The height of nonchalance / El colmo de la indiferencia

La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.

Celebrating another year of San Geraldo — love of my life, inspiration, therapist, chef, best friend, biggest supporter, muse, and so much more. He’s mellowed with age and he’s become more crotchety. Yes, that’s possible.

For his first birthday that we celebrated together (his 33rd), I bought champagne and a dozen roses. I made reservations at a very trendy restaurant in Boston (I can’t remember which one, but it was one I couldn’t afford). I ordered a special dessert with a candle and the staff sang “happy birthday.” Coming from a family that didn’t make any fuss over birthdays (after the bar mitzvah gala), I thought I had done really well. When we got home (I’m sure there was even sex involved), he told me: “Well, that was very nice. But you’re going to have to do a much better job next year.” And we’re still together.

To be fair, for my first birthday with San Geraldo (my 28th), which followed four months later, he hired a private upstairs room for eight people at Lock-Ober (1875–2012), which was featured in the film “Good Will Hunting.” In decades past the room would have been like the one where Nicky Arnstein and Fanny Brice shared dinner, chopped liver, and a roll in the hay in the movie “Funny Girl.” The room still had the red flocked wallpaper.

SG’s sister Linda FaceTimed yesterday to wish him a happy birthday. She’s never been known for her dulcet tones. When she finished singing, he rated her the way The Kid Brother rated us last week. “Well, I’d give that a 2. I couldn’t even tell what key it was in.” “Key?,” Linda asked, “I don’t even know what that means!” SG began to explain when Linda’s head suddenly fell back against her chair and she started snoring.

His sister Leann FaceTimed when we were already out. He hasn’t heard her sing yet. She and Linda have a similar sound. He had calls and messages and is loved.

We had a perfect dinner with Tynan and Elena and got blown home. The winds continue. They were only slightly less fierce during the day Saturday, but picked up again with a vengeance in the evening. Since Friday night, all the beach entrances have been blocked by police tape. I’m sure it’s to discourage people like the guy who went swimming that afternoon (Saturday’s video). Emergency vehicles with rescue dinghies on their roofs have been patrolling the Paseo since the storms arrived last week. Still a kiteboarder enjoyed himself in the afternoon. Would you do that?

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Celebrando otro año de San Geraldo: amor de mi vida, inspiración, terapeuta, chef, mejor amigo, mayor partidario, musa y mucho más. Se ha suavizado con la edad y se ha vuelto más cascarrabias. Sí, eso es posible.

Para su primer cumpleaños que celebramos juntos (el 33), compré champán y una docena de rosas. Hice una reserva en un restaurante muy de moda en Boston (no recuerdo cuál, pero era uno que realmente no podía pagar). Pedí un postre especial con una vela y el personal cantó “feliz cumpleaños”. Viniendo de una familia que no hacía ningún escándalo por los cumpleaños (después de la gala de mi bar mitzvah), pensé que lo había hecho muy bien. Cuando llegamos a casa (seguro que hubo hasta sexo de por medio), me dijo: “Bueno, eso fue muy bonito. Pero vas a tener que hacer un trabajo mucho mejor el próximo año”. Y todavía estamos juntos.

Para ser justos, para mi primer cumpleaños con San Geraldo (mi 28), que siguió cuatro meses después, alquiló una habitación privada en el piso superior para ocho personas en Lock-Ober (1875–2012), que apareció en la película “El indomable Will Hunting.” En décadas pasadas, la habitación habría sido como aquella en la que Nicky Arnstein y Fanny Brice compartieron la cena, el hígado picado y un revolcón en el heno en la película “Funny Girl”. La sala todavía tenía el empapelado rojo flocado.

Una hermana de SG, Linda, se comunicó ayer por FaceTime para desearle un feliz cumpleaños. Nunca ha sido conocida por sus tonos dulces. Cuando terminó de cantar, él la calificó como El Hermanito nos calificó a nosotros la semana pasada. “Bueno, le daría un 2. Ni siquiera podía decir en qué clave estaba”. “¿Clave?”, preguntó Linda, “¡Ni siquiera sé lo que eso significa!” SG comenzó a explicar cuando la cabeza de Linda cayó repentinamente contra su silla y comenzó a roncar.

Su hermana Leann hizo FaceTime cuando ya estábamos fuera. Todavía no la ha escuchado cantar. Ella y Linda tienen un sonido similar. Tenía llamadas y mensajes y es querido.

Tuvimos una cena perfecta con Tynan y Elena y nos volamos a casa. Los vientos continúan. Fueron solo un poco menos feroces durante el día sábado, pero se recuperaron con fuerza por la noche. Desde el viernes por la noche, todas las entradas a la playa están bloqueadas con cinta policial. Seguro que es para desanimar a gente como el chico que se fue a nadar esa tarde (video del sábado). Vehículos de emergencia con botes de rescate en sus techos han estado patrullando el Paseo desde que llegaron las tormentas la semana pasada. Todavía un kiteboarder se divirtió por la tarde. ¿Podrías hacer eso?

• Lock-Ober Restaurant, Boston, 1875–2012. Built 1832.
• Restaurante Lock-Ober, Boston, 1875–2012. Construido en 1832.
• The room for my 28th birthday.
• La sala para mi 28 cumpleaños.

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Author: Moving with Mitchell

From Brooklyn, New York; to North Massapequa; back to Brooklyn; Brockport, New York; back to Brooklyn... To Boston, Massachusetts, where I met Jerry... To Marina del Rey, California; Washington, DC; New Haven and Guilford, Connecticut; San Diego, San Francisco, Palm Springs, and Santa Barbara, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Irvine, California; Sevilla, Spain. And Fuengirola, Málaga..

24 thoughts on “The height of nonchalance / El colmo de la indiferencia”

  1. Happy Birthday to SG, and I won’t sing. Have you tried surfing or kiteboarding? I never had a good sense of balance.

    1. David:
      My balance was never a problem. My self-confidence was. An artist colleague at UCSD immediately bought a surfboard when he arrived from Pennsylvania. He kept it leaning against the wall right by his front door. I asked if he had surfed before moving to San Diego and he said, “Are you nuts? You could get yourself killed!” He just thought everyone should have a surfboard at their door in San Diego.

  2. Birthdays are the BEST!….the most important day of the year, in my books.
    To answer your last question…….yes, I would have tried out that kite-board…..in my youth of course. Those boards and kites take a lot of strength and endurance which I had years ago.

  3. “We had a perfect dinner with Tynan and Elena and got blown home. ”
    Is the line missing an ‘at’? Or is my mind in the garbage this early on a Sunday?

    1. Bob:
      I chose to not be clear… and I knew you’re mind would be in the garbage (although I really thought it would be in the gutter… potato potahto).

      1. Bob took the words right out of my mouth!!!! I sure hope your hubby’s day was a good and special one!!!

        Now put you lips together and blow. I’m sure he’ll enjoy it! I mean he’s already smiling after all.

      2. Mistress Borghese:
        And this immediately had me thinking: “You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow.” Anyway, I thought “blow” was just an expression.

  4. Happy birthday to SG! He would definitely not be happy with our style of celebrating birthdays around here, which is basically to do nothing much at all. We’re not big birthday people.

    1. Steve:
      SG used to announce his birthday to anyone who would listen. He’s more shy now. I remember most years living with my parents when I would walk into the kitchen for breakfast and there would be a birthday card on the table. Nothing was said. My sister, on the other hand, would take me into her bedroom where she had a card and a wrapped gift.

  5. It sounds to me like you two really know how to celebrate!! I’m always amazed by (what I consider stupid) people who risk their lives in dangerous weather situations.

    1. Kelly:
      We regularly look for an excuse to celebrate.

      We’re stunned by the things we see people attempting on the beach in all kinds of weather. Ditto, drivers who continue onto flooded streets with no clue what lies below.

  6. Happy Birthday, SG! I’m glad you don’t have to cook your own birthday dinner! I hope Dudo & Moose were also duly appreciative of you, LOL.

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