True, there are those of us, particularly among my peers, who don’t particularly like seeing another birthday roll around, especially since we hit 40 or so. But for some, me for example, birthdays are a treasure, something we look forward to.
I’ve seen the last couple birthdays as an opportunity to look back upon the gifts I’ve been given in the previous 12 months. This past year brought a month in France, in a tiny village in Southern Burgundy with very good friends, and even a few weeks there with hard-working Linda. It brought another year of John, Julie and Grace, our delightful, now two-year old granddaughter.
It saw the birth of InMenlo, which (don’t tell the editor) has revived me as a photographer, much to my delight. The new garden is in, and I’ve spent pleasant afternoons these past two weeks putting in spring greens and (sometimes) just sitting in the afternoon sun, dreamily surveying the new life sprouting in the planter boxes.
Besides France we had two memorable journeys : a ten-day blues trek from Memphis down to Greenville, Mississippi with a stop at “The Crossroads,” Clarksdale, MI, wherefrom hails very nearly every blues great of our generation. We also spent a magical week over the holidays in New York, courtesy of very good friends who let us invade their apartment.
And, it goes without mention that I’ve had another year of a very loving and supportive spouse, who has shouldered a huge burden (me) these past three years with hardly a whimper. Can one complain about a year like this? I think only a lout and an ingrate would fail to see how lucky he’s truly been.
I even have a Facebook inbox stuffed with birthday wishes from friends old and new today. I’m touched.
So, we’ve spent this birthday at the gym, for our usual 90-minute Wednesday strength-plus-cardio rehab workout, at Fry’s for a fun (for geek me) walking tour before buying needed smoke-alarm batteries, at Peet’s, where we broke protocol and bought a carb-laden calorie bomb, disguised as a “healthy” muffin, that was completely delicious, followed by incidental chores, an hour in the garden preparing Grace’s special corner for her overnight visit this weekend, a particularly fun InMenlo assignment and dinner at The Village Pub, a big treat for amateur chef moi. Couldn’t be more pleased with this day, or this past year… and save the date for next year, if the cancer gods allow a 60th: major festivities are planned…
Photo by Linda Hubbard Gulker
{ 10 comments }

