The Best Birthday Ever
October 3rd, 2007
Last week, when all my birthday getaway plans seemed to be crumbling, I emailed my friend Regine and said this had to be the worst 30th birthday on record, in history, ever. Little did I know that when I met my parents in front of an Orchard Street “restaurant” Saturday on the Lower East Side, I was really walking into a burlesque club — and an incredible party my sister dubbed a celebration of “The Best Decade Ever.” (I guess that means I’m screwed after 39).
It was amazing. I’m still in awe. And I was truly surprised. A big Thank You to everyone. I love you all to bits.
Oh, and the icing on the chocolate vegan cake? A surprise visit from one of my favorite comedians, Christian Finnegan, he of “Best Week Ever” fame. He had us in stitches. I turned to look at my mom at one point and I though she was going to wet herself. My favorite line — his likening this fundraiser to the modern day version of strolling the beach with a metal detector. Fantastic. (It’s funny cuz it’s true).
Still processing it all.
Shock and relief, when I learned who the “man from my past” was (and was not!) The quick backstory? Two years ago, Donna decides to visit me in Hartford to see a traveling stage version of one of our guiltiest of pleasures, the VH1 show “Best Week Ever.” On the train ride in, she texts me: You’ll never guess who’s on this train. If memory serves, I eventually did. I guess she said something to him like, “Hey, I’m actually going to see you tonight,” and they chatted briefly. I think something fell through with his ride to the theater, or he was running late. I’m not sure. All I know is, I pulled in front of the train station to pick up Donna and, next thing I knew, I was giving Christian Finnegan a ride to the very show I was about to see.
The Klimkiewiczes — The Best Family Ever.
