Gratefulness

Aunt Minnie, Mr. Charlie & Me

Well it’s that time of year again and for the life of me I can’t seem to remember what I was doing last year at this time. I know that 2020 was pretty much all a blur (contrary to what 2020 vision is supposed to mean).  So I guess I must have been hunkered down in my nest just trying to push through. I’m sure I went to my favorite place – the lake – and did my usual running. This time of year the weather is often perfect – not a cloud in the sky. I’m sure I pushed to get my special day started. I love that my birthday is at this time of year. Fall brings about new beginnings – the air is crisp and always seems to be cleaner. I’ve talked about my dad and how he always made my birthday special, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what my mother would do for me. We often just expect mothers to do things for us but that doesn’t make what they do less special in any way.  Each and every year for my birthday, my mother would make the most delicious yellow cake with chocolate icing. It was such a thrill to watch her make my cake “from scratch”. She’d often let me help. I’d get out the appropriate amount of eggs and sugar and butter.  Since we didn’t have a mixer, she would mix the ingredients by hand. I marveled at the speed at which she could cream everything together. Indeed, the best part was that I would get the bowl after the cake was securely in the oven. Next came the icing – rich chocolate. She would blend together butter, confectioners’ sugar and Hershey’s chocolate syrup. She hand-whipped the ingredients until they were spreadable.  She always made a two-layer cake. Before you knew it, a perfectly formed two-layer cake would be sitting on the table equipped with the appropriate amount of candles just for me. I always loved when I had to go to school on my birthday. I’d proudly wear that corsage my father would buy for me and all day I’d get all the attention. The bonus was that I knew that my cake was waiting for me at home. It didn’t matter to me about having a party. I never remember having friends over or anything like that, but what I do remember is for my 5th birthday, my Aunt Minnie (my mother’s sister) and Charlie (I guess he would be called her “common law” husband), came to celebrate my birthday.  They brought me the most beautiful raincoat ever!!!!! It was a coat with a map of the world all over it. Not only that, I got an umbrella to go with it. It was one of my best birthdays ever. 

Now, some 64 years later, I wonder what the day holds for me. Maybe I’ll spend the day picking up little nuggets of joy where I can find them. Already there is a spray of cards in the card holder on my perfectly set table. I’m sure that if I eat at home, I’ll use one of my fancy plates with its matching cloth napkin. After all, it’s my birthday! I’m sure I’ll enjoy watching the leaves beginning to fall indicating that indeed the new season has arrived. I looked back to a post I posted a few years ago about pressing the “pause button”. https://ladyjduchess.com/index.php/2019/10/07/that-special-day-october-5/

Maybe today, I’ll do just that – press pause………… I’m just so thankful for life and love and for all the birthdays I’ve had so far. My former pastor said that every 7 years you get a new face. Well I’m going to enjoy this last year of this face as I push toward my 10th face.  I hear that there’s rain in the forecast for today so maybe I’ll buy myself a rain coat and top it off with a cute umbrella.  I’ll get all dressed up and celebrate this new year, determined to spend every moment being grateful, knowing I’m blessed beyond measure. 

Happy Birthday to me!!!