*This post was written and published on the 10th January 2021 in Spanish.
One day, five or six years ago, I decided that I wanted to celebrate my 24 years with a party that went 24 hours. It may sound silly or crazy, but I was very excited about this occurrence. It would start around 10 in the morning, with a breakfast/brunch / some-food-washed-down-with-champagne-and-mimosas, and with all the guests gathered and enjoying the company and conversation of people, perhaps strangers, but very kind ones. After a few hours, the exploration of the city would begin. I would have liked to celebrate it somewhere relaxed, for example, Florence, where il buon mangiare is essential. Basically, somewhere where la dolce vita can be felt in every corner. Walks, photos, a drink here, a shot there. Many laughs.
Obviously, a cultural plan could not be missing in my party. A good starting point would be a visit to a truly beautiful exhibition where sculptures by Bernini or Michelangelo could be seen, and where inspiration could flow freely. Later, if there were a beach nearby, a quick swim in the sea would be next, even if the temperatures were freezing.
After a day of adventure and conversations washed down with wine, the dancing would begin. First, warming up at home and then going to a club (who remembers what that was?). Obviously, we would close down the place. We would dance non-stop until they threw us out and then we would go out for breakfast (if the city allowed it) to eat churros con chocolate.
As you probably imagine, this fantasy of mine has been cut short by 2020, which gave a 180° turn to any plan that I may have ever had. I am not resentful (although I was very excited), because I plan to carry out my master plan next year or when external circumstances allow it (as if it is when I turn 70). Besides, I have the memories of my birthday last year, which was more like a gypsy wedding than a birthday, starting the first celebrations on Thursday and ending the last on Monday morning.
Tomorrow is the day, and although I may not have the celebration that I initially had imagined (I am very much in favor of celebrating everything that can be celebrated, no matter how small or insignificant it may be, so I know that this year is going to be full of celebrations ), having the illusion of the future and the memories of the past already makes me very happy. However, that does not mean that all celebrations for my 24th birthday have to be cancelled, even if the nightclub did.
Here are some of the things I intend to do tomorrow that may also be of your interest.
See the sunrise.
Listening to Chet Baker very early in the morning and be amazed at the talent of some people.
Enjoy my hot coffee with Taylor Swift's evermore playing in the background, and continue to be amazed. For the pleasure of coffee and the gift of music.
Enjoy the sound of nature. It is astonishing what we get to hear when we truly listen.
Finish Madres e hijos of Theodor Kallifatides, close the book and be thankful that there are some books out there that, although they may not reach the best-seller lists or sweep the masses, are authentic treats (it has not yet been translated to English).
Roll around in the snow and feel that time, although it passes, does not pass if we do not want to.
Write about what really matters, openly, without fear or censorship, leaving my everything on the paper.
Start reading In a Cafe by Mary Lavin.
Read This Old Men by Roger Angell, published in The New Yorker.
Read My Dinners With Le Carré, published in The Washington Post.
Apply the maxim that "Surrounding yourself with beautiful things will not make your life more beautiful."
Talk to the people I love on the phone and tell them.
Take pictures of whatever and whenever, but retaining the moments that matter to me.
Dance and continue to be amazed by how it lights me up from the insight and how it truly moves me and changes me.
Blow out my 24 candles (or the number 24) and make a wish (I know it does not come true, but it is still a nice exercise to see what we truly want).
Play a board game with a glass of wine and a lot of time, and be clear on the fact that the people you surround yourself with end up being the ones that shape your life.
It may seem like a pretty simple plan, but I'm already really excited about tomorrow! I may not have time to do everything, or I may fall short on what I have planned, but this will be my new "party plan" for my birthday. A plan that I want to continue living throughout the year. To read what I like, appreciate what I have, value my people and feel. Feel a lot, live a lot and love even more.
I wish you a happy week. Those of you from Madrid, continue enjoying this unexpected gift that Filomena has been, and bear in mind that, even if we are turning older, it is up to us to continue keeping ourselves full of enthusiasm and hope.
I am writing to you soon! Until then, see you here or on Instagram.
Take care!