自从加入Morning Walk Group，从秋走到冬，已受邀参加过好几个生日趴。转眼新年到了一月末，该轮到我了，都上我家聚聚吧。本不想庆祝生日，不过想找个理由，让寒冬多些欢乐。
天气不错，气温又恢复到零度以上，积雪差不多融了。今天下午一点将有四十多人参加聚会，除了一对远道而来的华人朋友，其他都是来自晨走分队的成员及家属，还有几位相熟的邻居朋友。首次张罗这么多人的西人聚会，一早起来开始做最后的准备，吴同学去取订的餐食，我在家烤、煎、蒸，有条不紊地进行。
Helene与Ian先行到达。Helene立即接管了烤箱工作，Ian则在门口负责迎宾。
接着，梁Sir与小康来了。小康见我在煎饺，说梁Sir煎饺相当好。梁Sir掌勺我退下。这就没我啥事了，也到门口与Ian迎候宾客。
Helene与小康相谈甚欢，热情友善的Helene立即邀请小康加入我们原定的两家聚会，在春节后三家在Helene家一聚。相聚是缘，一串一串，朋友越来越多，路越走越宽。
Sally来了，还化了妆，不再是平常走路时裹得像狗熊的模样。我夸她今天很优雅，她说身上的外套是她妈妈留给她的，妈妈是一位很优雅的女人。
Sally送我一个围脖。冬天晨走有点冷，Sally总是戴着一个厚厚的围脖。看来不能轻易夸奖，这不就送了一个同款围脖给我。
Sally又拿出一个写有Birthday Girl的胸花帮我挂上。有人问我是不是21岁，我笑说Forever 21。
Myrna穿着红色的长裤来了，她说很快是农历新年，就特地穿着红色裤子表示喜庆。又说她的生日是2月16号，与我一样都是水瓶座。Myrna的贺卡，写尽对水瓶座极尽赞美。
We are clever, analytical, truthful, confident, progressive, innovative, how wonderful is that?
（我们聪明、善于分析、真实、自信、进取、创新，这是多么美妙啊！）
惺惺相惜呀！谢谢这些美妙的话语，将成为我的修炼目标。
之前Carol同我说订了一个可供四十人吃的大蛋糕，后来Lynda也说订了个大蛋糕。想让她们取消一个，都说不能取消。怎料到，英雄所见略同，居然到同一家店订了同款蛋糕。好事成双！
吴同学首度献唱Love Me Tender，Scarborough Fair之后，气氛出来了，大家纷纷一展歌喉。Irene 唱着Hey Judy，才知道她的声线如此好听，Reid与Nori夫妻对唱Happy Together深情款款，Irene与Nori,Marika女声三重唱Sweet Caroline俏皮欢乐，我们也禁不住舞动起来。
歌声美妙动听，平时就爱搞笑的Victor拿着一个盒子开始讨钱，说要送给歌手。可惜收获甚微，因为大家都没带钱出来。
Roland带着一束鲜花到达，男士也这么细心，而几近专业水准的演奏，相当精彩。
我正准备去取餐食，Nori却拦住让我不要动，只能望向窗外。当生日歌响起，才让我回头。原来是Bob装扮成Little Elvis（小猫王）将生日趴推向高潮。Bob每次出场都别出心裁，上次着孕妇装记忆犹新，这次又带给我们意外的惊喜，一时欢声掌声不断。
多希望天天这样快乐！
Victor问我，你想天天过生日？那可不好，老得太快了。
忙着聊，忙着吃，忙着唱，遗憾未及照张合影，随意捕捉的这些欢乐而幸福的瞬间将永存心底。
虽然事先有邮件说明不要带任何东西，但每个人都精心准备了礼物。
蝴蝶兰、玫瑰、康乃馨、水仙，一束束鲜花让室内春光无限，
一张张贺卡，一份份礼物让人感受爱意盈盈。
邻居们还带来小狗的问候。Lynda家的Koko，Januce家的Enzo ，Sally家的Mali，那是他们家中不可或缺的成员，也是每天与我们晨走同行的小伙伴。据说，这个晨走分队起源于遛狗，名副其实的狗仔队，久而久之，就成了一项极受欢迎的社区活动，不管你有狗没狗都可以加入晨步。。
Bob和Victor居然写上了中文还有拼音，让人感动。
Live, Laugh，Love，无论哪个民族，这都是人们最朴素的共同需求。
爱，让我们彼此联结。
好友氢未及到场，邮寄来一张长长的别致贺卡：“愿你的每一天都如你的才华般绚烂夺目，愿你的人生旅程充满无尽的探索与欢乐！”
这是氢对我的美好祝福，也想将这祝福送给每一个爱我的朋友。
好友阿梅一早发来消息，说本是想过来给我一个意外的惊喜，还准备了一支舞，用舞蹈来送上祝福，可因故来不成，就送上舞蹈视频。特别的祝福让我感动，那曼妙的舞姿让我突然萌生学舞的念头。
感恩你们的到来与陪伴，不期然让我度过一个有生以来最为欢乐的生日趴，如冬日暖阳，如此珍贵，如此美好，如此难忘。
还要感恩未及到场的老朋友，一声生日快乐跨越山海及时送达，虽聚少离多，心相念，情久远。
想起《小王子》中，小王子问狐狸，仪式是什么。狐狸说，“它就是使某一天与其他日子不同，使某一时刻与其他时刻不同。”
今天，因我而独特；今天，因你而精彩。
生活本来平淡，就这样稍微有点仪式感，沐光而行，向爱而生，人生因之精彩无限！
附：摘录部分邻居反馈
——Thank you for hosting such a wonderful event. Hope your birthday was everything you expected. Wishing you all the very best. (Little Elvis and Bob)
——Good morning Shelley, I hope you are recovered from your wonderful party yesterday, so glad it fulfilled all your dreams, you did an amazing job with such delicious foods, drinks & your hospitality. We all had such a good time & it was a pleasure seeing you so happy. Hugs. (Sally)
——Thanks to you for hosting today. It was wonderful to be able to celebrate you at your birthday party….and to meet more of your friends. Everything was great, the food was delicious and having little Elvis attend and entertain was awesome! Thanks! (Janice and Joe)
——Shelley – I’m so glad you enjoyed yourself at your beautiful party. The food was delicious – I went back for thirds. The Bayshore Walkers will always remember the fun, the laughs, the music, the food, and the atmosphere. It was lovely to hear Anthony sing “Love Me Tender” to you. (Also lovely to hear L’il Elvis sing it but not quite as romantic.(Judy)
——Shelley, Maurice and I enjoyed your party and wish you all that is good. Glad you enjoyed your birthday and we were happy to celebrate with you. (Carol)
——Thank you Shelley and Anthony. Paul and I had a great time. It was a wonderful party with the most delicious food. (Velma)
——Shelley and Anthony, Thank you very much for the wonderful birthday celebration filled with friendship, laughter and of course, great food! We hope you enjoy your birthday weekend. Thanks for the great photos.(Nori and Reid)
——Dear Shelley and Anthony, May I chime in as well and say what a joyful party! Authentic Chinese food prepared the way it should be. My particular favorites were your home made dumplings and the mushroom noodles, but everything was delicious and nothing was forgotten. Your pictures captured the whole event beautifully. I didn't know we had so much talent in this village. What with Sally stealing the stash, it was a pity Victor was unable to collect tips worthy of "Little Elvis" first prize status. We hope you savour the day and wish you all the success and happiness your year of the Dragon may bring. (Myrna and Bob)
——Shelley and Anthony, thank you for inviting us to celebrate Shelley’s birthday. I don’t remember when we have had so much fun at a birthday party. The food was so delicious, the decorations so festive and your home is beautiful. We hope your year is full of health, happiness and immense joy. （Wendy & Glenn）
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