The More you Have, the Longer you Live

Yesterday was my birthday.  I love my birthday.

I really should date these statements.  I wrote that sentence  a year ago.  And it has sat in my 'drafts' post box ever since.  Every time I look in the 'drafts', I see it and wonder if I should finish it.    But then I get distracted and close it up for another day.  Well, today is another day.  I will finish it, because yesterday WAS my birthday.  And I do love my birthday!

I don't remember all the birthdays that I have had.  However I do have a sampling of some memorable ones.  Here they are in no particular order:

• My fifth birthday, when my brother made me a play house out of a big cardboard box, complete with curtains - and surprised me with it when I woke up that day

• The year my sister made me a set of birthday scrolls - each wrapped with a little golden ring, with memories of our growing years and beyond inscribed and drawings of us on them.

• The year a girlfriend invited others to write a sentence or two about attributes they saw in me and the set of rocks on which she inscribed those characteristics.  I have them on my dresser in a pretty little vase that my sister gave me and am encouraged every time I look at them.

• The year my husband gave me a cooler - my birthday happens to be right around the time of the local air show and he thought I might like a cooler so he could enjoy cold drinks as he watched the airplanes do their tricks.
• Another year when he splurged and gave me a gold heart-shaped pendant and earrings with my birthstone.
• My 30th birthday when friends gathered at a local dessert place and feted me.  I still have one of the dish towels I was given on this occasion [and yes, I have used it].
• The year my daughter gave me this gal - she wanted to replace a couple of other 'babies' [also birthday gifts] that the dog had destroyed in his puppyhood - unfortunately he destroyed some of this little one too, but if you hide her feet in the soil, you can hardly tell.  
  

• The birthday card from my Dad on my first birthday after my mom died.  It was very poignant that it arrived right on my birthday.

• The surprise party my mother-in-law threw for me the year my mom died.  I was so touched at the thoughtfulness of this gesture, but I didn't do a very good job of managing my emotions.  I looked out the living room window to see a line of women who had invested themselves in my life, walking down my driveway carrying presents and food, and I was overcome.   I ran to the bathroom and furiously cleaned it, while trying to compose myself.  I finally came out, and they called out "Surprise" and I burst into tears and ran back into the bathroom.  My sink has never been so clean.  Finally I heard one sage say "Do you think she is ever going to come out of there?" and that helped me pull myself together enough to join the party.
• Birthdays at camp - with all the campers and staff singing happy birthday to me.  I spent a lot of birthdays at camp.  That's a lot of Happy Birthday songs!
• My 40th birthday party that the gals at work threw for me - they made it an                   Oscar party, complete with red carpet and ceremony and presented me with at least 8 "Oscars" that night - individualized to reflect my life and times.  The crowning glory was a cake that had my picture on it - only they had Photoshopped my head onto a very thin actress' body, who was holding an Oscar.  One look at it and I exclaimed "That 's the body I've always wanted!"
  
• My 21st birthday lunch which my parents threw for me just before  they left me behind in this province to start my college years.  They picked a restaurant in town and there were about 15 of us around the table.  We sang The Doxology instead of saying grace.  This was the first time my future brother-in-law had met me and my parents. I thought he was going to sink through the floor in embarrassment that we were singing in a restaurant.  Oh, if he only knew!!
  
• My tenth birthday when I was allowed to go to my neighbour's house and swim after dark on that day.  Such extravagance!
  
• Specially chosen cards from my mom which arrived on my actual birthday.
• A recipe book that she inscribed in her own handwriting.
  
• Birthdays where I took the kids to the beach and hung out just because it was my birthday and I could.
  
• My birthday yesterday, when I had well wishes from all sorts of people, a high tea luncheon with a friend, dinner out with my husband, and best of all, I heard from each of my kids.  

Yup.  I love my birthday.