My beautiful friends!
I have a little story to tell you.
My beloved grandmother Mira (mee-ra) loved to celebrate her birthdays. It'd give her a chance to see her friends and family, all at ones. She loved to be in charge of planing those parties, loved cooking and baking. Enjoyed treating her loved ones with best food and drink, with her own kindness. She had fun watching all of us talking, joking, dancing, and laughing!.. For her 83rd and the last birthday she was not able to prepare the feast all by herself: dementia was scooping deep in her mind. But she was willing to!.. So, I took over and let her "help" me, much like in old times she'd ask little me to give her a hand over some "very valuable" tasks. And voila: 30 people sat around table in our living room with baba Mira at the central place. Was she sooo happy! Even the giant heart-shaped cake with 30 baked roses on top that ended on the carpet did not spoil the mood. (Grandma was so proud to announce that I'm a big girl now and successfully overcame her "school of culinary arts", but her arms were getting too weak...)
I inherited that craving of gala from her :)) Love to celebrate! Love my birthdays. Love being the master of ceremony. Love introducing my friends to my favorite foods and musics. Have fun dancing with them, or just having conversations.
But this year, the last year of my 40s I want to do it differently.
There were (and are) so many lovely women in my life! My grandmothers baba Rosa and baba Mira; my mom, sister, daughter, niece, and all of you, my friends, who make me feel at home in this country. I do it in your honor. Do not take me wrong: I appreciate all wonderful men that happened in it, too, but this year I'm willing to celebrate the sisterhood. I want all of us to enjoy equality, so let me share with you something that I really love myself - a sauna!
I made a reservation at this cozy place ( venik.us ) for February 6 at 2 p.m.; session ends at 5p.m. May I ask you to join me for this relaxing and unpretentious celebration. No presents, please: your presence is the best gift! Instead, please, be prepared to pay $33 fee to Misha, who is the owner of the spa.
The sauna room itself is tiny and super hot. The resting room is big as a dance floor. So, we will take turns to heat up. I usually do not last longer than 5 minutes, and time to cool down for me is approximately 20-30 minutes. I normally do three sauna turns. If you do not feel like nudity and sauna - that's fine: come just for fun and don't strip: the party room is not hot.
Although, Misha has a reserve of towels, their number is limited. So, I suggest to bring a tote with your own bath towel, swimsuit if you're shy, shampoo and conditioner, and any sort of bathing accessory you feel like... I personally like to wrap myself in a bathrobe o something of that sort.
There are going to be cold appetizers, three kinds of tea, deserts, drinking water, beer, white wine.
RSVP as soon as you can.
I'm looking forward to see you.
Love,
Svetlana.
!
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41 Lawrence Rd.
Boxford, MA
01921
: 978-476-1842
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What a lovely invitation and a very special story.
I wish I could come, but unfortunately I have an engagement with the girls I sing with.
I hope you all have a wonderful time and that you have a perfect birthday.
Much love,
Martha
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
What a wonderful celebration! I would be honored and delighted to join you and celebrate your presence on the planet---we are all the better for it!
RSVP = YES!
See you soon!
Lou
I hope this note finds you safe, warm, and well. The snow makes for slippery driving so remain off the roadways if youre able.
Thanks so very much for getting this invitation to me. Wow, Im honored to be part of your 49th b-day celebration and to spend it with members of your tribe at the authentic Russian sauna is a gift indeed!
I would be delighted to attend, Svetlana, and shall do just that.
Shall I bring food or drink for the clan? Im happy to (but dont wish to trespass any restrictions that may be set by the proprietor). You shall serve as the most awesome mistress of ceremonies!!!
See you there, Svetlana; Im looking forward to it!
--E
xxoo
Thank you so much for including me in your special birthday! I look forward to celebrating with you!
---Deb
Zdravstvyjte, dorogaya Svetlana. bolshoe spasibo za Vashe priglashenie (chitat ego bilo bolshoe ydovolstvie). Ya s YDOVOLSTVIEM prinimaju ego.
p.s. ya hodila v banu s samogo rannego detstva i tozhe ochen lublu "eto delo" :))))
do skoroy vstrechi!!!
Hi, Svetlana,
Thank you for the invite- I'm in! Looking forward to celebrating your birthday! :)
Dominique
Sveta, thank you so much for the invitation, and sorry that I have not replied sooner.
Unfortunately I will not be able to make it as it turned our that I needed to attend a birthday party of Alexandra's friend from her preschool, and I won't be able to make it to both.
Have a great time!
Anya
I wanted to let you know I will be able to come this Sunday:) I was hoping for the address to drive down. I'm still waiting to hear from Maria, more than likely she is coming, but I am not sure yet.
-Mandy
What a lovely story about your grandmother! Thank you to the invite to celebrate with you on Feb 6th. I would love to come. And my husband has agreed to babysit our toddler for the afternoon! So I can make it for at least a couple hours. I will plan to bring some snacks. It has been a long time since my last "real" sauna, when I lived in Finland for a year in 1995. I look forward to seeing you there, and meeting your friends and family too!
With many happy birthday wishes to you,
Mary-Ann
