Birthday Day

Yesterday was my 51st birthday, and it was one of those birthday years that was 'just another birthday year'.... you know... some birthdays have significant meaning and are the "Special" birthday years, but most are just fun 'It's my birthday' years.  And my birthday this year (a true first!) fell on a day that my entire family was out of town and/or working til closing, so for me, it was just gonna be a quiet day doing what I wanted to do, knowing we will celebrate my birthday this weekend when the family is all together.

Joe is in LA on business (but getting to see our youngest Lauren while there), Amber is back in school, (and correction on her schooling.... she is in the Doctorate Program... Not the Masters Program) working and waiting on her best friend to have her baby any day (which Amber is going to help deliver), Jessica had to work closing shift yesterday and I didn't get to see her early in the morning (she offered to take me to lunch) because I was in pilates class and had a massage after (a gift from my Dad.... THANK YOU soooo much for that Daddy!) so we missed each other with our schedules... Lauren of course is in LA, my Mom is in Alaska with my Aunt and Uncle.... so it was just me.  However..... it was one of those really unexpectedly GREAT birthday days!

I slept in, had several phone calls in the morning wishing me Happy Birthday as well as several FB posts and emails wishing me Happy Birthday.  I went to pilates, there were only 2 of us in class.... the other lady in class (Bonnie) just happens to be my favorite lady to take classes with, so we had a super class with Gayle.  I went immediately from pilates to my hot stone massage appt.  Which.... was absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!  (I'm a very tactile person.... I have to touch and feel EVERYTHING!!!! and I LOVE being touched and massaged too) but..... the massage was soooooo good that I came home and passed out on the couch for an hour nap.  Then I took a long bubble bath and got dressed for dinner.  My girlfriend Sharon and I went to the club for dinner  (her husband is also out of town) and we had such fun at dinner, we closed the place down!

I had phone calls all day long, Joe left my gift for me in his car as a surprise (a new FABULOUS knife set!).  He called me and told me to go find my gift in the backseat of his car..... that was soooo thoughtful.... I didn't expect any gifts yesterday because we ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS celebrate my birthday over the Labor Day weekend, so I was really super surprised to have a gift yesterday.  Then he also sent me a GORGEOUS bouquet of roses in an assortment of colors..... just BEAUTIFUL!!!  And again..... very unexpected!  There was also a box of Belgium chocolates with the roses.  Then my girlfriend that I went to dinner with gave me this beautiful platter and apron.  My family went out of their way to make sure my day was special even tho none of them could be with me.  That alone is the most priceless gift of all!  Nothing money can buy can ever compete with plain ole LOVE!!!!!  I am not, and was not upset about my family not being able to be with me yesterday.... life is what it is and I totally understand that and prefer to just go with the flow.  But...... my heart is soooooo touched that they were all upset they couldn't be with me.

What was expected to have been just another ordinary (yet always special in it's own way) birthday day, turned out to be an absolutely SPECTACULAR day!  Weather included!!!!  Thank you to everyone who made it special!  I love each and every one of you BUNCHES!!!!!!!

And now..... I'm 51 years old!  WOW!!!!  REALLY!!!????  SERIOUSLY!!!????  I'm 51?????  Ok..... so here's to the next 50!