The BEST birthday cake…

 As I celebrated my 44th birthday this weekend, a memory from my childhood came floating back, and it was all because of a birthday cake. Because I was born so close to Valentine’s my birthday cake usually consisted of brownies cut into the shape of a heart and iced with pink icing. As an adult I often still ask my mom to make my birthday cake just like she used to! This year I was very lucky to have three birthday cakes. A pan of brownies from a friend arrived Friday. Saturday’s family gathering featured a lemon angel food cake baked by mom. Saturday evening,  friends presented me with the crowning glory and highlight of the weekend - a cake - no, a work of art - from Sugartree Custom Cakes.

Upon seeing the cake from Sugartree I exclaimed that it was the best birthday cake I’d ever had, and then later I recalled a cake from my past that made me question if this 44th birthday cake was indeed the best cake or if it was the second best! Decisions, decisions. My Grandma and Grandpa Rendall were very special to me and the cake that has stood out for my entire life (until this weekend) was one they gave me when I was around 10 years old. My small town Saskatchewan eyes had never seen a sight as sweet as the cake they put before me at their house that year. It was a Barbie cake with a Barbie doll in the middle, and her huge ballgown skirt was the cake! I gazed at it wide-eyed while wearing my 1970’s crocheted vest and couldn’t imagine eating that doll’s dress. It was too special. I just wanted to look at it, not eat it. We somehow managed to get the cake home in one piece after an hour’s drive so I could show it to my friends and my other Grandma (whose birthday Iwas born on). I don’t even recall eating that cake, I just remember how beautiful it was to me. I loved everything Barbie and not only did I get a really special birthday cake, I got a doll from the center of it!

Until my birthday this weekend, that Barbie cake was my favorite - hands down. After an afternoon of visiting & then supper with my family (featuring the lemon angel food cake), my husband and I moved on to part two of the birthday celebration with friends.  I hadn’t cooked a turkey since before my cancer diagnosis over 8 years ago and I was ready to relax and have some laughs with friends. I was only expecting a nice visit with friends and was overwhelmed when they presented me with a box that simply said “Sugartree Custom Cakes”. I instinctively knew this was gonna be good! With mouth-watering anticipation I ripped away the scotch tape to lift the lid on SHEER HEAVEN! I’ve never seen a sight as beautiful as that cake, and the luscious chocolate scent that wafted out of the box only added to this moment that will forever be lodged in my memory. After taking numerous photos, we defaced it with candles and called the kids to come upstairs for cake. The reaction of the children to the cake was as excited as mine, so I got to relive the excitement again just watching their eyes bulge out of their heads when they saw it for the first time. A few candles & a version of “Happy Birthday” later, I was cutting the first slice and getting ready for the feast. Not only did the cake look & smell incredible, it tasted heavenly. We all moaned and groaned with happiness as we munched our way through each slice of divine decadence.

As I was laying in bed reviewing the events of the day I thought back to the Barbie cake and compared it to my Sugartree cake. Which one was best? I came to realize I didn’t really have to choose a favorite. My reaction to this fabulous birthday cake from my friends took me back to my delight as a young girl seeing a Barbie doll in a cake. Even at the age of 44 I can still be put in awe by a birthday cake. Something as simple as a birthday cake elevated my day to new heights. It also made me wonder if others get joy in simple things like this. Is it because I have incurable cancer and every birthday is such a huge reason to be thankful to be alive? Perhaps it’s because I’ve felt so much sadness in the last few months after losing two young friends to breast cancer. For some reason I’m still here to have birthday cake. I don’t know why it’s me and not them….no one knows. I’ve been in such a funk because of all the sadness and loss that has surrounded me, but something as simple as a very special birthday cake brought me out of my grief and back to the land of the living.  Funny how the sight and scent of a chocolate cake can pull me right back up onto my feet again. Thanks Jeanine, Shirley, and especially Jena at Sugartree Custom Cakes….it was a birthday I’ll always cherish.  email sugar_tree@live.com or call 291-3010.