Samantha invited no one to her sixtieth birthday party. At work there was already a corporate party and congratulatory songs, when the woman just wanted to go home and spend the evening before the weekend in peace. And the thought of Saturday night going like this – in the noise with a crowd of neighbors and girlfriends of her youth, depressed her. She just wanted a family dinner with the kids, and all her friends to say hello only over the phone.
But her dreams were not destined to come true. Her three daughters lived in different cities, all with their own families and concerns, and her sons moved to another country. That’s how it would seem that five children would never make a mother feel lonely, but that’s exactly what she was on her birthday.
As a present to herself, she got up later and made her favorite pancakes with banana puree and peanuts, washed it all down with tart strong tea, and prepared to watch TV alone until the evening, when near noon the doorbell rang.
Samantha wasn’t expecting anyone and was adamant, thinking that colleagues from work or neighbors might be up to something, and what was her surprise when her closest family – three daughters and two sons – were at the door. They had traveled a great distance to get together on this day, but the tears in her mother’s eyes told her it had been worth it. And no gifts, and she didn’t need anything else. The important thing was that her loved ones were there for her.
