I love birthdays! Usually I celebrate mine for a least a week! This year, my 79th, was just a bit different. First, when planning the schedule for Becas Vallarta’s monthly breakfasts, it turned out that the February one at the River Café fell on February 16th - my birthday.

Then about a couple of weeks before the event, I came down with a cold which progressed into acute bronchitis. My wonderful Dr. Jamie Casteñada told me I had to go into the hospital. I told him that was impossible that I had too much to do for the upcoming breakfast and Becas Ball. He insisted and I resisted.

Those of you who know me, know that I can be quite stubborn, so with promises to stay in the condo, rest, take two different antibiotics and nebuliz three times a day, he acquiesced and even took us to buy the nebulizer and the antibiotics.

It worked, I did all he asked and took turns in bed and at the computer/and or the telephone. Linda Wirth, who also felt rotten with a cold and with whom I am responsible for many of the chores needed for the breakfast and the ball, and I did an amazing amount of the needed work without leaving our houses. I began to feel better!

With permission from Dr. C. to attend the breakfast, I called on many Becas members to help - Terry Wirth, Aurora de la Torre, Len Ambrose, Carl Johnson (also with a cold) Pat and Richard Bendix, Alfredo Franco, Mary Ann Runalde and of course Linda, who still wasn’t up to snuff. They came through incredibly as everything went smoothly for our more than 150 attendees.

The folks at The River Café, under the direction of Eva Sánchez, Michael Boufford and Clau Diconca, did a fantastic job. People were served a delicious breakfast promptly and at the correct temperature.

Becas supporters bought a record number of silent auction items and raffle tickets for prizes donated by these wonderful Becas supporters: Archi’s Wok, Canopy River, Casa Magna Marriott, Cassandra Shaw Jewelry, Coco’s Kitchen, Coyul Licoreria, Daiquiri Dick's, Don Guacamole, Época, FlorArt, Flowers to Go, Ingé Lokos, June Rosen, Lalo Morales, La Palapa, Liverpool, Los Veranos Canopy Tour, Los Bambinos, Lucy’s Cucú Cabaña, Hank and Conrad, Marcelo Mico Pilates, Marina Vallarta Club de Golf, Nacho Daddy, Nancy Charney, Peking Restaurant, Vallarta Botanical Gardens, Red Cabbage, River Café, Tapiz at Vallarta Botanical Gardens, The No Name Bar & Grill and Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates.

After all the prizes were awarded and I thought it was time to go, I was told to "cool it" for a few minutes at which time entered Los Bambinos, Carlos, Lazzarro, Immer and Giorgio to sing Las Mañanitas (Happy Birthdy) to me.

I have never had almost 200 people sing Happy Birthday to me before and it was a teary moment. But my Bambinos changed the mood by doing a peppy rendition of La Bamba followed by Elvira, a song Husband helps them with and always elicits laughter and cheers.

They were great, as always and I reminisced that Carlos sang for my 65th birthday party at Las Animas and has done so every birthday since, adding his three brothers as they came of age.

Having gotten past the teary moment, Michael did me in. He rolled out a huge birthday cake compliments of River Cafe, not only for me, but for my friend Jerry Wilson whose birthday was the next day. It was delicious, beautiful and totally unexpected.

In addition to bringing me through the gambit of emotions - all good - the breakfast brought in enough funds to pay for 15 junior high scholarships for a whole year! I say again, "What a Way to Spend a Birthday!"

Note: Don’t forget the upcoming Becas Ball, celebrating 50 years of giving scholarships to bright, but economically challenged young Vallartenses, on Saturday, February 26, 2011 in the grand ballroom of the Casa Magna Marriott Hotel in the Marina. The gala event will begin at 7 pm with a free cocktail hour followed at 8 pm by a four course gourmet dinner with white and red wine.

There will be a silent auction of fabulous prizes, door prizes and a few surprises. Grupo Cubano willl delight the attendees with their fabulous music for dancing and their beautifully choreographed show.

Tickets to the Becas Ball are $1200 pesos or $100 USD each, and must be purchased in advance. Table may only be reserved for tables of 10, 12 or 14 with the purchase of the majority of the tickets Call me at (322) 223-1371 or email me at phvicars(at)gmail.com. Not many tickets left, so get yours today!