A Happy Birthday

Feelin' the love.
Cards galore, sweet "pampering" gifts from the ladies in the R.S.
presidency (including Debbie's a-MAZ-ing home-made toffee),
a "par-tay in a package" from my sis Meliss,
a sweet Willow Tree statue from Grant, a "temple" bracelet
from my friend Mary, Cricut supplies from my VT companion . . .
all so thoughtful and generous! Thanks, everyone!

Lately I've started questioning some of my own beliefs. Normally I'm a huge believer in celebrating. I believe in celebrating holidays, accomplishments, and I especially believe in celebrating birthdays. I've never understood people who downplay their birthday and say they'd rather forget about it. Granted, these people generally don't like to be reminded that they're yet another year older, but I've never thought that had to be the focus of a birthday. To me, the focus of someone's birthday is to celebrate that person -- who they are, the life they live, the things they love -- all of which should be celebrated to some degree by gathering together with loved ones, having a special meal, and if nothing else, getting to indulge in some yummy dessert, right?!

Well, then it happened. I started finding them. Little white hairs at the edge of my hairline. I first found one about a year ago when I was expecting Eliot, though my sweet sister Lauren (aka my hairstylist) was quick to point out that she had seen some before then (so no blaming the baby/pregnancy, I guess). And lately, I've been noticing more and more. They're tiny little ones, probably only noticeable to me (I hope!), but that's beside the point. I know they're there. And it's unnerving. I haven't even hit the big 3-0, and I'm getting "old lady" hair!

So now I'm starting to understand all those people who don't like to be reminded about their birthdays. Whether it's a birthday or white hairs, it's not fun to be reminded that you're getting older, that you're not as young as you used to be, or to have your body show signs of its inevitable aging.

Fortunately, however, my sweet husband pulled me back to earth and re-grounded me in my convictions. SO WHAT, he said, if I do find an occasional (or more-than-occasional) white hair?! We're as young as we feel we are, and we still feel like we have a life ahead of us. And, if we're going to keep up with our kids, who, based on Eliot's demeanor so far, are going to be little bundles of energy, we need to keep a "stay young" mindframe.

So, end of story, I DID celebrate my birthday . . . all weekend long, in fact! And I did all those things I said someone should for their birthday -- I "gathered" with loved ones, albeit a lot of those interactions happened by phone and e-mail this year, I had not one but two YUMMY meals (went out on Friday and then Grant cooked one of my favorite dinners for me Sunday), and oh did I indulge in a decadent dessert -- a homemade knock-off of my favorite Olive Garden dessert, the lemon cream cake, which we served with raspberry sorbet -- HEAVEN!!

Thanks to everyone who made my day so special. Thanks for your kindnesses and loving gestures that reminded me that birthdays really are meant to be celebrated.