Tomorrow, I will be celebrating my 31st birthday. More importantly, it falls on a Saturday this year…only the 5th time in my life that’s happened. Looking back through Triumphs & Tribulations, I’m reminded of the last Friday before a Saturday birthday. That brings me to this week’s moment in the Flashback Friday series: the 25th birthday dinner.
How I first came across this moment? It all started when I broke the running tradition between myself, Adrian, and Latisha of celebrating each other on our respective birthdays. My 25th birthday was on a Saturday for the 1st time in 11 years and I took advantage of the occasion by going on a secret hot date. With my actual birthday off the table, Latisha suggested a birthday dinner at Kuni Steakhouse the night before. I was always up for meals at Kuni so I agreed to it. What she didn’t tell me was that it was a party…that included quite a few people from our fellowship group at church. Typically, when the 3 Crazy Christians dined in at Kuni, we had a set-aside table just for us…in the southeast corner, where we had a great view of the lower level of the mall and could easily see if Cold Stone was thick or not. We were rock stars and that’s just how we rolled. This particular occasion, we had the entire south end of the restaurant to ourselves. It was a good time with plenty of good food, fellowship, and laughs.
What it meant to me then? In the moment, I was actually very appreciative. Much like the year before, I was kinda caught off-guard though I knew it was a party the 2nd time around. More than just hanging out and celebrating my birthday with 2 of my closest friends and a good chunk of my church family was kicking it with the youngsters. I had grown to have a really good relationship with all of the church kids so having most of them there was a plus in my book. The picture I took with them is actually one of my favorite pictures of all-time.
What it means to me now? 6 years later, that moment still resonates with me for 3 reasons. #1 would be the kids: I miss all of them. They are all grown up and stuff. #2 would be the free birthday dessert at Kuni. That cheesecake slice they give you was to die for…literally. #3 would be that shirt I was wearing. That burnt orange shirt was like one of my best shirts. I let one of my co-workers borrow it and I never got it back. Oh, and for good measure, those youngsters are (from left to right): Alisha, Asia, Sarai, Aniyah, Sanaa, Brianna, and Dorian. I’m not like Antonio Cromartie. I know all of my kids’ names…LOL.
