Jaine Toth
Don and Jaine Toth don’t fuss over birthdays and anniversaries. Lunch or dinner out is usually sufficient. But certain milestones lend themselves to more. Our kids took us on a family vacation for our 50th. And now, we just made it to 60, even though all our friends thought we were so mismatched they tried to talk us out of getting married, warning: “It can never last.” Fooled ‘em, huh? Some of them ended up divorced. We didn’t!
Don doesn’t care to travel anymore so we opted for a family lunch, which turned into a mini-family reunion. Some relatives hadn’t seen each other for five years, some for 50 years! And we got to meet some spouses for the first time. Everyone was so glad to be gathering for a happy occasion instead of one of the ever-increasing funerals.
Friend and Robson resident Georgette Littlejohn catered it. Her reputation for delicious food and scrumptious desserts goes beyond the food itself. We only expected a tasty repast, but Georgette and husband Michael came in and transformed our dining area into a first-class dining establishment.
On arrival, people saw an easel displaying a framed welcome sign that invited guests to write their names and congratulatory sentiments. Tables and chairs covered in stretchy white linens gave the little dining area the feeling of an intimate fancy restaurant. Crystal candle holders adorned one table while a stand of tea lights hanging from a white painted tree branch adorned the other. The base of the branch, a square crystal box, displayed four photos of Don and I on each side. Those photos were again used on circular paper with the number 60 dotting the round border and the menu printed on top of the photo. These were taped to glass dishes, which served as placemats. Tented cards with each guest’s name printed in an elegant font were set by their plate service so folks who didn’t yet know each other could put names with faces. Even the napkins had our names and “60th Anniversary” printed on them. And Georgette didn’t stop there. Refrigerator magnets that read, “Thank you for celebrating with us. Don and Jaine 60 years” were given to take home as a remembrance.
For our main dishes we selected pesto pasta with shrimp and chicken in a creamy dijon sauce. I mentioned to her that my daughter doesn’t eat dairy and my son won’t eat shrimp, so this way each had a dish that met their needs. When the food was set out, I noted she’d added pesto pasta without shrimp and a vegan dijon sauced chicken. She even added some veggies and hummus to munch on while waiting for all the food to be set out.
During set up and breakdown, Georgette and Michael’s joyful personalities turned what could have been a dull, boring task into a vibrant, festive circle of camaraderie. They, along with our family, helped make it a memorable event. Now we look beyond the 60 years and continue to create cherished memories.