birth day

I've had a really nice birthday.


It all started with the kids wanting to stay here Sunday night instead of with their dad, so that they could make me breakfast in bed. They all got up at the crack of dawn to make peach waffles and apple slices with peanut butter, and to make a really cute card. Breakfast was wonderful, and it's obvious that their dad has done a good job teaching them to make waffles. They made enough to feed a small army and we all sat on my bed and ate waffles with the one fork available. Eventually we simply ate them with our fingers. Walking through the kitchen to throw my syrup covered sheets in the washer, I noticed that the kitchen looked about the way you'd expect it to after the cooking extravaganza, but I didn't even care. It was a great start to the day, and at least the ants in my kitchen were well fed.


Next up I met two of my best friends for coffee and presents and spent a lovely couple of chatty hours. I had barely walked into the house from that and the phone was ringing with a lunch invite that ended up with three ladies and five kids eating Indian food. Every time I got home I was greeted by the houseful of fresh flowers my mom and Stu had gotten for me. And all day long the birthday wishes rolled in - via email, snail mail, phone calls and in person. It was all very appreciated. I felt quite loved.


It's really easy to fall into the negativity trap, no matter how hard you try to avoid it. But something that I've thought for a while now became crystal clear today. Yeah, I'm inching toward fifty. I'm in a state of flux the likes of which I don't think I've ever seen. I'm the one who got dumped for the first time in my life, the old and ratty lawn in a "grass is always greener on the other side" midlife crisis. I'm the one...


...who wakes up in the morning with this odd sense of peace and contentment that just continues to grow through the day. I'm going to be just fine. And that's truly beginning to sink in.


My mom sent me my horoscope from the Los Angeles Times, and here is what it said.


If your birthday is June 16th...

You're able to express your love in ways you never have before, making this a year to forge stronger connections.

The summer brings a fiscal surprise--you earn money for something you didn't even know was a viable skill.

Someone you admire will come into your world in a stronger way in September. Sagittarius and Libra adore you.

Your lucky numbers are 4, 9, 18, 42 and 19.


Works for me.