What better gift for a 3-year-old’s birthday than a classic
Tonka dump truck? It’s strong, sturdy, and dependable; a kid feels powerful
loading it up and pushing it around. It’s exactly what my little granddaughter
wanted. Wearing a glittery Disney Princesses T-shirt, she celebrated her
birthday at a neighborhood park with a dozen of her friends. Cupcakes and juice
boxes, bagels and fruit cups kept them all hydrated and well-nourished. My
husband and I left the party with the realization that it was the first time
we’d attended a party for a 3-year-old where not a single kid melted down. It
was a perfect beginning to a beautiful Saturday morning.
We headed directly to another birthday party, this one for
our 90-year-old family friend, Mike Pahos, whose roots extend to the islands of
Greece and whose presence has enriched our lives for decades. His wisdom,
kindness, and generosity are near-legend in our community, as is his
appreciation for nature expressed as the longtime Santa Barbara County Parks
Director, and his joy in the arts, dance, and music. To celebrate his special
day, a group of singers reunited and serenaded him with Greek folk songs. It
was a day of counting blessings, another extraordinary celebration of the
goodness of long lives, rich memories, and above all, caring for each other.
We stayed hours longer than we expected, but finally headed home, settled in, and turned on the TV. There it was: El Paso, the latest battleground in a vicious, hateful war against the residents of this country.