Birthday Boy

My dear Aunt Ruth passed away yesterday and it was a very sad day. I stayed home from work and talked to my sister and father, and watched white caps form in the East River from the bitter wind. Though the last thing I felt like was going to a party, I had a surprise 40th birthday party uptown for my friend Paul -- and it's Paul, you go.

Paul's parents (who I hadn't seen since his 30th birthday!) came in for the weekend from Miami and his business partner hosted a cocktail party for all of Paul's many, many friends in her lovely home right off the park.

I've been friends with Paul for several years, and we used to be neighbors in New York, and saw each other all the time. Many of my other friends know Paul as he has that perfect social swizzle stick way about him, and can drop in nearly any setting and make entertaining conversation. When I lived in California I stayed at his apartment a few times, including my last trip in August where I was pretty anxious about the relocation and finding a nice place to live -- Paul took it all in stride and was a great sounding board, and wonderful friend.

Paul also works in public relations though tends to work with primarily luxury brands and society events, which can be a world away from organic food and beverage and the 'green' crowd. When I first moved to California and came back for a visit, I remember meeting Paul for dinner with other friends and was a bit 'tape delay' on the bold face names and happenings reported in Page Six and New York Magazine and he exclaimed, "Oh, you've lost your edge!" A few weekends ago we had brunch in my old neighborhood and I asked him when he was coming to Brooklyn Heights again and he said, without skipping a beat, "As soon as I'm back from Switzerland", where he was attending as he put it "the superbowl of luxury" with his watch client. Last night he referred to me as 'living in the country' (I am two subway stops from Wall Street).

Paul always makes me laugh, and last night that was what I needed the most. Yesterday was a day of extremes in the circle of life, but also a day that poignantly reminded me of the importance of treasuring the people in your life most of all.