Birthday in the sign of orange

• Manja Mexi Mexcessive

Today celebrates my friend Darja. No matter that the passage of time clearly doesn’t affect you, I still wish to gift you a tune, a poem and some happy images of together times.

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O

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First the soundtrack. It could be The Doors, since on this day Jim Morrison was born back in 1943, or it could be John Lennon since on this day in 1980 his life on earth tragically ended. Alas, here to bring out the Italian in everyone is a man whom you love and have heard live several times – Mr. Mike Patton.

Next, a little anecdote poem:

Orange

Grandpa might not be good with names

but he could make a mean goulash.

So when you came by while I was out

and left me a basketful of goodies

it was with deepest respect for all that’s good

that he replied to my inquisitive glance:

“Who left it? Your friend, you know the one,

with hair like goulash.”

You moved from Slovenia to England a long time ago and live an hour from London, I live halfway between Siena and Rome, so nowadays we see each other once a year but as you correctly said – better once than not at all. The last time I visited you was in 2010 for the Pearl Jam concert. I truly hope that you and your humorous Scottish husband will visit us in Tuscany too one day.

And finally, here is a compilation of our fun times in images with some other orange moments thrown in. Because orange is not a new anything, it’s always been and it’s here to stay.

  • This was when your naughty husband (look at his hand!) celebrated big. Today is your turn.
  • A proper Londoner. Just that now you’re riding a mean bike.
  • In London we watched the soccer match England vs. Slovenia in a pub. We lost but only just. Here it seems as if I was rooting for England.
  • In the official Slovenian jersey that your parents got you. You’re brave, I like that about you.
  • London beach.
  • Who doesn’t know that he is Slovenian? We missed him by a few days.
  • This was my second visit. We always have a good time.
  • After a few days in London I moved to your house in the countryside and we went to Dorset on a day trip. This is in Lulworth Cove, I presume.
  • You showed me how you take your coffee. (Really? The first time I saw this.)
  • Cheerio and all that at your local pub.
  • One of the last photos I took in your kitchen before catching the bus to the airport.
  • Four years later and everything was different for me: country, amore, dog. On a visit to the park and three ponds in Maribor where my grandma often took me.
  • I got you this ring (by Diana Mureškič). I was glad to see your reaction.
  • In the winter you visited us in our parents’ home. Bestia jumped on you in the next photo.
  • In 2017 in our Piran garden for the first time after your surprise visit for my 40th birthday with our other university friend. The best surprise I could get.
  • The next summer you returned to Piran with your husband.
  • And this summer as well. I love it that it’s getting regular. Here you are with the boys: your husband, your father, my father and bestia.
  • Bestia loved your mother the most.
  • Then you just had to model this door because you go together so well.
  • The sunset in Piran is often orange.
  • As is its seafood. At Pirat.
  • Now let’s move to Tuscany where we live like these two pigeons. Chilling.
  • We have oranges in December. This is in Rome but they are not eating them. Not sweet enough, they say.
  • The nature takes care of tree ornaments for Christmas itself.
  • I will make this bieda/bietola, as Italians call Swiss chard, for dinner tonight. I know you grow your own. Your husband has learned Slovenian word for it: blitva. Do you have all these rainbow colours?
  • My grandpa’s goulash wouldn’t be for you since you’re vegetarian, but this melanzane alla parmigiana of amore would be perfect. What are you waiting for?
  • More orangey goodies: filled zucchini. For you we will fill it with something else. I like the colour combo. Do you remember how I hated red sauces before moving to Italy?
  • And finally, isn’t it funny how some things survive everything? You gifted me this brooch a long time ago, and I still rest my eye on it up on the curtain daily. I took this photo now especially for this post. Thank you!

Dear Darja, who knows where in the world you are celebrating right now. Wherever it is, cheers and to many more happy years!

Also in response to Patrick Jennings’ Pic and a Word Challenge #209: Orange

18 thoughts on “Birthday in the sign of orange”

  4. I love friendships like this! You may not see each other often but when you do it seems like no time has passed! I did not get the orange meaning in your poem until I saw the picture of the goulash. I always thought it was brown but your goulash picture here makes me hungry….

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Irma. You’re right, it’s this kind of friendship. You’re also right about the goulash. It depends on who is making it but it’s really more brown than orange. Just like her hair, actually. 😉 However, there is no photo of goulash. Read the captions again. These are other orangey dishes. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. Pingback: Wheelhouse ~ Pic and a Word Challenge #210 – Pix to Words

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