Lil's 70-ish

The girls came from all over – Spain, Argentina, beach, town and country – to celebrate Lili Hale’s birthday in Escazu. A force to be reckoned with – larger than life – Auntie Mame - and so much more, lives within our dearest Lil. She is beautiful, yes, with sparkling eyes often flashing with mischief. She always knows what you are about. And if she doesn’t know, she wants to know! Lili loves all her children, and yes Lil, all your children love you!
You adopted me as one of your daughters 10 years ago. I’ve been more wayward and negligent than the others. I don’t phone you enough and have never show up to the bridge table, where we could so much more easily catch up with each other. But we never miss coming together for your birthday!

This year, you’ve invited a big bunch of admiring friends to dine with you today – close sisters all – Rosemary, Robin, Roni and Bonny – and other absent sisters in Atlanta and elsewhere, sending you congratulations . You touch so many lives! Who can forget the lovely Miss January in the SASY Calendar – Stop Animal Suffering Yes! So many beautiful animal lovers -– but the number one beauty who nobody shall ever forget is our own, dearest Lili at the piano – “If music be the food of love, play on”…
You had that picture with you in the hospital when you scared us all to death with that close call to your health. Days after surgery, you were still heavily sedated. One day, you motioned me with your hand to come close to you over at the bed. I had to lean over so you could whisper your first words to me after so many scary days of intensive care.
You whispered, “Julia Childs died”…
Obviously, you had picked up that news on the television. And I knew then that you were back with us. Even though you still don’t remember saying that to me, you were back!
And more beautiful than ever at your very young age of 70 - ish! So many lives you have lived! From raising your kids on your own as an Interior Designer for the well-heeled in Michigan, to living your life as only you can here in Costa Rica. You shared your life lessons with me early on when I needed to learn them most. Like during those volunteer days.
You said, “If you don’t wish to do something, don’t waffle and don’t try to please. Just say NO!”
You dish out criticisms to your ‘daughters’ as you see fit – trying to make us better people – and you can also take it! You definitely met your match in terms of intellect and energy with your daughter-in-law, Francie. She is also quite a force of nature and, now that you have smoothed over the bumps of getting to know each other, you two have turned into an amazing team. Who could have guessed that my horse buddy, Francie - who ruined her Peruvian mare by racing her with Matchi - oh how we flew like the wind, week after week, racing our horses up the road from Piedras Negras - would end up as your daughter-in-law. Now Francie has turned your son, Howard, into a horseman also, with the big arena and now the Hacienda in Nicaragua. You definitely attract larger than life people to you!
You once confessed that you can’t abide dullness, banality, stupidity. However, you can even take stupidity better than you can take boredom. Have you ever been bored even for one minute? I doubt it!
We girls sit and listen to you – your stories and your antics. You mesmerize us living life as you do - with your passion. Yes, I confess, we’ve said it to each other: “I can’t wait until I’m 70 and then I can just jump on the judge too and to the Devil with all the gossips!”
But you’re always a lady - impeccably dressed, and with impeccable manners - always. Always kind to people and animals; a bit pushy, perhaps, when you’re returning something - like that blouse you negotiated so hard for. A few days after buying it, you turn around and return it! I still can’t believe you talked me into accompanying you back into that dress shop!
Another lesson from you: life is a negotiation. Some battles aren’t worth fighting, but if they are, win!
Every person at your lunch today has many stories to share. And we shall all bring you precious gifts. I bring to you exotic flowers and herbs from the garden.
Happy Birthday Mom!
From V and all your girls.