Hard to believe. HG was 92 on Nov. 9. Many affectionate emails and phone calls from family and friends (plus some much appreciated generous gifts). Let’s face it. 92 isn’t aging or mature. 92 is old. However, HG has enough unimpaired faculties to enjoy life, swimming, the delights of Prince Edward Island and New Mexico. So, after 20 laps in HG/BSK’s heated indoor pool, it was off to birthday dinner at Compound Restaurant in Santa Fe. Forget the food and wine for a moment. The star of the evening was BSK. The woman was the epitome of chic, style and beauty. Ageless. During 20 months in PEI and homecoming to New Mexico, HG has only seen BSK in sweatpants and other very casual attire. No makeup. For HG birthday, BSK did full “dress up.” The color was black. Round neck silk blouse in a black and white abstraction. Kenzo jacket and pants. All bought in Paris 25 years ago. Still the height of style. Attire fit forever svelte BSK perfectly. Yes, HG is 92 and after 58 years of marriage HG remains in love with a wondrous, creative woman. Dinner was upscale. Shared sensational tuna tartare which was finely chopped, topped with black caviar and accompanied by walnut toast, savory mayonnaise and wasabi sauce. Mains were seared greens and wild mushrooms over polenta (a BSK favorite). For HG, a huge dish of two (sizeable) striped bass filets accompanied by cockles in a spicy tomato sauce. These good things rested on a layer of spaghetti squash enriched by tomatoes, peppers, onions, mushroom slivers in a briny sauce with hints of garlic. For dessert, HG had an “Opera” cake. Chocolate mousse enrobed in thick chocolate sauce. There was a bit of ganache and a layer of butterscotch and bittersweet chocolate sauces. Well, if this was an “Opera”, it was a duet sung by Placido Domingo and Joan Sutherland. The food was sumptuous and the Prosecco and Provencal Rose’ accented it but all the feasting was overshadowed by BSK’s dazzling presence.
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