I wanted birthday cake, well at least a birthday cupcake, which was not on the menu at the Sushi place where Elaine and I celebrated my birthday dinner.  So, we checked google maps for local bakeries which might be open on a snowy Wednesday evening and we found ourselves at Birch Tree Bread Company.

An open parking meter beckoned us right across from the entrance.  We trudged across the snowy street, climbed the wooden stairs of the old mill and opened the heavy door to enter Birch Tree.  And there in the bakery case were two spiced pear mini-cupcakes with raspberry frosting.  We announced my birthday to the barista who produced a single candle but being a young and healthy kind of coffee shop, no one smoked and no one had a lighter or match.

Maybe it was the absurdity of an unlit birthday candle on a tiny birthday cupcake.  Maybe it was the way I smiled at the four-year-old girl dancing in front of the single guitar singer with abandon.  Maybe it had to do with the fact that the tippy tall table at which we sat tipped and wet hot latte spilled and overflowed its saucer; I laughed as Elaine scrambled for napkins, together we cleaned up the mess which was no one’s fault.

He began singing “Wise men say, only fools rush in…” I said to Elaine, “Dance with me.”  She shook her head.  We were in a coffee shop for heaven’s sake, surrounded by straight people and nuclear families.  “But I can’t help falling in love with you.”  “It’s my birthday, dance with me.”

Maybe it was the laughter in my mouth or the love in her eyes.  Maybe it was the soft way her cheek leaned against mine.  Maybe it was the silly, awkward right left right as we tried to figure out which one was leading.  But when the song was over and we sat back down, laughing with love in our eyes, he put down his guitar and came to our table.

“I’m really glad you were here tonight.  Your love is palpable.  It’s so clear you really love each other.  My boyfriend isn’t here tonight.  But I’m going to tell him about your love, about your presence, about your blessing.”  We sat there and grinned.  He went back on stage, picked up his guitar and began his next song.

So, there was the light of the flame on the birthday candle.  We were blessed with love, a birthday blessing of love.