Celebrating Another Birthday!

Today is my 53rd Birthday (GEESH.... can't believe I just shared that... but... it is what it is... and another year older is ALWAYS a good thing, and the direction I want to keep heading in!)... and I must say... a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who made my day special with all your Happy Birthday wishes via email, FB, texts, and phone calls!!  It was indeed a VERY special day!  (Dad.... I got your email....  Sorry I wasn't able to get your call.... but I KNOW you ALWAYS think of me on my special day...  HUGS Victoria!!!!)

This Birthday is just a tweener year Birthday... that's the years in between the BIG celebrations... such as, 1st Birthdays (the first of anything is always special!)... 13th Birthdays (entrance into the teen years)...  18th Birthdays (usually graduation year and legally allowed to vote)... 21st Birthdays (one of the really BIG Birthdays as you enter into official and legal adulthood)... 25th Birthdays (celebrating 1st quarter of a century)... 30th Birthdays (the beginning of celebrating entrance into new decades)... 40th Birthdays (another decade passes)... 50th Birthdays (BIGGER than 21... marking a half century... the entrance into 'middle age'... usually involves a "Surprise Birthday Party")... 60th Birthdays (another decade passes)... 70th Birthdays (another decade passes)... 75th Birthdays (celebrating 3/4 of a century)... 80th Birthdays (another decade passes... fewer Birthdays are expected to come your way at this point)... 90th Birthdays (another decade passes... unbelievably!!!)... and then... if you are really lucky and blessed 100th Birthdays (celebrating the rare century of Birthday's... not that you will remember the party or celebration of this Birthday... but it's the BIGGEST one of all!!)  So... this year was just another tweener year... it was a long distance Birthday and yet I am sooo moved and touched by all those who went out of their way to remember me today, and reached out to tell me so!  I kinda like the quieter tweener years because, there is less expectation and pressure of everyone knowing it is a year that needs to be celebrated, and I love the unexpected joy and surprise of those who make it special all the same!

I am indeed quite Blessed to have lots of family and very close friends who are in my life, and who let me know I am loved!  I received LOTS of Happy Mail this week, as well as, was taken out to lunch and a movie by a dear friend, received balloons,  a cookbook from my Dad, a necklace and candle from a friend, sweet treats, a new dress from my eldest Daughter/Fiance, and a new watch from my sweet Husband, who also took me out to our favorite Bistro for dinner... pretty good loot if you ask me... and especially for just a 'tweener' year!  I blew out candles, made wishes, laughed, shared in lots of memories of the past with loved ones, and just had a really good day!

I don't mind getting older, and have never minded sharing what my true age is.  I mentally feel much younger than I actually am... yet my body tends to argue with me on that!  :  )  I hope to be one of those special few who get the BIG century celebration as I turn 100!  I want my old wrinkly, toothless, sweet face to be on the Smucker's jelly jar on the Today Show!  But.... DON'T make me wear a silly hat!!!!  I have younger family members who have promised to have my back on that one and prevent anyone from placing a silly hat on my head!  I don't mind having my walker or wheelchair (if I am in the need of either) decorated with balloons and/or streamers... but NO HAT ON MY HEAD!  I just don't like that little piece of elastic under my chin... have never liked it, even when I was a child.

As I read through the latest FB status messages... I noticed that a favorite cousin gave birth to her daughter this afternoon... I feel honored to share my birth date with Miss Avery!!!  Congratulations to Sandy, Nicole and Jeff and the safe arrival of their sweet bundle of joy!

Thanks again to all of you!!!  Wishing you all a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!