My First Fiftieth Party

Because I am intending to have a few more! ;-) I know and love FAR too many people to have just one party, so I've decided to have several.
This one was the closest to the actual date, and was very, very special.

 The whole gang on Sunday evening - friends from Wellington who came over for the weekend and friends from the Wairarapa who came over for dinner. From left running up that side of the table then down the right: Chris, Hedy (standing), MrC (standing) Ann, Terry, Katherine, Jo (almost entirely hidden), Me, Mike, Sue (you can just see the back of her head) John, Maria, Steve, Martin, and Paul.

 This is me in my bunny ears made by Paul, having just cut my surprise birthday cake made by sister Jo!

Fifty years teaches you how to blow out birthday candles easily. ;-)

But oh, would you believe I got a song sung in my honour! To the tune of Delta Dawn by Helen Reddy, each lot of friends wrote a verse and sang it, about me in their lives. I simply have to share it with you because it is SO good! Terry master minded this surprise, and it was very moving - I was conducting and blubbing at the same time!

Verse 1 (Jo my sister)

Born the second child of a florist and joiner

Had a love of puddles and a go at being a dancer

I wasn’t there when you got your special name

But Dolly you are and there’s no one else the same

Verse 2 (Ross my bff of 37 years)

We met in the third form at Hutt Valley High

Already a fag hag out there on the sly

It was always next to you in Latin we’d meet

A loyal friend you were to let me cheat

 Chorus:

Maryanne

Fifty years since you began

Swooping through the Hutt and on without reserve

And did I hear you say

Constance’s taking it to the stage

To get the adoration you deserve

Verse 3 (Terry; Ross's partner and my partner in much mischief)

It’s twenty years since Ross’s thirtieth party

I remember thinking you were you oh so arty

Since then we’ve founded the maximalist fabulous movement

Over six margueritas we laughed to our amusement (it was 7, actually but who's counting!)

Verse 4 (MrC)

Fourteen years since we met that night online

Who would know that you would soon be mine

It’s been a roller coaster from the start

But the thing that’s got us through is your warm heart

 

Verse 5 (Ann, who is just wonderful)

She’s 41 and allegedly she’s turned fifty

All the folks round Cuba say she’s nifty

‘Cause there’s naught to which she cannot turn her hand

‘Specially with that mysterious dark-haired man

Verse 6 (Chris and Paul, who I met when Paul came into the shop and we are now firm friends!)

On a quest to craft and get our sparkle flare on

Graced to meet beauty down at Made-on-Marion

Creative, dramatic and a good Samaritan

To befriend another immigrant gay American

Verse 7 (Ann again - this verse in honour of the day Ann, Terry and Ross were all on the same plane and fell in love with one another, before they then found out that they all knew me! I love that kind of crazy coincidence!)

She’s thoughtful and she’s generous and she’s witty

Otherwise we wouldn’t be singing this ditty

But once she forgot to introduce her friends

Left it to Air NZ to make amends

I also must acknowledge Hedy who eschewed a verse in favour of accompanying us on the ukelele. It was marvellous!

You know, nothing beats having wonderful people in one's life. :)