Tuesday 08 February 2005, 4pm
By Lee Cameron

A Cameron Birthday for Julie

Lee Cameron’s account of Julie Aares’ 24th birthday celebration at Lee and David’s home in Research, Melbourne, in late November 2004.

Julie Aares at the Birthday Table. (Photo: Virgil Cameron) Julie removes the candles from her Birthday Cheesecake. (Photo: Virgil Cameron)

Julie is so warm, loving, beautiful and appreciative. Today we had a joyous celebration for Julie, with Seiki and Chiemi as well as Don, Barbara and Michele and our family present. Julie looked lovely in a summery blue, green and white dress that used to be her mother’s, and blue and purple delicate birthday earrings. Edwin had made a delicious cheesecake and I had prepared a mango and strawberry fruit salad. For the main course there was my tofu risotto, and a salad of beans, corn, garlic, yoghourt, red and green capsicum and Moroccan seasoning. Barbara added sprigs of fresh green curly endive from Don’s garden. Don brought wine to share.

Julie sat at the Birthday Table to open her lovely, thoughtfully chosen gifts, which included my offer to do a birthday mending of her favorite black jumper, and a beautiful blouse and jumper from Maria, Edwin and Andrea. John and Yukima gave Julie a bicycle and a free service voucher. Other gifts included a lovely wire-sculptured water-lily from Felix, scented white carnations in a classically-shaped ceramic vase from Michele, chocolates from Don and Barbara, an exquisite picture birthday card from Virgil and delicious mango-flavoured tea, and other teas; soaps, flowers and a mango… and a tea-strainer!

After a lovely dinner, and opening gifts, and eating the delicious dessert, we had warm drinks while the home theatre was set up, in order to show “Photos from Norway”, which Virgil had taken on his two Norwegian trips. The wonderful picture show was filled with many beautiful scenes of all seasons and of good friends made whist overseas. I think my favourite pictures included one of a giant Snowman, with such a whimsical expression on his face; and one of stalks of grass ensheathed with ice. Julie and Virgil had certainly made a very beautiful selection of photos to share with us. The evening’s enjoyment was enhanced by John’s melodic playing of the guitar after we had eaten.

Julie is a beautiful, thoughtful, warm, caring and very appreciative young woman, whom Virgil and all of us are very lucky to love and know. We all sang Happy Birthday to her with much enthusiasm and loving feeling. This was her first “Cameron Birthday” in Australia. As Virgil’s mother, I feel great joy and gratitude to life, to see him sharing his present life with such a dear and unique individual.

The Snow Man from Norway. (Photo: Virgil Cameron)

Grass ice crystals in Norway. (Photo: Virgil Cameron)