My New Year kicked off with a fabulous party celebrating our fiftieth anniversary, masterfully organized by my bestest friend, Karen and three of my kiddos—Francis, Steven, and Dinora. Before the party, Dinora unleashed her makeup wizardry on me due to my own ineptitude in this area. I sat like a statue while she worked her magic, culminating in the pièce de résistance: painstakingly gluing individual eyelashes onto my sparse originals. It was like watching a sculptor at work, except the masterpiece was my face!

 Dinora had all the bases covered, enlisting her business partner with whom she does wedding make-up and hair, to give my usually thin, stringy hair a full-blown transformation. My hair was fluffed, buffed and elevated to new heights. With my bouffant hairdo and a face that looked like it belonged on a magazine cover, I stared into the mirror and thought, “Who is that dazzling stranger?!” Instead of wearing the cute dress I had brought, I should have been dressing in a sparkly gown with high heels.  Alas, my outfit choice did not match my hair and make-up, but it would have to do.

Hubby chose to wear a Hawaiian shirt and khakis so he could be “comfortable” and enjoy the party.  (I had to argue with him NOT to wear shorts, as he is apt to do.)

For the party favors, I had lovingly purchased scented jar candles from Amazon and painstakingly added “50th Anniversary” thank-you labels to A one, feeling quite tickled with myself. However, I did a sniff-test and was met with a scent that was not quite as floral as I expected. Not bad, but not exactly delightful. My son, ever the detective, cracked the case instantly: citronella! So yes, our elegant soirée was lightly perfumed with the unmistakable essence of mosquito repellent. On the bright side, any rogue mosquitoes that might have crashed the party didn’t stand a chance!

 More than fifty beloved relatives and cherished old friends gathered to celebrate our anniversary, filling the room with laughter, stories, and warm memories. Hubby relished reconnecting with old neighborhood buddies and friends from his days as a Scoutmaster, while I was delighted to see cherished colleagues from the Office of Rehabilitation Services and our longtime neighbor, who also happened to be the best man at our wedding. Our children and grandchildren added to the joy, and my only other living relatives—my cousin and his wife—made the event even more special with their presence. Hubby’s impressively large family turned out in force, including his mother, four siblings and their spouses, ten nieces and nephews with their spouses, and six great-nieces and nephews. Some traveled all the way from New Hampshire and Maryland to join us, making the celebration a truly unforgettable family reunion.

The Chinese buffet was delicious, offering a variety of dishes to satisfy every palate, including my favorite, Nim Chow with plenty of peanut sauce. Adding to the sweetness of the celebration, my talented friend Karen created a stunning and delicious tiered cake, crowned with our original wedding cake topper. As the DJ cued up the music for “The Bride cuts the cake,” I carried out the tradition gracefully, minus the face-smushing antics. 

Hubby and I reveled in the nostalgic tunes of the 70s, tapping our feet and singing along, while the children stole the show, dancing gleefully to the lively beat.  It was such a joy to watch the younger generation, including my own grandchildren, having such carefree fun!

The evening was a huge success! After all the fun and celebration, Hubby and I collapsed into bed, exhausted but happy, and fell asleep in each other’s arms. After fifty years of marriage, I still cherish cuddling with him. He’s like a big, warm stuffed animal—always there to bring comfort and warmth.

The next morning, I woke up to discover tiny fluffy ants gracing my pillow.  Sitting up straight, I started to brush them away until I realized that they weren’t ants at all, but were fluffy eyelashes that fallen off.  Oh, well, I knew I couldn’t stay that beautiful for long!