Leah and I went to our regular Wednesday lunch of huevos rancheros, along with my aunt Micki and cousin Jimmye. It also just happened to be Leah’s birthday. She got a celebratory margarita, the traditional sopapilla with whipped cream and chocolate sauce, and a hug from one of our regular waitresses.

A few days earlier she got a letter from Social Security, acknowledging her status as fully retired.

I had some of the sopapilla. So did Jimmye. I’m not sure Leah got any.

These sopapillas are fried tortillas, often served with cinnamon and sugar. New Mexico sopapillas are puffy fry bread. They are a lot of empty air inside, the better to squeeze honey into. We asked our waitress whether she knew of that style. She said she didn’t, but wanted to try it.