Birthday in Yellow

September 25, 2015

Going down memory lane for my mother's 60th birthday.
For me, birthdays are a big deal, and the more surprises and presents there are, the better. That’s why, for half a year, I carefully planned the programme for Mum’s upcoming celebration and got myself tangled up in such elaborate conspiratorial schemes that I had to use an enviable amount of acting skills to keep everything secret. I can’t believe it, but I pulled it off!

Everything delicious I prepared was united by the yellow theme of the celebration: a lemon cake, citrus French macarons, buttery biscuits with a pale yellow fondant coating, sandwiched with fig jam, and homemade lemonade with a touch of orange and mint. Fresh, beautiful and delicious!

Our choice of restaurant shaped a large part of the programme, as the atmosphere at Shtastliveca naturally invites nostalgic journeys into the past. That’s why I decorated the small surprise gifts I had planned throughout the day with ribbons, lace and rose-patterned decoupage paper. Even more important, however, was the themed walk back in time that we managed to enjoy thanks to the exhibition of works by Josef Pitter, a Czech graphic artist who lived and worked in Sofia at the beginning of the 20th century. We thoroughly enjoyed his drawings, watercolours, oil paintings and printed graphics. The two of us fell in love with this artist and brought home an album of his works to enjoy whenever we like.

For guest gifts, we relied on compliments from Amelie chocolaterie, who work with Belgian chocolate and make handmade chocolates. Each chocolate was personalised in the sweetest little retro-style box, tied with a ribbon. I’m sharing this mainly for future brides or people celebrating anniversaries, because it’s a wonderful gift for guests and can also be used instead of place cards with names at larger events.

Our programme continued with bowling and food, after which came the most amazing surprise of the day, one that involved some young people whom I admire, respect and am endlessly grateful to. These are the children from the theatre group and literary club that Mum organises. These girls and boys have a magnetic pull I simply can’t resist, and what they did filled me with every possible joyful emotion a person can hold!

Dear Mum, I admire your patience, dedication and unconditional love, which seems never to run out! I’m proud of you and of how many people love and respect you, of the fact that the same words appeared again and again in their cards and wishes: radiant, kind, a friend.

I’m proud that you face every challenge with dignity, whatever the cost, and that there is always something for me to learn from you, even though I doubt I’ll ever be as patient, generous and creative as you are!