Chapter 40, Ojai, CA 2015

LET’S DO THIS

I’m up at five am, loading the car with buckets of cut flowers I have bought and gathered for Chris’ party. Major birthdays are a big thing for Carolyn and me. They weren’t particularly big when we were children, but as adults they have become important. Carolyn is throwing the most amazing fortieth surprise party for her husband. She has invited Chris’ lifelong friends from all over the country. Chris’ Great-Aunt Phila has recently passed away, and her house stands empty on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I help Carolyn plan this party for months. We name all of the tables after Chris and Carolyn’s travel destinations the past ten years. Her friend, Mike, a Grammy Award-winning musician, is flying in to perform. My friend, Sean, a stand-up comic Carolyn thinks is hilarious, is slated to do a set. Our favorite caterer, Michael, is hired to cook. The cake, designed as an edible marquee reads, “Around the World in 40 Days, Starring Chris Bailey.”

Almost everyone invited has accepted the invitation. Chris’ childhood babysitter is coming. Friends from Minnesota are checking into hotel rooms. Family and friends from Portland, Chicago, Palm Springs, New York, Ojai, Santa Barbara, and San Francisco are all making the trip to celebrate Chris. There is enough tequila in Great-Aunt Phila’s basement to float a cruise ship. We decide margaritas are to be the drink of the night, specifically, “The Carl Margarita,” a drink created by our friend, Carl, that Chris truly enjoys. Carolyn and I are going a day early to Santa Monica to make what seems like hundreds of flower arrangements. We are getting our hair and even our make-up done. It will be a spectacular evening. Carolyn always says, “If we’re going to do this, let’s DO this.” We will indeed. It is one of those big celebrations that we will always remember.