Another Year

I celebrated my birthday this year with a wonderful brunch at my absolute favorite spot, La Mo, in Turlock, CA. This place always impresses me and is my go to for celebrating or when I have guests visiting from out of town. This year my parents were visiting from Georgia, so my husband and I, my parents, and my adult son and his girlfriend met for brunch on the morning of my birthday. I started with a dirty chai martini and we shared the queso fundido. Then I had the wedding chicken with breakfast potatoes, while others had the sourdough French toast, the Latin benedict, and the roasted bell pepper BLT with sweet potato fries. Of course, the birthday girl gets to taste everything and everything was amazing. We miraculously didn’t wait long despite not having a reservation (which is available through the website or the Resy app). Service was great- attentive and kind, everything served with a smile. Our lovely waitress had the cutest naughty/nice earrings. After breakfast we set out down main street to shop. I wanted to find some thrifted treasures at the nearby antique and thrift stores. I didn’t find anything I couldn’t live without, but got so many good ideas about decorating the house! It was a great way to spend my birthday. This time of year there are always holiday office parties and hospital department pot lucks, it is always nice to carve out a special time for celebrating my birthday. Since then, we also celebrated with a nice dinner out and I have a ladies night out planned for next week. Despite busy schedules, it is great to spend quality time with all my friends and loved ones. Of all the things I’m proud of accomplishing, I’m most proud and grateful for the relationships I’ve built and invested time and energy into. Part of living a healthy life involves creating and maintaining healthy and safe relationships and I’m blessed to have so many loved ones who care about my success and support me.

RaeLeigh Payanes, MD