“Getting old sucks. Unless you’re a butterfly larvae. They get to eat like pigs, choosing all the best leaves, go into their cocoons for a spell, then bam… out pops a magnificent butterfly.

My cocoon is a cottage in Laguna Beach that’s been in my family for almost 100 years. My little piece of paradise. I’ve been hibernating for five years after the assassination of my husband in Mexico.  It’s my birthday and the start of my seventieth year. I may not become a butterfly but I’m beginning to consider it’s time for some kind of metamorphosis. 

A light knock at my kitchen door followed by a yip from Poppy’s new pup, Triste, and I checked my bedside clock. April is still chilly in the mornings here on the coast, so lounging under my comforter as I contemplated my future had caused me to linger longer than usual, and Poppy was looking for our usual morning breakfast routine. She’s my great niece who lives in my guest house and usually brightens my days. When I smelled the coffee, I untangled myself, grabbed a comfy sweater and followed the aroma.

“Buenos dias, Tia! Happy birthday. Sixty nine and holding now? Wow… wasn’t that a big sex thing in the 70’s? Kind of an inspiring age, I’m thinking.” She’s a tease, often a victim of speaking before thinking. Usually I found it endearing. Today, not so much.

“Poppy. Best keep your thoughts to yourself until I have some of that coffee.” I knew that sounded harsh, but she knows me too well to take offense.

“Okey dokey,” she said with her usual sarcastic lilt. “Maybe these special birthday donuts will brighten your day. Hot out of the fryer. Shall I put 69 candles in one of them?”

I groaned. “You can’t stop yourself, can you?” When I grabbed one of the old fashioned treats with chocolate glaze she laughed.

“I know the key to your heart via tummy. Good thing I got a dozen, cuz those candles will take some doing. Let’s see… ten on 6, then 9 on the 7th. Or maybe it should be 6 on 11, then 3 on one? That will be spectacular. Oops, you already ate #12.” She found that funny and I had to chuckle a bit. “Of course, we should probably do it outside so we don’t set off the smoke alarm.”