Another year older

So, I love birthdays. I mean REALLY love birthdays. I inherited the obsession from my Mom. Our three girls had also been bitten by the birthday bug. They love them too. Not just their own, but everyone elses. The cards, signs, hats, balloons, and of course cupcakes!

However when it is my birthday, I miss and my growing up years when I was treated like a queen and had no responsibilities. My Dad would always buy me flowers and review the highlights of my year. My Mom would wake me up (or call me in college) at 8:11 am and say, "Happy Birthday, Honey. This is the moment that God brought you into the world and gave me my little girl! I love you."

I have to say that this year my family and friends went above and beyond to make me feel VERY LOVED! Bart carried the load for the weekend and gave me lots of time to just enjoy being me. My sweeties, Caroline, Clair and Cammie let me sleep in (until 7:30:) and made me my favorite breakfast in bed (french toast and coffee). They cut me fresh flowers. They made me cards. They "helped" Daddy refurbish my old Cannondale bike. They let me go shopping for new jeans.

They even posed for a family photo that a friend offered to take for us on my day. And miraculously we got this good one (see above). My dear neighbor babysat the girls so Bart and I could go out on the town to enjoy a new restaurant in Oakland called Pican, A taste of the South! It was amazing. Fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, caesar salad with fried okra on it, fried chicken. Are you seeing the theme? Anyway, it was a wonderful day.

I remembered again that my birthday is not just about me but the wonderful people in and around my life. I feel very blessed. Grateful for another year of life.

Thanks.