Last week I got to help my mom celebrate being half a
century year old.
My father, brother and husband were out of town on an annual
“Man’s Trip” they take every year, so it was up to my sister and I to show her
a good time. And that we did.
For a while now we’ve talked about going to the Santa Monica
Farmers. We’ve kind of Famers
Market junkies. And the Santa
Monica one is kind of a big deal.
So Saturday morning, we were off. It couldn’t have been a better day to
go. With temps flirting with 100 degrees
in the Inland Empire, a trip to the beach was perfect. It was in the 70’s and slightly
overcast. When we got to the
Market, it was packed.
Dozens and
dozens of people were shopping for produce, local honey, sustainably raised
meat and handmade goods. Some of
our fun finds included black raspberries, all-natural lotion being hocked by a
hilarious Rastafarian, and the most delicious chocolate chip & pecan cookie
made with smoked salt. It
was other-worldly.
After that we stowed our goods in the car and went back out
to stroll the Promenade. There
were fun shops and some amazing street performers. The kind that make you incredibly curious as to why no one has
plucked these people up already.
Our end point was the Pier where we walked around and go
some lunch at Bubba Gump’s Restaurant.
The atmosphere was fun and we got seated in what I thought was the best
table in the place. It was right
by the window looking out towards the water. Lunch was delicious and my mother was a happy lady.
We were all fat and happy and in need of naps by the time we
got back to the car.
That night, after a small siesta, we capped the day off with
some summer vegetable fetucchini in browned butter, made by yours truly,
Sangria and homemade vanilla ice cream my sister made topped with fruit
salad. We were also joined by my
sister’s boyfriend and his two friends.
I commented on how instead of spending her milestone birthday with her
husband of almost 30 years she was enjoying it with a group of young and
handsome man-boys was pretty funny.
After dinner, my sister presented her with a scrapbook she
had made of the last 50 years of my mom’s life. It was beautiful and sweet. Just like the whole day had been.
My mom & sister
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!