Day 139: Willa’s 7th Birthday!!!!
We woke up with a seven-year-old in our apartment!
I keep thinking about what someone said to us about Willa back in Valparaiso, Chile — he was an American tourist about 65 or 70. He pointed to Willa and said, “I have a daughter her age. Only thing is, she’s 40!” In other words, parents can’t believe how fast time flies, and it’s true. Truer now, in my opinion, than when they were babies.
We started out the day by watching old May 24 videos and photos thanks to Google Photos — such a funny trip down birthday memory lane.
Next up: birthday treat of the day….indoor skydiving!! GameChanger friend Dane and girlfirend Ouana had recommended we do this activity, and it was such a good call.
MadridFly is one of these indoor skydiving facilities with a giant windtunnel designed to simulate the feeling of skydiving. We took an Uber about 20 minutes outside the city to get there.
We showed up at 10 am to get them suited up in red and blue bodysuits and helmets. Then they sat for a little briefing by the instructor. Key instructions: Keep your chin up and your legs straight.
Then…it was time! They went off with the instructor while Teddy and I hung back in the viewing area, astonished that James went.
I swear even three or four months ago this wouldn’t have happened. Willa was totally into it, though.
The best part of the whole thing was watching James in his little suit and goggles and helmet, sitting on the bench, waiting his turn, his little feet not touching the floor. We couldn’t get enough.
Willa went first and her little gangly legs were a-flying in that wind tunnel. James went next and his cheeks were blasted upward by the wind. They both ended up going three times, clearly loving it. By the third “flight” they were soaring up 20 feet into the air with the instructor!!
When it was over, there were rave reviews. James told the instructor that it should be called MadridFUN instead of MadridFly, and they said it was even better than the Dubai waterpark!
In the Uber back to town, Willa read aloud a birthday message emailed to me by Beepaw Jim. She paused for a second at the end of this line: “Have a great time. I wish I could be there with you, and…” and James cut in with: “and I hope you have a pleasant flight.” Hahahhahha, what?? A four year old who’s been on a zillion planes lately. We were dying.
Speaking of the Uber, our driver was a Honduran who’d lived in California but got deported for working without a visa, and had to bide his time in Spain while he figured out how to get back to his family, who’s still there. He said there are a lot of Hondurans in Spain now since the Trump administration. He was sad looking at our kids. Life is not fair.
We had some time to kill before our lunch reservation so we had him drop us at a park near the restaurant. There were a few little play areas for kids, but also plenty of benches and strolling spots for the geriatric scenesters. There were a bunch of elderly folks “exercising” on the pubic workout equipment — benches with little bike pedals, etc.
There was another crew of old folks out playing petanque with aides from a nearby nursing home. The men and women were all dressed to impress — men in suits with hair pommaded back, ladies in dresses and makeup. It was charming to sit and watch them enjoy the day together. When they left, they walked in pairs, arm in arm. Not a bad to city to grow old in!
Lunch was a real treat. Willa had requested Italian, so someone Teddy knows had recommended we try a place called The Bellini’s near Retiro.
It was perfect. Lobsy and all her sisters showed up at 1 pm for lunch seated in the lounge area which faced out on the open sidewalk.
Willa popped into the ladies room for an outfit change — got into a red frilly flamenco dress that James had given her — and dazzled the crowd when she emerged.
We had a really, really nice time. The sunny day pouring into the room, the good energy, Willa thrilled, the delicious pizzas and wine. Of course the aunts shwoered her with (tiny) gifts that she adored, which made it all the more special. Turned out perfectly.
Some aunts even helped her jump rope on the sidewalk after the meal!
She received a headband that said “Birthday Girl” that she wore for the rest of the day, prompting many well-wishers to wave and smile.
We parted ways with the aunts (for now) and set off for the park. But first: Willa wanted to get her nails painted at a salon. We happened upon one a block away. A nice Spanish lady at the manicurist table helped us translate that Willa wanted pink and purple alternating polish on her fingers.
Meanwhile, James was insisting on getting his painted too. The lady who was translating hesitated and then diplomatically said, “But….but….um…it’s not your birthday.” He sat in the chair anyway and the Asian manicurists looked at the translator in total confusion. All I could say was, It’s 2019. Ha!
He picked a light blue color.
While they got pampered, I struck up a convo with an American woman who’d been in a pedicure chair watching the whole scene. She worked for a tech company here in Madrid but was originally from NYC.
We continued on our way to the park. James tumbled on the street and scraped some of the polish off his nails, but recovered quickly.
We stopped into an epic game and puzzle shop and bought a 1000-piece puzzle for our Andalucia rental with the Voorheeses after this.
Finally made it to the park. We walked and walked and walked, absolutely loving every second of glorious sunshine. It’s the word I keep coming back to to describe the weather here: Glorious.
We’d heard that now was the prime time to see Retiro Park’s famous rose garden in full bloom, and we were not disappointed. Central Park could learn a thing or two about public park’ing from this place.
Eventually we wandered to an exit and Uber’d to the Principal Hotel, where Genevieve Gorder had told us to have a drink on the roof. The roof was full, but we found the aunts waiting for us on the next level down, which was also divine.
Our waiter was Dominican and, after some chit chat, we learned he was from the same small town where Teddy had done some baseball volunteer work 20 years ago, Consuelo. His eyes welled up and he got so excited, shaking hands and taking pictures. “You know my community!”
We relaxed there for a while. Lobsy, Teddy and I drank our traditional/annual Jameson on the rocks in honor of Willa’s birthday (long story). Willa entertained everyone with Snapchat filters, which were totally new to the aunts.
Finally we said bye to everyone, took a few final shots on the roof, and made our way home.
Willa and James got a few more presents back at the apartment — some legos, clothes — and then hit the hay, hard.
Willa told us it was the best birthday she’d had since the day of her actual birth. We have to admit it was pretty awesome.
Update: a few thoughts about Willa on her 7th Birthday
Our sweet Willa is still very verbal, super affectionate, clever and complex. She’s a heavy sleeper and flexible eater — trying everything but pasta is her fave. She’s also still obsessed with citrus and eat slices of lime like it’s apple. She’s continuing to get taller and skinnier — where do all those carbs go? She is still assertive as always, feeling comfortable as a leader and creator and her best self when among her younger cousins. She loves swimming (a total fish), climbing, tag, hide and seek and other make-believe games, preferring these over ball sports where she’s actually not bad but lacks her signature confidence. It seems like math and reading come naturally to her and all of a sudden she’s churning through books, cuddling up with her kindle every morning and night. She never paid much attention to Molly but now is giddy over dogs. I’m writing this after leaving St. Cibard and she couldn’t get enough of Oscar and Mao. She loves watching shows on her iPad and is currently into Wild Kratts, the “Who was…” biography shows and Inspector Gadget. She has “toughened up” in a lot of ways — she used to be afraid of bugs but now will seek them out and pick them up and she is a seasoned traveler, walking long distances without complaint. But she hasn’t yet consistently shown a willingness to grind through challenges or discomfort and is clever enough to find something “legit” to be upset about to get attention or provide distraction. Working on this! She loves family including grandparents and cousins and isn’t afraid to show her affection. She’s very kind to her brother — no sign of a teasing phase. She’s always been a daddy’s girl and has a more complex yet very loving relationship with her mommy. We love our seven year old girl!
