We all gathered at Casa Bellamia Friday evening to celebrate Adrian turning 80. Low-key fun pizza event while people trickled in from around California. We gathered in the theater after the last pieces of pizza were consumed, to watch a slide show that David had prepared. The photos spanned several generations, and it was great to have both Adrian and Penny – and later on their children – narrate and explain what and who we were looking at when not obvious.
John started Saturday morning with a bike ride from Carmel to Monterey and back. He then met up with the rest of the family at the end of Ocean Street for (well-deserved) coffee and a bagel. The bike had run out of battery by then, great that Nick could offer him a ride back to the barnyard in Penny and Adrian’s brand new car.
We had a wonderful photographer come at four in the afternoon to capture the state of the family. Great fun and good energy, and the photos will be treasured for years, we’re sure.
After appetizers and drinks, Adrian was asked to come outside for a birthday surprise. Sarah, Bella, and Olivia had managed to find a female entertainer that popped out of a giant “cake”, and proceeded to sing Happy Birthday and made everyone laugh with some good family insights.
We moved inside. The singing continued for an hour – sometimes by “Marilyn” and sometimes with all of the families singing the lungs out. All men ended up with bright red lipstick on them – evident in the photos from later in the evening.
We sat down for dinner in the conservatory – served at beautifully prepared table. Sarah gave a moving speech beautifully capturing Adrian as a person. All of the four children spoke, as did many of the family members.
We eventually turned in after some more and very loud singing. Long but great and very festive day. Although it’s unlike any will be at this level, there are several significant family events in 2022.