Birthday Surprise!

by angeliska on January 11, 2011

I may not be able to muster the language to accurately express just how outrageously marvelous
my birthday extravaganza really was, and I wish that the few photos I managed to remember to
capture that night could really do it justice (let me tell you that they don’t even really come close!)
Dana + Raven
Dana and Raven were the most perfect winter maidens! Being surrounded by my beloved sistren,
family and friends and having the honor of sharing a birthday celebration with my lovely Dana was
beyond amazing, but little did I know that the best was yet to come! If I waited any longer to share
the news, I might just burst in a shower of crystalline confectionery, and that wouldn’t be any good, so….
us
We step like Plush,
We stand like snow,
The waters murmur new.

– Emily Dickinson
We’re getting married! Colin surprised me by proposing last night, after an exquisite birthday dinner, in our kitchen,
surrounded by the shining faces of dear friends. Holy moly. I think writing it just actually made it feel real…
I was so stunned at the moment he told me that he “would very much like for us to be wed”, I thought
I might just spontaneously combust with joy. I could only laugh with delight, and kiss him my answer, which I
truly gave him long ago: the first time we kissed. Everyone in the room was crying I think, and then there was
much celebration, but me – I’m crying with happiness as I write this, as I share this now, because telling it makes
it true, makes it hit home that I’m not actually dreaming. As I see it, having a wedding is a form of ceremonial magic
that solidifies a bond between two lovers, and also between their families, communities, their paths. We’ve been together
for five years, we have a home together, we create together, and in the eyes of Texas common-law, and for all
practical purposes, we are already married. But doing this thing together, the two of us, and everyone we
love – it makes magic. It brings all that energy together to send sweetness and strength along with us as we
travel on our shared path. Marriage ceremonies are the only form of ritual magic that are commonly practiced
by most people, and there’s a reason why we need them – and why we need a party, too – with lots of dancing
and merry-making! Being married isn’t just about the two people who already know they want to spend the
rest of their lives together – it’s about radiating that personal love outward, and making it manifest in our lives,
our lifetimes, and beyond. I can’t tell you how excited I am about that prospect, and about joining hands with
Colin, who is such an amazing person. We both got real lucky when we found each other, and we know it.
So, consider this a save the date of sorts! 11-11-11, it’s on – here in Texas! Folktale wedding in the country, y’all.
Get your fantastical ensembles together, and find me some deft elves to embroider seed pearls on a silver gown!
birthday girl
Yes, so – best birthday, ever. All I can do is glow.
I think I might be able to illuminate broken lightbulbs with
my little finger, I’m glowing so hard! This is the face of deep,
deep happiness. This is the face of a woman in love.
Kitty
Oh yes, and there was a party! It was thronging with gorgeous ice nymphs (like Kitty, here), and strewn
with white lace, fairy lights, fir trees and white doves – unfortunately, I didn’t get too many pictures because
my camera seems to have finally bitten the dust! I was able to borrow one for the evening, but wasn’t too
familiar with it, and also enormously distracted by wonderfulness at every turn! Hopefully more photos
will emerge soon, and perhaps then I will have a moment to go into greater detail about the delicious feast!
Sarah
The beautiful Sarah Killz on washboard. I love having friends make music in my parlor.
Nothing makes a house as warm, or as happy – many thanks to That Damned Band and friends!
Frannie
Frannie played her musical saw – she’s really good at making it sound like a mermaid singing!
Hailey
Miss Hailey Tuck, one of the prettiest, sweetest little ladies I have ever laid my eyes on.
I’m going to build her a gilded miniature castle in my backyard so we can drink rose-raspberry
gin fizzes all day and brush each other’s hair. She wore white with tiny red vintage heels, so perfect!
Seed
La Bella Seed Terranova, snow princess extraordinaire!
Melanie
Melanie presented me with this astounding ram’s skull! I’ve always longed for one!
Maybe I should bronze it and have it mounted on the front of my car, eh?
Jason + Dominique
Jason Darling + Dominique Vyborny, professional wood-elves.
Pearl
This is my fairy god-daughter Pearl! Isn’t she just so beautiful?
Mark + Dana
Mark and Dana being here for our birthdays made it the most special.
They are such beloved friends, and having them there when Colin proposed
was so perfect, especially since I performed their wedding ceremony! Dana
inspired me so much with her kitchen alchemy – she’s a trim little apron-wearing
hearth-goddess, whipping up flurries of salted caramels and beef bourguignon!
Silky + Sym
Silky Shoemaker + Sym Prole. Big love.
Kelley
Miss Kelley in her magical moss hat!
Charlene
Charlene is a bad-ass DJ! She set up in our Korean War disko-tent, where we had also installed a big old
wood-burning stove (upon which infused hot mulled cider and wine), and it was definitely the place to be!
Charlene is also an incredible massage therapist. She came over on my birthday and gave me a serious
massage in the kitchen because it was the only warm place! Then everyone came home and started peeling
potatoes and making birthday cake, and it felt like we were Transylvanian peasants in a one-room hut, with
everyone talking, laughing, cooking and doing healing work – all together, chaotic and beautiful!
Kitty!
Kitty doing her Stevie Nicks impression! Twirl, twirl!
birthday girl
More to come, soon – (ring pictures, as soon as I can do it justice!) Right now, I just really need to absorb
the magnitude of everything I’ve experienced over the last 48 hours, and to let it sink in that this is really
happening! I really do keep pinching myself… I had a feeling that this year was going to be good, but I
had no idea it get off to such a wondrous start! I definitely feel like 2011 is going to be incredibly auspicious,
and not just because I was born at 11:11am, on the 10th day of the first month! My friend pointed out today
that my birthday was a palindrome this year: 1-10-2011 and if that’s not lucky, than I don’t know what is!

33 comments

OH ANEGEL!!
my heart is twirling upwards like a spinning whirring rocket! i could not be happier for you and dear colin!! oh my gosh, oh my goodness! congrats congrats to you both!! this is the best news! i’ve had a very good feeling about this year, and thus far it really seems like it will be a very magic year.
love to you both!!

by annie on January 11, 2011 at 6:49 pm. Reply #

(haha, look how excited i was? i typo’d all over your name! eep!)

by annie on January 11, 2011 at 6:50 pm. Reply #

Wonderful! Wonderful! I welled up with tears of joy for you as I read that you and Colin are soon to be wed! I am so very happy for you!! Much love…

by Cassandra Carico on January 11, 2011 at 6:51 pm. Reply #

yaaaaaaayyyyyyy! 11-11-11 is perfect. you guys are perfect. i am so happy + excited for you both. big hugs + kisses and love!!

by lau on January 11, 2011 at 6:59 pm. Reply #

Hooray! You and Colin are so amazing together. Congratulations!

by Stefanie on January 11, 2011 at 7:58 pm. Reply #

Haaa I have been grinning like a maniac over it you know. And crying! So HAPPY. I have already gushed at you one million times so I shut up!
I love that he said he would like for you to be wed. WHY ARE YOU ALL SO CUTE.

by tamera on January 11, 2011 at 7:59 pm. Reply #

Congratulations! I hope I can make it to texas next november to see the most fabulous wedding of the century. I am so happy for you! I have some big big news too. Lets talk soon.

by Larkin on January 11, 2011 at 8:04 pm. Reply #

aaaaiiieeeee!!! your text made me suspicious so i had to peek – my heart SWELLS for you both! so obviously meant to be.
+ what a beautiful post. you’ve been bringing me to tears here lately, but this time good tears…

by oola on January 11, 2011 at 8:04 pm. Reply #

Congratulations!! Brett and I are so happy for you!

by Jess on January 11, 2011 at 8:13 pm. Reply #

Congratulations, sweetheart. Love you.

by Mer on January 11, 2011 at 8:18 pm. Reply #

Congratulations dearest Angel! So glad to have met Colin when he came with you to San Francisco…it was so clear and right how two halves of the same grapefruit you two are.

by Melissa on January 11, 2011 at 8:21 pm. Reply #

First of all, I just hyperventilated and peed my pants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Second, I am so so so sorry I missed this moment.
Third, I can’t wait to hold both of you in my arms….sooooooooon!

by Whiskey Deer Wolf on January 11, 2011 at 8:21 pm. Reply #

We’ve never met and I only know you via your blog, but I’m so happy for you! Congrats and many happy returns!

by tine on January 11, 2011 at 8:23 pm. Reply #

Angel, happy birthday, and CONGRATULATIONS!! What amazing news, you two are just perfect!! I have never met your man, but from everything I read and saw of him in your blog and from your stories, he sounds talented, handsome, kind and deserving of your loveliness. I am so happy for you.

by Fyodor Pavlov on January 11, 2011 at 8:39 pm. Reply #

Congratulations dear Angel, to both you and Colin!!! Michael and I are so very happy for you two!

by Kelley on January 11, 2011 at 8:42 pm. Reply #

Oooh, you must be on cloud nine! Such blissful news! My heart is bursting with happiness and love for you and Colin! Tears are welling up right now.

by April Violet on January 11, 2011 at 8:50 pm. Reply #

1001 best wishes to you and mr. Colin! <3

by katinka on January 11, 2011 at 9:09 pm. Reply #

I’m very happy for you both! …And happy birthday!

by Wiley on January 11, 2011 at 9:19 pm. Reply #

I am so disappointed that I missed your party (especially due to the chaotic circumstances through which my absence arose). It looks magical, as always. I was so torn because I know surrounding myself with amazing individuals would have brought me out of the darkness, but I simply couldn’t muster up the strength to be around a group of people so soon. (I am ok, though; a little shaken up and bruised but otherwise unscathed.)
That being said,
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND COLIN! I am sooo ecstatic to hear the wonderful news. I am not sure if I will still be living in Austin in November (if all goes well, I will have departed this fine city by then) but I will plan a pilgrimage back just for this monumental occasion.
Love you both and I hope to see you soon!

by Monika! on January 11, 2011 at 9:37 pm. Reply #

yayyyyyyy!!!
so uplifting to see/know sweet true healthy happy love exists and is exemplified by such lovely and loving creatures as angeliska and colin.
so happy for you sweet girl.

by janette on January 11, 2011 at 10:15 pm. Reply #

hello! I found your blog many moons ago,just wanted to say how beautiful you & your friends are,it’s very inspiring and I hope to live like you do someday,in good company and creativity.congratulations & happy belated birthday!!!
-catsspeepe

by cattin piper on January 11, 2011 at 10:31 pm. Reply #

I am soooo thrilled for you! Congratulations! You will be a glorious bride!
Your birthday looked fabulous! I could only dream of such a wondrous party.

by Lorra on January 12, 2011 at 5:26 am. Reply #

Your happiness just filled me with so much bliss! How exciting! Plus your birthday party looked like the most fabulous event ever! Congratulations!

by Myra hudson on January 12, 2011 at 7:08 am. Reply #

Your happiness just filled me with so much bliss! How exciting! Plus your birthday party looked like the most fabulous event ever! Congratulations! Best wishes from some hilltop Vermont folks!

by Myra hudson on January 12, 2011 at 7:09 am. Reply #

And to think you were able to keep that bit of news from me on the phone. HA! Congratulations to you both. You are going to make each other happy for forever!! I’m so lucky to have you in my life and your wedding is going to be out of control. I’ve been thinking about that date a lot- so glad you are going to make something of it!
xoxoxoxallyson

by Allyson on January 12, 2011 at 8:16 am. Reply #

I have been a looooong time reader of your blog and just wanted to say congrats! I am so happy for you and look forward to the posts all about the planning and the actual wedding. You two make a beautiful couple.

by Jeannine Komush on January 12, 2011 at 10:04 am. Reply #

So happy for you! <3 <3

by amy on January 12, 2011 at 9:56 pm. Reply #

OOH OOOOH!
i woke up yesterday KNOWING that something super fantasic had happened in your life!
YES YES!

by holly jean on January 13, 2011 at 11:41 am. Reply #

ive been reading your journal for what seems like ages and it’s always been such a source of inspiration. you are such a magical being, you truly deserve all the best and i’m so happy that it’s all come together for you. many congratulations and happy belated birthday! xoxooxx

by katja on January 14, 2011 at 10:31 pm. Reply #

Congratulations! What a beautiful way to get engaged. You are so lucky to have such a creative group of friends, all of your costumes are always incredible.

by Stephanie on January 15, 2011 at 2:14 pm. Reply #

Quite pleased for the two of you, Angel! This seems like such a felicitous union in so many ways, and I wish you both a rosy & luminous everything!
xx
charity

by charity on January 16, 2011 at 7:56 pm. Reply #

Congratulations! I am so happy for you two. We have never met, and I only know you through this here beautiful blog but I sing congratulations!Congratulations! Congratulations! From the roof tops. You and your blog speak so strongly to me, I have been meaning to thank you for a long while. Thank you! Many warm wishes and light! x

by Enya on January 19, 2011 at 5:05 pm. Reply #

Angel, Congratulations!!! Love the date that was chosen. I’ve been a long time reader of your blog and find it a continual inspiration. Also, Happy Belated Birthday. ~=)

by Sunny on February 3, 2011 at 1:50 pm. Reply #

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