In Korea you are one from the day you are born, so when local Korean Master Potter Clay Kim celebrated his 80th birthday recently he was actually a year younger than I am. His artist son couldn’t come to Canada for the party but offered to make gifts for his father to distribute on the occasion. Lucky me, Mr and Mrs Kim, with their student Julie translating, came here recently and invited me to give them a little drawing. Just last week, shortly after the Kim celebrations and actually on our 53rd Wedding Anniversary, I was given this metal version of my design. It’s my signature within a predictable bird. I’m delighted with it, and feel it marks an optimistic start to my next decade.
Alan and I felt that my turning eighty is a milestone that needed to be marked so we planned a family lunch on my actual birthday, last Thursday, and a party on Saturday. We watched the weather forecast anxiously for days beforehand and we were very lucky!
Having lived in Canada for three quarters of my life I still hoped to gather family for this special occasion. What a wonderful surprise it was to learn that my niece Tasha was flying here from her home in Austin, Texas for four days! Sadly, she needed to be leading an academic webinar on June 1st so Alan left her in his study while we joined Mike, Steve, Jen, Caleb, Bennett and Lucas for lunch in our local Port Moody Boathouse restaurant in Rocky Point Park.
After our special lunch there was time to explore the park before heading back to our house to help prepare for guests on Saturday and to find Tasha.
Thanks to all their help, when they returned on Saturday my studio had become a pool hall (the table has been under my work table for decades!) and scrounged tables and chairs were arranged outside, ready for our guests.
We were so pleased to have friends and family here for an evening after such a long Covid gap. The weather was perfect and the meal of local, seasonal fare was delicious. We were a wide range of ages and mine doesn’t matter!
Jen had secretly arranged for a huge decadent chocolate birthday cake for our dessert. Look at those Gilli-birds!
We only asked for the presence of friends as birthday gifts but I am thrilled with the bouquets that appeared, oodles of cards (even in the mail!), some charming home-made presents, a little decadence and some special beverages to see us through the summer! Alan and I had a wonderful evening and were so pleased to see conversations and connections going on. The children were very well-behaved.
I don’t often post blogs about family events but the planning and help that went into hosting a get-together in our old house warrants some kind of record. We couldn’t have managed without advice, furniture moving, and much hosting on the day from my family. Every time I turned around plates were removed, drinks poured and clearing up was done! Thanks so much, guys!
https://www.lenscatering.com put together a much-enjoyed meal of local, Spring ingredients.
Next morning it was time for Tasha to fly back to her husband and daughter in Austin, TX. Then we took a walk in Barnet Marine Park with guests Gary and Gloria before they left for home in Port Townsend, WA.
Now it’s time for me to do some letter-writing, before getting to glazing pots and firing my kiln. I have a new bag of H555 and not much time to prepare for the next soda firing.
What a wonderful time you all had! Perhaps being 80 won’t be too bad (I’m not far behind you at all). You and Alan have a lovely family and I’m glad you were spoilt rotten by them. Love your Korean present too. Altogether some great memories for you. x
So glad you had a wonderful celebration. You deserve it!
With all you do for others Gillian you deserve it.