Apr

2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!….to me

Lisa

Conversations with You, Sequencing: Cycles & Seasons of Life, Simplification: Downsizing Lifestyle

30 Apr 2018

Birthdays are Major-Big in my home.

I planned my sons’ birthday parties for months.

It wasn’t that the parties were expensive or elaborate….

Nope.

But each party was tailor-made for their unique personality and age.

Like I said….Birthdays are a very big deal around our house.

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“Did you have a good birthday?”… my son asked after he got off work.

(Special note: In the mail, I received my son’s and daughter-in-law’s gift weeks before my actual birthday! Beyond Thoughtful!)

I replied with an enthusiastic – “YES! I did, indeed! It was actually one of the best birthdays I’ve ever had!“

The obvious next question was: “So what did you do?”

After rattling off my long list of wonderful things, I then heard complete silence.

He finally said in a hushed tone, “Oh, okay.”

“Mom, did you REALLY have a good birthday?”

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So what made this day so special for me? But sound so disappointing to my son?

I gave myself small, special somethings.

It goes without saying that with my work, running the house, and helping my husband with his company….I don’t schedule a whole lot of daily indulgences.

And as insignificant and ordinary as my list might seem, it was nothing short of FUN & FABULOUS to me.

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Part of what made this day so darn good – was what I chose NOT to do.

I turned down 2 lunch invitations. I have NEVER enjoyed birthday lunches. There, I finally said it. Now, I am officially weird. Don’t get me wrong here. I so appreciate the offers.

And before you start thinking that I am totally undeserving of female friends, I actually have a ‘standing’ lunch date with the same friend on a regular basis.

But in all actuality, I prefer one-on-one morning (or afternoon) coffees…not in a loud coffee house, either! Just pour me a hot cup of java in an intimate setting – invite me over to sit at the kitchen table or outside on a patio with quiet music.

These venues are conducive to connecting and sharing and really listening to a friend’s ‘goings on’.

And…..you have to admit….big birthday luncheons take up 1/2 your birthday.

1/2 hour to get there & park | 2 hours to eat | 1/2 hour to get home & change into comfy clothing.

The conversation always centers around how old we all are getting… & what activities we no longer can do well. The food is fancy and hard to eat politely in public. And who needs an expensive salad with exotic greens that resemble weeds to start a meal?

So what did I actually eat on this birthday???

My favorite crispy fried chicken (3 drumsticks, to be exact) which happens to be sold at my local supermarket. For Real. Best place in town. I never, ever allow myself this delicacy!

And since, I’m on the Weight Watchers Program, I NEVER get cupcakes. With that said, I bought 3 mini-cupcakes at the bakery. And to go along with the sinful cake, I treated myself to my fav ice cream in the whole-wide-world …at Chick-fil-a! It is the best ice cream out there! It is very much like the ‘ice milk’ that I ate as a child in rural Louisiana. Every bite just screams – ‘Good Southern Memories’.

For the first time in months, I actually made time to drop off my ‘everyday-bracelets’ to be professionally cleaned. I truly wear these bracelets every single day and actually felt slightly undressed – leaving them at the jeweler….but they didn’t shine anymore. I wanted to do this for myself – since before Christmas!

With my gift certificate in hand, I claimed my Sephora Birthday Goodies – a bag of fantastic cosmetic and hair product samples. There is nothing better than free stuff on your big day.

I enjoyed sitting in my car with my seat reclined – talking to my sister and to my friends who called to wish me well. Laughing and chatting in the parking lot without a care in the world! In fact, I forgot that I was sitting in my car!

And as usual, I went to chapel which is one of my favorite things to do throughout the week. But on my birthday, I wasn’t rushed and enjoyed worshiping longer than usual. I had a calm and peace which made a routine visit to chapel… very, very special.

I always turn off my phone as I enter chapel. When I walked to my car, my heart filled full of love reading a text message from my daughter-in-law. So-much-so that I took a screenshot of her message so I could print it when I got home. I sat quietly in the church parking lot reading that one text over and over again.

I scheduled my regular massage on my birthday….which is one of my guilty pleasures that I do routinely allow myself to partake. I claim that these massages are for stress reduction and lowering blood pressure and increased circulation. Well, yes….

But I must admit, I just like massages.

And, this is probably the cherry on top of the birthday sundae for me. I have 2 stores that I go to almost weekly. I dart in and dart out. I quickly scan the aisles for my targeted purchase. And then I race to the check-out line. After that….I jump back into my car. On to the next errand. My mantra: Speed Shopping.

Well, on my birthday…..I browsed…..I lingered….I perused….I strolled….and I dawdled. I allowed myself to enjoy TJ MAXX and JoAnn’s Fabric & Crafts. It was delightful and delicious to purchase cute things that made me smile.

After a full day of frivolous frolic….. I enjoyed nachos and a margarita at a local Mexican restaurant with my husband. Margaritas are beaucoup points on Weight Watchers so I haven’t had one in months! My husband has been my very best friend – since I was 19 years old. Quite a few brithdays ago!

To end my birthday, I received a call from my oldest son. A text message from my first daughter-in-law. And a darling picture from my grand-dog.

A great ending to a full day of celebrating life.

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On my birthday, I was grateful to be alive.

Grateful to have a family – a husband since my LSU days, 2 sons, 2 daughters-in-law, a dog son, and a grand-dog chihuahua. My complete family.

Grateful to have a car (which I affectionately named Cat) to scoot around my hometown.

Grateful to have a local prayer chapel which has been my spiritual home for almost a decade. It is my refuge during my travails and my place of celebration during my triumphs. Since we attend a church down in the city – easily a 45 minute drive – it’s a blessing to have access to a chapel in my hometown during the week.

Grateful for Weight Watchers because I now really taste the indescribable glory of fried chicken, cupcakes, & ice cream since it’s not on my daily menu. Or monthly menu for that matter.

And most of all, I am grateful that small things still make me sincerely happy.

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