When I lived in New Jersey, I eventually found "Mr. Bill's." Not the hapless little claymation Mr. Bill from Saturday Night Live, but a real, live Mr. Bill. He owned a gym. Since Maywood was one of those few still walkable towns...an actual "town" although it was really only one main street, I passed Mr. Bill's often.
We had a hardware store that smelled like a hardware store, with plungers and keys, paint and toilet seats, nails, screws, the works. At Christmas they filled their front and side windows with a spectacular display including, of course, trains, stores, homes, ice skaters, hills, trees and lots of twinkling lights.
There was a small supermarket whose deli section included lots of already cooked meals, like chicken piccata or cordon bleu, stew beef in gravy, green beans, potatoes, pasta salads...everything for the harried commuter who needed a decent dinner.
On top of that, there was a fantastic pizza place, the best Chinese food I believe I have ever had (next to one place in Manhattan that I adored) and another "fusion" storefront that sold Chinese and Mexican food. Their quesadillas were wonderful! But if you didn't feel like take-out, there were two (TWO!) actual restaurants that weren't blaring with multiple TVs, both of which had a quieter seating area and a less formal bar area. Both had great food and nice people.
It wasn't until I had to cut back my working hours because of rheumatoid arthritis that I slowed down enough to actually notice Mr. Bill's. Eventually, I worked up the courage to go inside. This, however, was only because I noticed quite a few "older" people inside. You know, ones with GRAY hair, and saggy buttocks and stringy arms. And a dog. Mr. Bill took his dog to work. Ok, ok, I can do this.
And I did. I was a member for three years, following this "program," and meeting people, feeling better, "expanding my horizons." I went on the occasional hike, which included stops along the way at member's homes for rest and refreshment. Mr. Bill also gave an annual party at his house. He celebrated "Cinco di Mayo" and we all chipped in bringing dishes while he provided the beer.
However, I learned that Mr. Bill was not actually celebrating "Cinco di Mayo" because it was a great holiday or he had Latino roots (He was about as Irish as one can be) but that this was his "second birthday." He had been out jogging one morning (happened to be the fifth of May) when he was struck by a car. The car kept going and as he laid there on the side of the road.
Somehow he wound up in a hospital....alive. Ergo, his "second birthday" that he celebrated every year.
My actual birthday was just a couple of weeks ago, but today, June 30th, is my second birthday. After having a botched surgery, followed by pneumonia, followed by lethargy, inability to eat, walk...anything....I was taken to the hospital on June 30th...a large, teaching hospital with state of the art equipment, and my life was saved with a major open surgery and repair of a bile leak and intestinal perforation. I had lost 50 pounds in those few months. My hair was falling out. Weak and tired hardly covers it. But I lived.
I won't be having a party, only home made chicken tarragon salad and pasta salad with peas and eggs. But there will be a large bottle of prosecco and gratitude to my friend and neighbor who drove me to the hospital and, of course, the doctors who saved my life. I may never be quite the same again, but I am eating and cooking, walking, getting outside, feeding the cats, folding laundry, reading and exercising as per the instructions of the lady who treats me with shiatsu. Yes, shiatsu. More on that later, it's time now for prosecco!!
