Wow. What an unbelievable and unforgettable weekend.
I started off my weekend doing my normal paperwork Friday and I had an eye examination later that afternoon. I had to get my driver's license renewed and had to obtain an updated eye exam. I had figured I would get the exam and have my eyes checked as I am turning 50 this weekend.
Well, the good news is that I have 20/20 vision. However, it was learned that I have a condition that is considered pre-Glaucoma where the gel on the back of my eyes is tearing away from the optic nerve. The Doctor believes this is related to my Sarcoidosis. (Old Sarcoid strikes again). So, I am due to go back there in 5 months and they will take a picture of the back of my eyes and see if this condition has progressed. If it has, I will have to go on daily drops to prevent Glaucoma from causing me to go blind. Additionally, it was found that I have Astigmatism and now require reading glasses when I am on the computer and when I read.
I also became a proud member of AARP this weekend and qualify for a discount on our auto insurance policy due to being in the 50-69 year old age bracket. Lovely. So far, all not-so-great news right?
Well. Mike and I were going into the city on Saturday early afternoon to stay over at a hotel and go out to dinner for my birthday. The next day we were going to meet friends of his at Citi field to watch a Mets game. I was excited about seeing the new stadium and watching my favorite team live for the first time this season. We were to have lunch with Mike's friends prior to the game. My birthday party had been scheduled for the following weekend, August 22, because of the game and we were planning on a big pool party at Mom's. Or, so I thought!
We arrived in the city and went to our hotel. It was incredible! We stayed at the Lombardy Hotel on 56th and Park Avenue. They had updated us to a large suite for my birthday! It was unreal. The suite had 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, a small kitchen, and a warm and cozy living room. The hotel was charming and very sophisticated.
We went to dinner at one of my favorite NYC restaurants, Village Natural, on 7th Avenue and Greenwich Avenue in the West Village. I love this place, and I have been here many times. They serve eclectic vegetarian and natural food. The meal was wonderful.
We then went back to the Lombardy, watched TV, and went to bed rather early.
We woke in the morning, had a Continental breakfast at one of the bars/dancehalls at the old hotel, took a shower and headed to the subway to get to the Mets game. I didn't realize it at the time, but Michael was acting strangely. We were on the 7 train heading to Flushing. I was actually sitting on the train and it was actually very well air-conditioned and I was quite content. He had us get off of the train telling me we had to take the express to the stadium. I was not happy to leave the train. We waited in the heat and took another train. ( I now know we were actually running early for the big surprise). He was also texting and checking his phone all day Saturday and I was just about to tell him I was getting annoyed by it.
We went to the stadium and looked for Mike's friend Mark who had the "tickets". We met up with Mark and again there was an air of supiciousness. Mark told us we had to wait for his girlfriend as she was running late. Finally, he says that she texted him and said she would be late and to go up to the restaurant and she would meet us later.
We went into the stadium. Mark then told me that he wanted to show us another new restaurant prior to going into the one we were supposedly be going to. Again, weird behavior. While we were chatting with him I told him that today was my birthday, to which he stated, "Oh, really, Happy Birthday."
We followed him into the stadium and he led us to a room marked "Suite 212" on it. Weird. What is this? He opened the door and I immediately saw my friend Scott Burzon sitting on an arm of a chair. I turned to tell Mike that Scott was in this restaurant and I heard, "SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!" Oh my GOD. All of my dear friends and family were there for a surprise birthday party. Michael had done all of the arrangements with the help of many others. They had all arrived via a chartered bus (Michael had called it "The Lauterbus" on the invitation) which left from Selden earlier that morning. We were all going to watch the Mets game from this private party suite and have a catered lunch. Everyone was wearing a Mets tee shirt with the number 50 on the back and my name on there as well! I was absolutely blown away. So, I figured there was no pool party next weekend and that was just a red herring to throw me off the trail. Apparently, this surprise party had been in the works since March. Michael had pulled it off! I never suspected a thing!
My Mom, sisters, Aunts, cousins, and dear friends were all there. They had taken the "Lauterbus" to the stadium. All while I was thinking my pool party was next weekend. I hugged everyone and it literally took me 20 minutes to get my bearings. It's interesting that although I was registering the information I was seeing and hearing, I could not get my head around it all.
I finally was able to calm down, put on my Crew/Mets tee shirt, when Michael gets up and begins speaking to everyone about me. It was just so wonderful to hear these words coming from him. Don't get me wrong, I never doubt the love he feels for me, but he is generally not the verbose and public speaking type. Then, Waz, my oldest friend spoke, then my Mom, and then I again felt myself choked up and unable to gather any thoughts together for myself to say a few words. I wish now that I had, but, it was a moment. I do what I can each moment.
Then, Mr. Met arrives once the game started. I love Mr. Met. Yes, I realize it's just a guy or girl in there, but I just love Mr. Met. He reminds me so much of going to the Mets games as a child with my Father. He loved the Mets. He loved to take me over to shake hands with Mr. Met when I was a kid. We would arrive so early for the games, hoping to get a player's autograph and certainly a handshake from Mr. Met. My Father always loved animated figures and such. He was a big kid, perhaps like me! I wish my Dad could have been there. He certainly would have enjoyed Mr. Met. So, I enjoyed him for both of us.
The food was fantastic. The game was terrific. We were up 2-1 until the Giants tied the game in the 8th inning. The Mets got up in the bottom of the ninth and won the game on a Daniel Murphy line drive scoring Fernando Tatis on a close play at the plate! What an ending! 3-2 METS WIN!!!
We all took the "Lauterbus" home. Mike and I got home so emotionally overwhelmed by the entire day and weekend.
I will never forget this birthday. Michael and my friends and family all made this a day I will remember forever. I am a very, very fortunate person to have so many people who love me so dearly. With a partner and others in my life like I have, 50 is just the beginning!
I started off my weekend doing my normal paperwork Friday and I had an eye examination later that afternoon. I had to get my driver's license renewed and had to obtain an updated eye exam. I had figured I would get the exam and have my eyes checked as I am turning 50 this weekend.
Well, the good news is that I have 20/20 vision. However, it was learned that I have a condition that is considered pre-Glaucoma where the gel on the back of my eyes is tearing away from the optic nerve. The Doctor believes this is related to my Sarcoidosis. (Old Sarcoid strikes again). So, I am due to go back there in 5 months and they will take a picture of the back of my eyes and see if this condition has progressed. If it has, I will have to go on daily drops to prevent Glaucoma from causing me to go blind. Additionally, it was found that I have Astigmatism and now require reading glasses when I am on the computer and when I read.
I also became a proud member of AARP this weekend and qualify for a discount on our auto insurance policy due to being in the 50-69 year old age bracket. Lovely. So far, all not-so-great news right?
Well. Mike and I were going into the city on Saturday early afternoon to stay over at a hotel and go out to dinner for my birthday. The next day we were going to meet friends of his at Citi field to watch a Mets game. I was excited about seeing the new stadium and watching my favorite team live for the first time this season. We were to have lunch with Mike's friends prior to the game. My birthday party had been scheduled for the following weekend, August 22, because of the game and we were planning on a big pool party at Mom's. Or, so I thought!
We arrived in the city and went to our hotel. It was incredible! We stayed at the Lombardy Hotel on 56th and Park Avenue. They had updated us to a large suite for my birthday! It was unreal. The suite had 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, a small kitchen, and a warm and cozy living room. The hotel was charming and very sophisticated.
We went to dinner at one of my favorite NYC restaurants, Village Natural, on 7th Avenue and Greenwich Avenue in the West Village. I love this place, and I have been here many times. They serve eclectic vegetarian and natural food. The meal was wonderful.
We then went back to the Lombardy, watched TV, and went to bed rather early.
We woke in the morning, had a Continental breakfast at one of the bars/dancehalls at the old hotel, took a shower and headed to the subway to get to the Mets game. I didn't realize it at the time, but Michael was acting strangely. We were on the 7 train heading to Flushing. I was actually sitting on the train and it was actually very well air-conditioned and I was quite content. He had us get off of the train telling me we had to take the express to the stadium. I was not happy to leave the train. We waited in the heat and took another train. ( I now know we were actually running early for the big surprise). He was also texting and checking his phone all day Saturday and I was just about to tell him I was getting annoyed by it.
We went to the stadium and looked for Mike's friend Mark who had the "tickets". We met up with Mark and again there was an air of supiciousness. Mark told us we had to wait for his girlfriend as she was running late. Finally, he says that she texted him and said she would be late and to go up to the restaurant and she would meet us later.
We went into the stadium. Mark then told me that he wanted to show us another new restaurant prior to going into the one we were supposedly be going to. Again, weird behavior. While we were chatting with him I told him that today was my birthday, to which he stated, "Oh, really, Happy Birthday."
We followed him into the stadium and he led us to a room marked "Suite 212" on it. Weird. What is this? He opened the door and I immediately saw my friend Scott Burzon sitting on an arm of a chair. I turned to tell Mike that Scott was in this restaurant and I heard, "SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!" Oh my GOD. All of my dear friends and family were there for a surprise birthday party. Michael had done all of the arrangements with the help of many others. They had all arrived via a chartered bus (Michael had called it "The Lauterbus" on the invitation) which left from Selden earlier that morning. We were all going to watch the Mets game from this private party suite and have a catered lunch. Everyone was wearing a Mets tee shirt with the number 50 on the back and my name on there as well! I was absolutely blown away. So, I figured there was no pool party next weekend and that was just a red herring to throw me off the trail. Apparently, this surprise party had been in the works since March. Michael had pulled it off! I never suspected a thing!
My Mom, sisters, Aunts, cousins, and dear friends were all there. They had taken the "Lauterbus" to the stadium. All while I was thinking my pool party was next weekend. I hugged everyone and it literally took me 20 minutes to get my bearings. It's interesting that although I was registering the information I was seeing and hearing, I could not get my head around it all.
I finally was able to calm down, put on my Crew/Mets tee shirt, when Michael gets up and begins speaking to everyone about me. It was just so wonderful to hear these words coming from him. Don't get me wrong, I never doubt the love he feels for me, but he is generally not the verbose and public speaking type. Then, Waz, my oldest friend spoke, then my Mom, and then I again felt myself choked up and unable to gather any thoughts together for myself to say a few words. I wish now that I had, but, it was a moment. I do what I can each moment.
Then, Mr. Met arrives once the game started. I love Mr. Met. Yes, I realize it's just a guy or girl in there, but I just love Mr. Met. He reminds me so much of going to the Mets games as a child with my Father. He loved the Mets. He loved to take me over to shake hands with Mr. Met when I was a kid. We would arrive so early for the games, hoping to get a player's autograph and certainly a handshake from Mr. Met. My Father always loved animated figures and such. He was a big kid, perhaps like me! I wish my Dad could have been there. He certainly would have enjoyed Mr. Met. So, I enjoyed him for both of us.
The food was fantastic. The game was terrific. We were up 2-1 until the Giants tied the game in the 8th inning. The Mets got up in the bottom of the ninth and won the game on a Daniel Murphy line drive scoring Fernando Tatis on a close play at the plate! What an ending! 3-2 METS WIN!!!
We all took the "Lauterbus" home. Mike and I got home so emotionally overwhelmed by the entire day and weekend.
I will never forget this birthday. Michael and my friends and family all made this a day I will remember forever. I am a very, very fortunate person to have so many people who love me so dearly. With a partner and others in my life like I have, 50 is just the beginning!
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