Sunday, March 2, 2008

Feliz Anniversario Da


Mariko beat me to the first post but I figured I had to post independently. I was even wondering if I could find a way to make Mariko's post become a comment in my post but I'm not that blogliterate yet. Plus I wouldn't want to risk any ire. In commemoration of Damaris' 25th birthday I will share a story about the first time I thought I might marry Damaris. I remember riding down in the car with a friend Mary to eat at a Brazilian dinner Damaris was cooking in Amherst. I thought I hadn't really been invited but Mary convinced me that I was and I don't usually pass up free Brazilian food. We were talking about qualifications for future partners. I was turning the discussion into typical rant about consumer society, my future sustainable home, international living, and all my other crazy ideas. Mary was trying to gently inform me that girls like to have nice things (matching furniture, new clothes), and live in non-scary places (the US). But she as nice and wished me luck in finding a girl to accompany me on my wild adventures. My lack of serious compatibility in earlier interests made me suspect she might have a point. As luck would have it, I didn't have to wait long. The next day (Damaris had convinced me to forgo my ride home and stay the weekend) I was having a similar conversation with Damaris and was getting way more positive feedback. That afternoon I realized that there was some serious potential although it took a little bit longer before I way hooked. But some central elements were begun on that first weekend, good cooking, amazing conversations, and uncanny agreement about all of the most important things in life. The more we talked, danced, cooked, skated, hiked, and generally hung out the more I realized that I had found the perfect person for me. Five years later I'm more convinced than ever that Damaris is an amazing, wonderful, beautiful, and basically perfect. I'm super stoked she was born 25 years ago.

5 comments:

Damaris @Kitchen Corners said...

I am so glad I convinced you to stay that weekend, and many others. I do like nice clothes but you're lucky to have a mother who knows my exact style and sends me amazing stuff, an aunt that also finds me good things, a sister who saves me things from the swap shop and a sister in law who gives me hand me downs. You're also lucky that you have an uncanny eye for the perfect size pants in the freebin. Thank you for giving me such a fun birthday. You are my bestest present ever. (I know this is cheesy for everyone else but I really do love Christian, Pammy knew what she was saying in her comment)

Jesse said...

Happy Birthday Da. Wow, 25. A full quarter century. You have been a good sport about putting up with the debris from Christian's first marriage. I must say, you've made a lot more progress with him than I ever did. It was fun to hang out and get to know you better this last summer. We should keep it up. You could get a grant to do some research on all the Brazilians here, or something. Hope you have a great year.

Damaris @Kitchen Corners said...

thanks Jesse. My dream is to go to Japan. It has been for a long time. I thanked Christian for such a fun birthday and he said welcome and to only expect something this fun in another 25 years. So who knows maybe when I turn 50 we can go to Japan for my birthday. Christian said he had to marry me because I always remember everyone's birthday and apparently you didn't do a very good job at always remembering his. We'll for sure hang out more. I really hope you get a teaching job in NORCAL.

chelsea said...

HI!! Happy Birthday Da!! So, I'm new to blogging, but I love reading the Palmer and Friends blog...it makes me so happy. I just started one too, it is: www.chelsealuvsrobby.blogspot.com.
I miss you guys...i'm so glad I can read about how you're doing now & i love the pictures.
lots of love-chelsea

Mariko said...

I am so surprised that you think I was teasing you about Christian being so super-guy (man just doesn't seem to be the right word here)! I am totally sincere whenever I comment about him doing exactly the right thing at exactly the right time. It's downright uncanny, and annoying to us less perfect people. But I do like how I can recount the whole incident to Jake, and plant some possible ideas for the future. :)