"Celebrate. Celebrate. Dance to the music"
Today is my birthday. I sent my mother a bouquet of flowers with a note that says, "Congratulations, Mom !
60 years ago today you gave birth to a baby girl. Thank you for the gift of life".
I think about my mother, and my father. They were so young when I was born. I think of their love for me, their sacrifice, and am grateful.
Over the past several days, I've received many lovely cards and gifts from family and friends - some silly, some serious, but in common they all express kind thoughts and happy wishes. How blessed I am for their birthday remembrance. I think of them, and all the people who have been part of my life over the past 60 years, beginning with my mother - my first friend, my forever friend, and babyhood; I move through my toddler years, childhood, grade school, high school, college,newspaper work, church life, married life, motherhood. Beloved grand-parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, mentors and friends and how they made my life better with their presence. I want to give them a gift on my birthday - a gift of gratitude, wrapped with a ribbon of love.
I'm also reminded that several I've known and loved have passed away, not getting the chance to celebrate a 60th birthday. A litany of names come to mind:
Grandfather Walt
Mike (Shirley) Marconi
Sister Mary Agnesine
Tony Moore
Tom
Bob
Grandma Vivian
Roy C.
Uncle Bob Breedlove
Al M.
Pat Sims
Patsy
Father Mike Smith
Denise
Brad
and my brother, Walt.
I celebrate their lives today, too, and pray they're rejoicing around Heaven's Table and eternal light shines upon them.
To some, 60 years might seem old, a long time on this earth, especially to a ten or 20 year old. It's only as we age, and each new birthday comes and goes, we recognize just how swiftly the years roll by. Lyricist Sheldon Harnick, in his great song from 'Fiddler on the Roof writes:
"I don't remember growing older
When did they?
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears"
How important it is for us to embrace life with joy and merriment, to let those we care for know we care for them by the words we say and deeds we do.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
THIS DAY
Tonight I'm still 59 years old. Tomorrow I won't be. Today I spent the day doing everyday, ordinary, extraordinary things. Rising early to say morning prayers, smiling at the sound of my husband's voice, "Good morning, honey. You stay in bed, I'll make the coffee". Later we watch Fox News Sunday and get ready for church. I speak with my mother on the phone and read an email from my dad. I start a fire in our wood burning stove. Gary goes to the garage and lets Missy dog out, then brings Sam E. Beagle upstairs. A few days ago Sam suffered a seizure of some sort, so we want to keep him comfortable and quiet.
After Mass Gary and I stop for breakfast at Elmer's on Highway 95. Gary orders his usual basted eggs and ham; i tried something new - a grilled chicken, white cheddar cheese and pear wrap. Yes, I know it sounds unusual, but trust me, it's delicious !
We talk about our sons, and the grand-children. The week before, our youngest grand-daughter sent us 'Flat Stanley' with a note explaining 'Flat Stanley' is a visitor to our area and asked us if we would please take him to see some of the sights in Coeur d' Alene, then return him to her second grade glass in Apple Valley with pictures and souvenirs.
We talk about my birthday tomorrow. 60 years old. We reminisce about our first date. I was only 25 then. We marvel at how fast the years have gone by. Gary says he'd like to buy me a 'no-shed' puppy. i'm pleased and know my husband is being thoughtful, but am worried about our Beagle, Sam and how he would react to a new puppy in the house... especially now when he is so old and his physical health is on the decline. i tell Gary as much as i'd like a new puppy, i think it best if we wait for awhile.
Instead of a puppy we decide a North Face fleece would be a nice gift. Although my birthday isn't until tomorrow we drive to Tri-State Outfitters. This is a very sweet gesture on my husband's part as he absolutely hates shopping, and anyone who knows me also knows it takes a long time for me to make up my mind whenever i contemplate buying something new. As it turns out, my husbands gift isn't anything money can buy, but his gift of ' patience', and enduring love as he waits and watches me try on jacket after jacket.
Although there were many fine North Face jackets at Tri- State , I couldn't decide on one (no surprise) , and we left the store empty handed. At the recommendation of the Tri-State sales clerk we made another stop at Finn - McDonald in the Coeur d Alene Resort Mall. There we hit the jackpot ! A perfect fit, (and color) North Face zipper fleece. Not only a zipper fleece, but a lovely multi-colored scarf to wear with the fleece. The sales clerk even took the time to show me three or four different ways to tie the scarf. i left the store happy, and my husband was pleased about giving me a birthday gift he knew i liked a lot.
When we got back home our son, Gavin greeted us saying, "Hey, mom, Stacy and me are fixing the family dinner tonight. How do taco's sound?"
As in one voice, both Gary and I said, "Sounds great!".
I couldn't wait to wear my 'birthday' fleece and take a walk down the hill. Knowing Gavin and Stacy were in charge of dinner, off i went to trek through Dobbs' Woods. The wind was blowing, the air brisk and cool; Rays of sun streaked through broken clouds. I stare at the whitecaps swirling the lake, and watch two seagulls swoon high and low. I contemplate the beauty surrounding me, and reflect on the day. An ordinary, extraordinary day like so many others. I think about tonight when I go to bed I'll still be 59, but upon waking tomorrow I'll be 60 years old. One decade will end, another to begin.
After Mass Gary and I stop for breakfast at Elmer's on Highway 95. Gary orders his usual basted eggs and ham; i tried something new - a grilled chicken, white cheddar cheese and pear wrap. Yes, I know it sounds unusual, but trust me, it's delicious !
We talk about our sons, and the grand-children. The week before, our youngest grand-daughter sent us 'Flat Stanley' with a note explaining 'Flat Stanley' is a visitor to our area and asked us if we would please take him to see some of the sights in Coeur d' Alene, then return him to her second grade glass in Apple Valley with pictures and souvenirs.
We talk about my birthday tomorrow. 60 years old. We reminisce about our first date. I was only 25 then. We marvel at how fast the years have gone by. Gary says he'd like to buy me a 'no-shed' puppy. i'm pleased and know my husband is being thoughtful, but am worried about our Beagle, Sam and how he would react to a new puppy in the house... especially now when he is so old and his physical health is on the decline. i tell Gary as much as i'd like a new puppy, i think it best if we wait for awhile.
Instead of a puppy we decide a North Face fleece would be a nice gift. Although my birthday isn't until tomorrow we drive to Tri-State Outfitters. This is a very sweet gesture on my husband's part as he absolutely hates shopping, and anyone who knows me also knows it takes a long time for me to make up my mind whenever i contemplate buying something new. As it turns out, my husbands gift isn't anything money can buy, but his gift of ' patience', and enduring love as he waits and watches me try on jacket after jacket.
Although there were many fine North Face jackets at Tri- State , I couldn't decide on one (no surprise) , and we left the store empty handed. At the recommendation of the Tri-State sales clerk we made another stop at Finn - McDonald in the Coeur d Alene Resort Mall. There we hit the jackpot ! A perfect fit, (and color) North Face zipper fleece. Not only a zipper fleece, but a lovely multi-colored scarf to wear with the fleece. The sales clerk even took the time to show me three or four different ways to tie the scarf. i left the store happy, and my husband was pleased about giving me a birthday gift he knew i liked a lot.
When we got back home our son, Gavin greeted us saying, "Hey, mom, Stacy and me are fixing the family dinner tonight. How do taco's sound?"
As in one voice, both Gary and I said, "Sounds great!".
I couldn't wait to wear my 'birthday' fleece and take a walk down the hill. Knowing Gavin and Stacy were in charge of dinner, off i went to trek through Dobbs' Woods. The wind was blowing, the air brisk and cool; Rays of sun streaked through broken clouds. I stare at the whitecaps swirling the lake, and watch two seagulls swoon high and low. I contemplate the beauty surrounding me, and reflect on the day. An ordinary, extraordinary day like so many others. I think about tonight when I go to bed I'll still be 59, but upon waking tomorrow I'll be 60 years old. One decade will end, another to begin.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
A RAINY DAY
A rainy day. No sun. No blue sky.
The temp is cool, grey outside;
A good day for staying inside.
i make my bed and clean the kitchen.
The warmth of the fire in our wood burning stove
heats the house and feels good
against my aching, aged muscles.
Listening to the sweet sound
of an old "Peter, Paul & Mary"
vinyl album lifts my mood
and causes me to reflect
on life long friends
and days gone by.
The temp is cool, grey outside;
A good day for staying inside.
i make my bed and clean the kitchen.
The warmth of the fire in our wood burning stove
heats the house and feels good
against my aching, aged muscles.
Listening to the sweet sound
of an old "Peter, Paul & Mary"
vinyl album lifts my mood
and causes me to reflect
on life long friends
and days gone by.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Summer's End
The season is changing
from hot, dry days of summer
to cooler, crisp autumn weather.
i no longer wear knee-length shorts
and sleeveless tee's
on my morning walk
but long jeans and a light weight
sweat shirt.
The tree leaves are a bright yellow gold,
not the deep green of
June, July and August
while the sun rises later
bringing first light to
beckon the day;
and setting earlier
to darken the cloudy sky - a reminder
winter is on the way.
from hot, dry days of summer
to cooler, crisp autumn weather.
i no longer wear knee-length shorts
and sleeveless tee's
on my morning walk
but long jeans and a light weight
sweat shirt.
The tree leaves are a bright yellow gold,
not the deep green of
June, July and August
while the sun rises later
bringing first light to
beckon the day;
and setting earlier
to darken the cloudy sky - a reminder
winter is on the way.
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