Ending and beginning with new and familiar experiences

The day before yesterday was the last day of my former age. I spent the most fun part of it with a dear friend. We went to Crosswords on Forest Hill Avenue for brunch. We had been there a couple of times before and enjoyed their coffee, muffins, and scones. This time, we indulged in loaded sesame bagels. An indulgence they were, too... each half of the grilled bagel loaded with a pile of lox, cream cheese, sliced red onions, capers, and a thick slice of tomato. My friend looked closely at her plate and said, "They used real tomatoes!" So they did. I admitted to her that I had never had lox before. Our brunch was wonderful. The only thing that detracted was the plastic forks and knives that were provided... not really up to sawing through a grilled bagel. Spending time cutting through the bagels with those knives did lengthen our time together, but we agreed we'd carry our own metal flatware the next time for a repeat indulgence.And there will be a next time.

The high point yesterday, my birthday, was having lunch with a couple of dear friends at a favorite restaurant. I love those women. We talked and visited while we ate... covering a plethora of subjects dear to our hearts. We didn't solve any of the world's problems, but why should we have to do all the work? Health issues did come up, but we decided that at least we were falling apart together. Our waitress must have overheard my birthday mentioned. She arranged with her manager to provide me with a free dessert as a treat. My choice... Black Tie Mousse Cake with three spoons. Yum! What a great way to start a new year... good friends and lots of dark chocolate.

Continuing my birthday celebrating, I'll be having dinner with family tomorrow night. Notice a theme here?

 I had a new battery put in my watch yesterday. Had stopped wearing it over a year ago... why did I need a watch. Re-thought that proposition. Sometimes, while away from clocks at home, I did need to know what time it was. And since I don't have my cell phone clutched in my hand 24/7, the watch it is.

Several weeks ago, my oldest daughter had me read a new book. She took her daughters to a bookstore and told them that they could pick out four books to donate. It was one of the books they chose. It's a "children's" book, pictures with a few words. Hilarious words. Takes about five minutes to read. I have been tee-heeing and haw-hawing to myself since reading it. It is It's a Book by Lane Smith. Went to a bookstore and bought a copy for myself. I showed it to some friends who loved it. One of them asked me how much it cost. I told her what I had paid for it... that she could order it on-line. She said, "Why don't you just down-load it?" No, no, no, no!
It's a book.

Another year older....

Yesterday (June 29) was my 65th birthday. Attaining this age was not a sure thing, especially the past 3 years. (But then, none of us gets a guarantee.) The past year has been wonderful... new experiences, new friends, new abilities, old friends, family... full of serendipity and glee. I can't decide whether it was the last day of my old year or the first day of my new year (remember the foofaraw about the turn of the century?) but I am so looking forward to this new year. Great things (my year, my yardstick) are going to happen. I don't feel 65 years old... more like 40 or 45.

I've learned and experienced so many things during the past years... I've made a list... it doesn't include everything because I can't remember everything....

...I'm glad my children are raised and out on their own. Parenting has never been easy and seems to be getting harder every generation. My kids managed to overcome their genes and upbringing and turned into people of whom I am very proud to call mine.

... Children will tell it like they see it. It's important to realize that it is their perception, not necessarily the way it actually is. That's something we adults need to consider for ourselves... 'is it real or just our opinion?'

... Don't ya hate it when the i.d. photo on your renewed Driver's License makes you look like a hedgehog caught in the headlights... and everyone says what a good picture it is?

... Counting is very important when knitting. New obsessions can hit at any age and knitting has become mine. For a short time it even over-shadowed my reading obsession, but things have evened out... I'm knitting and reading now.

... Having a conversation with me has become more interactive. Between Chemo-brain and Senior Moments, I sometimes have a hard time getting out a complete sentence without hand gestures (Mime... encouraging others to supply the word I'm trying to say) and questions to identify the subject (who was the guy that... you know... the one who starred in that movie with the...). I was chatting with my daughter and her husband the other night when she quipped, "Hey! We're playing Charades!"

... My life is the best it's ever been. I'm learning to savor everything... not just what I'm doing but the atmosphere, colors, and surroundings, while I'm doing it. Chemicals have altered my taste buds but the flavor of food I eat seems richer (I catch myself 'yummming' a lot). I think I can feel the auras of my friends and, sometimes, those of people I meet during the day. Wow! Teach yourself to savor. It's wonderful.

... Just because you make a Strike your first time up doesn't mean you won't drop the ball on your foot the next time you get ready to roll. Just sayin'...

Still celebrating...

Have been celebrating my birthday for over a week now...
... A dear friend took me out to dinner last week
... I received birthday greetings through cards, Facebook and email.
... My youngest daughter and her children took me to hear the Gourd Orchestra at a county library. The performers grow their own gourds. Then they make beautiful musical instruments out of them and play them. They also wear them. What fun! Check out their website at GourdOrchestra.com.

I'm going to continue celebrating this weekend. My family has promised that my son-in-law will barbecue something for me. I can hardly wait. He is a BBQ gourmet. He could grill cardboard and it would taste yummmmy!

We'll be celebrating our country's independence, too. For me, the Fourth of July just isn't complete without a parade, patriotic music, fireworks, and a picnic with family and friends. I hope to hear and sing along with The Stars and Stripes Forever (I always have to march in place to this), God Bless America, and The Star Spangled Banner. And I'm Proud to be an American-God Bless the USA.

God bless our men and women serving in the armed forces (past and present).

God bless America.

Am I blue?

Am I blue? No, but I started out that way. I was a blue baby... born with the cord wrapped around my neck three times. My mother watched as the doctor unwrapped the cord from my neck and I slowly attained a healthy color. It was also a breach birth... I arrived right-foot first with my left leg pressed up against my left arm. It was not an easy experience for my mother, who delivered me in a small town hospital. I didn't move my left arm for several days. Mom massaged my left arm and leg for hours each day until I finally gained movement in my arm and leg. If I suffered any brain damage, it was minimal. I consider my survival a miracle.

I have experienced many miracles throughout my life, not the least of which is being here today... my birthday. Thanks be to God.