesday. But last night our family semi-surprised us with a cake:

The girls made us Star Wars themed birthday cards with Yoda, Darth Vader, and crossed light sabers. They got us four Arturo Fuentes and two bottles of Cavaliere D'Oro. This was a nice was to end the day. We have a loving family.