fairy tale

Last Saturday night, we were invited to a combined birthday and holiday party. We set out for Boston, drove into my friend's neighborhood, and because it was Saturday night, could not find a place to park. We drove around for a while and finally found a spot between two Manhattan-style public housing apartment buildings, somewhere between Symphony Hall and the Boston City Hospital (which are only a few blocks apart).

This particular neighborhood is not known for being especially safe. (In fact, the next morning, we read that there had been a double-stabbing closer to the "safe" neighborhoods, by Symphony Hall as we were victoriously sliding into our parking space.) Just a few paces past the car, we saw an open barbershop (a bit of an oddity at 8pm on a Saturday evening). It was packed with barbers and clients. A little boy was trying to get in and we realized that to gain entrance, he actually had to ring a bell to be buzzed in. To a barbershop (or was it something else?).

We turned off the main drag onto a side street and noticed the gate to a large private underground parking area. And then we turned onto my friend's street. About five years ago, someone bought up the whole block (or alley, not sure what it was), tore down the buildings, and replaced them with substantial, clean, new townhouses.

And the fairy tale didn't stop when we went into the party -- the house was beautifully decorated. They had outsourced everything, including posting someone by the door to welcome you and take your coats. Someone had been hired to play the piano all evening. And the whole event was catered, with buffet snacks, passed hors d'oeuvres, and a bartender in the kitchen.

And the host couple have fascinating friends from academia, from the art world, and just "from around." One of the guests works for the Boston Globe and had created an entire front page, complete with stories and pictures, about the birthday boy.

The celebrant's life is like a fairy tale too. He comes from what are called humble beginnings, with a father who died early on, and a mother who loved him and did the best she could and is unfortunately no longer with us either. A whole new world was opened up to him when he discovered a college out east and put together a scholarship package (with seemingly no connections to help him) so that he could attend. He went on to get an MBA. He's young, he's very successful in the business world, he's extraordinarily charming, and has a graceful soul.

A few years ago, he and I worked together and clicked. Right about that time, he was having marvelous adventures, but not finding the person to settle down with. One night, he went out to dinner with friends, stepped into the restaurant's lobby for a few minutes, started chatting with someone else who was also taking a quick break, and they enjoyed their quick talk so much that they casually exchanged phone numbers. A few years ago, we were privileged to attend the resulting wedding. But that could happen only after my friend's husband successfully left the priesthood. (That in itself was an incredible process, but despite all the hoops, the church has been true to its word about the process having a defined ending point.)

Both husbands seem to be doing well, one in an academic position (language with a serious art history sideline), the other in a company other than the one in which we met. They continue to lead a charmed life, and I couldn't be happier for them.

Happy 40th, DM!