We were supposed to be at the restaurant at 6:30, my husband and I. So, we felt pretty good that we’d made a three-hour drive and were arriving a few minutes early. We were happy to be celebrating our friend John’s milestone birthday but weren’t sure what to expect. It was our first time at the swanky hotel’s restaurant, The Tenderloin Room.

We didn’t know the guest list, and as it turned out, we only knew a few of the attendees well. Four guests were totally new to us.

Polite chitchat followed the introductions as we settled into our cozy niche. Our personal server was an engaging man who tended to all our needs from the very beginning. He served it all seamlessly—from drinks and appetizers through each course of the meal, ending finally with the birthday cake. 

Pockets of conversations hummed easily up and down the long table. 

All the admiration

Then as we dined, my sister, a co-host of the event, did what she does for all birthdays. She announced that in her family, on someone’s birthday, people tell what they admire about the guest of honor. They share special memories or talk about what particular attributes they’ve observed in the person. She invited all of us to offer this special gift to John.

John’s friends gathered that night had met him at different stages of his life. Some had known him for 40 years, and some had known him for only a few.

The length of the friendship didn’t matter. Everyone had wonderful memories to share. All the stories seemed to point to his lovingkindness.

Tears and laughter flowed steadily. The love in the air was palpable. What a perfect way to celebrate!

Winding down

As the evening ended, I sensed that we’d all grown and changed. Through celebrating John and his many gifts, we had expanded our own circles of friendship. 

As we prepared to go our separate ways, I marveled at how different our goodbyes were from our initial greetings. We had gone from handshakes to hugs, from polite hellos to a deeper awareness of connectedness.

That special night we came together to feel our oneness. It was extraordinary, and it was soul-warming.  And, it happened because of love shared for our mutual friend.