Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Yesterday will have been my birthday ...


I was going to say, “Today is my birthday,” but it’s been SO full – by the time I hit “Post”, yesterday will have been my birthday.

I’ll tell you – it’s just been one opportunity after another to see the fullness of my life. A friend in Texas sent a happy birthday e-mail as soon as it was after midnight and my birthday where he is. Oystercard is now in King’s Lynn and sent me a happy birthday song by e-mail. And my friend Robby sent me a happy birthday message too – he’s in San Bernardino. He’s 12 days younger than me. We’ve known each other since June 1962. He was my very first boyfriend, when we were 8 years old. We’re 53 this month. Birthday greetings from three different time zones!

My alarm went off!!! All right, that may not sound great, but it didn’t Sunday or Monday, and I missed church, and the barbecue lunch after. Today, I got to work on time, showered, with makeup on and dressed nicely. I forgot to make or pack breakfast, but I had eggs packed for lunch, so I bought an apple on the way and had that with the eggs and coffee. There was a birthday card on my desk when I got there.

Someone from church called and took me and another friend out for lunch, which meant eating the eggs for breakfast was okay. I got started on a project that’s a little boring, but needs to be done, at work. Made good progress, and was alone most of the day. The J. Geills band, Rolling Stones, Cream and The Eagles, all played loud, helped. Talked to Dad on the phone. Got an e-mail from a friend who trusted enough to tell me and someone else what hurts a lot. My boss came in in the afternoon – she’d made me a really beautiful birthday card.

Three friends went shopping this afternoon, and bought a picnic. We had maple-smoked ham and prosciutto and roast turkey and salami and five-year old cheddar, bocconcini, salad … I’d made gingerbread for a meeting Sunday evening, with lemon icing, and took some – I don’t eat it, cuz of the diabetes, but everyone else did. Fed the end of a baguette to the mallards, Canada geese, red-winged blackbirds and swallows. Watched families with bicycles, strollers and dogs; and adult cyclists, a walking club, and members of the rowing club, single and pairs-sculling. Talked and listened and laughed. I’d known about the picnic; they brought me a present too – a sampler box of Four O'Clock Fair Trade chai teas (I already know I love the rooibos chai), and a book called Solo: Writers on Pilgrimage, edited by Katherine Govier. Then we went somewhere else and drank coffee, and I’d run out of my favourite coffee this morning, so I bought a pound to bring home.

After I got home, I messengered for a while with my son. He’s forgotten my birthday, but I didn’t feel any need to make him feel bad by reminding him. Talked to my friend on the phone. Then I looked at NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day – here’s the picture, and the link, because it’s way better when it’s as big as the screen, and besides, they tell you something about the Lagoon Nebula in Sagittarius. How good is that picture for a birthday present? I’ve checked out a few blogs, but it’s late, and I’m going to go to bed soon – I’ll look at the rest tomorrow.

The whole day has been one opportunity after another to see how blessed I am, and how much I’ve been given in life. When I was on the phone a little while ago, I said, “I didn’t know it was possible to have any other kind of life than the one I did. [The one where I was stuck in my own helplessness and unhappiness, and couldn’t see any hope of change.] I never imagined this happiness was possible, let alone that the change could be this fast. I’m SO happy.”

11 comments:

Kate Morningstar said...

It's almost 1 a.m., but the post is still dated Tuesday on the blog. Blogger drives me nuts sometimes -- that's not where I wanted the picture to go either.

My birthday is actually the 15th.

Unknown said...

Happy birthday, dear Kate! Sounds like a great day; lovely, like you.

Hugs,
Pagan

Fran said...

Happy Birthday beautiful Kate!

Your birth was one of God's many gifts to all of us who know you. Your presence on this earth is a light to many- I should know, you are a real light to me.

Unknown said...

Well, in honour of your birthday, a little hula-hoop music on the turntable!

Happy Birthday, Kate!

Jan said...

Happy, happy birthday! So glad you had a nice day. I always love the NASA picture of the day and needed the reminder. I am celebrating you!

Crimson Rambler said...

congratulations and many many many happy returns!

June Butler said...

Kate, it's Wednesday on my calendar, and I'm quite late. Happy Birthday several days late. The wishes are no less heartfelt for being late.

It sounds like a lovely day.

Kate Morningstar said...

Thank you, all of you!

It was wonderful, and it keeps going on being wonderful. My friend Rob, who I mentioned, from when we were kids, e-mailed again this morning. He's got a niece getting married in late October, here in southern Ontario, and would like to stop in our home town -- will I be around? I'm going to be in Texas in October, but I told him I'd come home a few days early to make sure I saw him. I don't think we've seen each other since 1974.

When I turned 50, I stretched out the birthday celebrations for about six weeks! Laissez les bons temps rouler!!! Except for +Clumber -- laissez les bones temps rouler!!

Roland said...

Happy B-Day.
Well, it seems like it already was.
Congrats.

Doorman-Priest said...

Well, sorry to sign in late, but belated congrats.

Kate Morningstar said...

Thank you, Mimi, Roland, D-P!!! You've made my birthday last longer!