Drizzling

Belated post. 2.21.2013 

It's drizzling. We are celebrating her birthday in a dimly-lit restaurant, telling her in a hushed voice (some spanakpoita still in my mouth), life feels like a dream.

 

This little dream almost didn't happen. It's Thursday evening rush hour and we ran late. The restaurant called me and they were about to give our table away. I love it when this happens, because it makes Makati feel like New York. They held on to the reservation.

The Corner Tree Cafe is quite literally, in the corner and beneath by a huge tree. It looked homey and that took it to us. Inside, there's framed poster listing them on the Miele Guide. They served a wide range of vegan, glutten-free cuisine. We had Spanakopita for starters, spinach & mushroom lasagna, and baked tofu walnut burger. It must have been the lights on dim, the slow flicker of candles, but something compelled the crowd to keep the conversations on a low volume. While the setting was intimate, "children are welcome," their website announced. So we happily brought our little one along. There were ladies in office attire having cocktails while waiting for their takeout and they exchanged smiles with him. This pre-schooler sure is smooth. And I'm glad I'm smooth myself, but only to the birthday girl. It all flashed before my eyes, the birthdays of hers we celebrated in beautiful islands, the birthday I got her a watch, the birthday I got her a refrigerator. Every time, she was beautiful.

It's drizzling. It's just the right amount of rain to keep a cool breeze. The clouds maybe thick, but my stars are all twinkling tonight.