The birthday pageant

It takes a village to raise a child, Hillary Clinton once wrote, appropriating an old proverb thought to have African origins. Here's a twist on that: It takes a village to praise a 90-year-old. Especially when that nonagenarian believes in her own specialness. "I think I'm entitled to a party, aren't I? she asked recently. "It's not every day you turn 90." Let's face it: By the time you're a nonagenarian, you have a accrued a good number of relatives and friends. So my siblings and I threw a surprise party for mom with about 35 of them. Despite her own suggestion of a party, she walked in the door not entirely shocked but a little intimidated by the crowd that met her angling for hugs and "look here" photos. As is her nature, she greeted guests wearing a gold sash with the number 90 on it. She sashayed around like a senior beauty pageant winner. Two days later, she couldn't wait to tell me about some of her gifts: a Bette ...