Happy birthday to Dev.
Here is a quiet little happy birthday wish. I have written my big birthday wishes on our shared blog.
But here, here I am taking a step away from the party, standing in the kitchen, checking we have enough plates and getting canapés out of the oven.
If you pop in here then I shall assume you are a friend, that you know me well and have come to see if I need a hand. I shall whisper to you that I miss him. I shall tell you that I am so proud of him, so in love with him and how much I wish I could squeeze his hand and kiss him.
I shall tell you all this and you will understand enough to smile gently and briefly touch my arm in solidarity. You will understand enough to help me put out the next set of nibbles onto plates and return, with a smile and a joke, to the party.
Poppy, good morning.
and warm 
‘s
May I join you in the kitchen, I won’t offer to help with the drinks, as my hands are a little shaky, but I can manage a couple of plates of nibbles
I hope that you have a good day, even though you can’t be with him.
Paul.
You wrote a fabulous piece for the blog sweetie. Big hugs to both of you today.
Poppy, it’s my pleasure to lend you a hand! It’s my prayer that both of you will be in each other’s arms soon, and may the love both of you share blossom even further. Warm hugs to both of you.
Thinking of you Poppy. I know special occasions can be bittersweet when you are far away from the one you love most; but what you and Dev have transcends the size of the Atlantic Ocean a million-fold and more. I hope you find your special way to celebrate until the two of you can be in the same place again.
Ari
Poppy, one of you needs to move. Life is short. And I can’t find a smiley with the right expression.
Poppy, I will try to be strong and not let the tears glittering in my eyes distract you from your hostess duties. I’m pretty good at clean-up. I’ll start on the dishes.
Hugs!
Ephemera
PS. I’ve quoted you again on my Concupiscence blog. You’ve impacted my life in wonderful ways. Thank you.
Poppy, if no one is looking I will give you a big hug, and then change the subject and help you with the nibbles.
Just remember this 
Poppy, I wish you two could be together today to celebrate Dev’s birthday. You wrote such a lovely card about Devlin today, it was very sweet.
I hope you could be together soon.
To, Dev, happy birthday and many more.
I certainly will be over helping out in the kitchen. I brought my Irish Potatoes and creme de menthe brownies for dessert. I’ve got my apron on so I am ready for work, but first a toast
Oh, and Poppy, if Alice can hug you and she is Brittish, then I can too.
big hugs.
I’m quite good at keeping myself busy at parties cooking and cleaning so you feel free to go mingle. I would love to help.
Huge hugs to you.
You wrote a beautiful and sweet piece on his blog, the type of birthday gift that will always remain.
Oh, I think before you go back out to party, we should try out a new cocktail…I am still figuring out how to add chocolate to it though…but I will think of something.
Hi Raven – take a look at these! http://www.squidoo.com/chocolate_cocktails
Hi Poppy, something smells delicious in here! I brought you a new apron to wear, it’s covered with ruffles, red hearts and red poppies, and it makes you look like a flower yourself. That’s a lovely look for a birthday celebration!
Everything you do and everything you say is part of the bouquet of love and life you give to Dev every day. Because of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, you walked into his. It happened for a reason, for both of you. Every thing always does. And that’s something to celebrate, too.
Do you know what?
I knew the kitchen was always the best place to hang out during parties but you all prove it.
Paul, you can bring moral support and be a taster.
Kate, you are the best cook ever, whatever you make will go down a storm.
Mindy, thank you so much and me too.
Arianna, thank you for all you have done- you helped make it extra special.
Wordsmith, life is complicated old thing and the Atlantic and both governments are not terribly into love.
Ephemera, a friend that starts on the dishes is always a delight. I am coming over to your blog after this. Thank you for saying something so kind.
Alice, thank you and I will just remember that.
Kaki, lets drink to all that and you can only hug if you don’t tell.
Annie, crikey, don’t send me out of the kitchen alone, one out all out- but only after a drink or two.
Raven, thank you so much and now for the chocolate cocktails, drinking together cures most things, don’t you think?
Scarlet, that is the prettiest apron ever! I love to look cute in the kitchen, Dev will be thrilled when he sees it. That is a beautiful thing you said, right there. I feel like it is my birthday too now.
Annie
I have taken a look…and have not stopped yet. I am SO going to try each and every one of them.
Dang it, Scarlet! I thought I was through being weepy for this birthday, but noooo! You had to put Poppy in Ilsa’s dress and open my bourbon bottle. Well, I’ll get over it. I have to. I can’t say this with a quaver in my voice.
Poppy, here’s looking at you, kid.
Dev, that’s not me, that’s just life. There are things and events and people in our lives for a reason, and the mystery is that we never know why. But we still have laughter and joy, and with every birthday, the mystery and the miracle multiply.
xo
That does it. I’m getting out the DVD.
Poppy, I never know what is the proper etiquette for responding to a comment one has posted on my blog. So, I’ve posted this response in both places. I hope you don’t think me redundant.
“Thank you, Poppy — for so very much. I feel such a kindred-ness with you, as though you found the place in me that craves all the sorts of things you write about. And when you describe these things, my heart leaps, and races and tumbles into my tummy. I am discovering so much about myself, and you often inspire me to dig deeper, and explore my own ideas and needs even further. I am more thankful each day that I found your blog and am able to read it. I wish you every happiness today, and always, and I’ll stop now, because I don’t want you to have to stare at any more empty boxes. Just smile and have some chocolate, okay?”
Ephemera