August 13, 2006
Pacific Grove, CaliforniaOur friend Ann is a folk dancer. She has been dancing with the Saratoga-Sunnyvale group for over twenty-five years. She dances with passion, grace and electric enthusiasm. My observation is that dance renews her like air to ones lung. She comes alive with the beat and the energy of the folkdance. The folkdances reach back in time and across the globe, satisfying Ann's other loves, for people, culture and travel. It is in this context that she created her birthday celebration.
A night of dancing, delicious table edible delights, and guests of family and friends-most who have danced with her for over 25 years. Flowers, ribbons, and balloons of green and blue filled the room at Asilomar State Park. At the door, each person was given a hair ribbon, ankle bangle of bells, and buttons with Ann's motto "Celebrate Everyday" and "Dance for joy, Dance for life" to wear and keep. Keepsakes were abundant, as were the abundant memories she was creating with the design of this event.
Now, the Amberchan Family is not the traveling Van Trapp family; we do not sing and we do not dance. However, our love for Ann meant that we occasionally would descend on the dance floor. Thank heavens, the "real" dancers embraced us and guided us through the steps. Obviously, we were on foreign land with this adventure, but as always, we navigated our way with an open heart. And as usual, the girls took to the dancing like ducks to water. They may in deed hold talents that we need to foster and develop.
Every hour, for five hours, trays of food were delivered with delicacies. Folkdancers, dance and dance, so they have little time for a sit down meal. They rarely sit down. In fact, if you are in a conversation with a dancer and a song comes on that they love, they politely ask you to hold that thought, go off to the beat in the air and then return to your conversation without loosing a beat. Amazing awareness.
And the International array of platters of finger foods kept flowing: stuffed mushrooms, sushi, Asian spicy chicken drummettes, polenta bits, hand held Caesar salads, Swedish meatballs, fresh California baby vegetables, quiches, trout pate, cheeses (goat, brie and cheddar) with bread and crackers platters, bruchette crackers, eggplant tapenades, olives and pickle platters, and more. We had to try them all. There was such abundance that we had great leftovers for days to come. She had something for everyone; the Vegans, the carnivores, the omnivores, the kids who love sweets, the old man who likes spicy foods and the old woman who needs her fiber. Soon, we were rolling on the dance floor, both in laughter, joy and from far too much food.
A beverage bar of hot apple cider, lemon water, sparkling water, tea, coffee complimented all the food. As one friend said, the place was electric and no one needed libations to feel the "high".
Chocolate is yet another of Ann's passion; party favor bags, filled with dark rich chocolate truffles were set at every table. A large 24" square, special dark chocolate cake from the Buttery in Soquel, California, was devoured mid-evening. A small piece was all you needed to go directly to heaven. And if you didn't like chocolate, never fear, Ann had something delectable for you, platters of fresh fruit, Giant chocolate dipped strawberries, and buttery pear tartlets on an almond crust.
Most importantly, Ann wanted this to be a moment in time when she could bring her circle of family and friends together to finally meet, in one gorgeous place. We were all staying at the Asilomar, in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Pacific Grove, California. The day after the party, we would breathe in the scent of the Pacific Ocean, feel the chill of the California fog and stroll on the beach as the sand sifted between our toes. We were bundled up and enjoyed these moments away from our tropical home.
We were incredibly pleased to meet so many of her friends and family who had come from all over the country (Chicago, Las Vegas, NY, and of course us-from Ecuador) to be with her for this weekend. One couple even backpacked out of the Sierras, just to join Ann on the dance floor. Another drove from the east side of the Sierras to be in attendance. Friends and family reaching back to her childhood (Judy ABC and cousin Barbara), college years (John), and adult life (Ann, Jim, Becky, Adony, Marian, Jan, John and Muriel) were in attendance. In total, there were over sixty people who joined in wishing Ann, 'a wonderful life'.
As you can imagine, for some of us, the party started days in advance of the evening of folkdance, so we had a good chunk of time to get to know each other. To no one's surprise, her friends embraced us and we have bonded with several who we now include in our extended family circle. Just as Ann wanted, the circles overlapped and sealed the bonds built on her loving kindness.
Her party was spectacular and a tremendous success. Her attention to every guest's need was reflective of who she is and how enormously kind, generous, loving and thoughtful she is as a person.
We wish her many years of good health and harmony. And our wishes for many, many, many years of dancing for joy. For everyday, like on this spectacular weekend, may she continue to live her favorite wisdoms: "Celebrate Everyday" and "Dance for Life".