As far as birthdays go, a tween may look forward to the monumental age of thirteen for the excitement of adolescence, eighteen for the aspiring graduate, twenty one for a chance to saddle up to the bar, or even twenty five to rent a car (at least in the USA). These milestones marked with their own traditions, folklore, and the occasional instruction manual have thankfully been a part of my healthy journalling habit since the age of eleven.
I fondly look back on them, reading thru old journals as a detour from house cleaning. Thirty was a particular highlight. I was doing exactly what I prepared for all my life, touring twelve cities in Italy as a performer in "Hair" as Teatro Smeraldo's audience of two thousand in Milan sung "Tanti Auguri" (Happy Birthday) at curtain call. As a family member said ~ "That is something money cannot buy".
As one who has advanced past these benchmarks, increasing age becomes only a number, but the yearly celebration is time to take stock of the blessings of friends and loved ones. I've taken it upon myself to turn my birthdays into creative challenges, weaving my penchant for travel, food, wine, song & dance into this year's "San Francisco Birthday Restaurant and Karaoke Bar Crawl". Inspired by Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive Ins & Dives" on the Food Network, I listed several restaurants, some of which were featured in the aforementioned show, and invited friends to join me in this tastebud tour ... tasting the world thru my buds.
I'm glad to report it was time well spent at each establishment. From Evergreen Vietnamese Restaurant's delectable minced chicken with basil & green peppers, the Salvadorean pupusas of the Mission's Los Panchos, the delicate dance of pomegranate & chicken flavors at La Mediteranee, to the "Madmen"-esque interior and perfectly temperatured meats of Harris Steakhouse ~ these epicurean delights paired with good wine and shared with great friends / family is a tradition worth upholding and even reinventing as we come of age.
