My Birthday

My birthday was last week. I hit the big 5-0. Yep, I'm 50. I've never really struggled with any of my birthdays. Age is just a number to me. There are so many cliches about age...you're only as old as you feel...another birthday is better than dead...all kinds of dumb sayings! I guess if I ever had any negative or depressing thoughts about a birthday, it was this one. Fifty is considered a milestone. It was nothing really special or spectacular to me. Just a reminder that I don't have as much time left on this earth as I did a few years ago...that I have fewer years to live than I have already lived. But you know what that tells me? That tells me that I've got to make the very best of every single day I have left! Yessirree! I'm going to live every single day to the very best of my ability. I am going to resolve to absolutely enjoy every minute of every day - make the most out of every hour! I'm going to dance my way through life and when my time comes to go, I want to be able to say "Wow! What a wonderful life!!"

Several of my good friends and I share the same birthday (how weird is that?!) and some of us got together the night before my birthday for dinner at a local restaurant. Then we went to one of our friends' home for cake, gifts and cards and just a good time. I had a beautiful birthday cake with blue roses on it. Thank you, friends. Good friends are a treasure and should be valued as such.

On the day of my birthday, it has become my routine to have my annual physical exam. (The doctor very professionally informed me that I was "aging" beautifully! Hmph.) I did it this year, as usual, and while at the doctor's office my sister, Beth, called. She called to tell me that they were celebrating my birthday in Baton Rouge. Huh?! I'm in Tennessee and they're celebrating in BR? Hmmm. I appreciate the thought, but it would be nice to be at my own birthday celebration!! Actually, I thought it was very thoughtful, a little weird and totally hilarious that they actually ordered a birthday cake with blue roses (do I see a theme here?!) and had a little birthday party for me - without me! I took a picture of myself with my camera phone and sent it to them so they could at least look at me while they ate my birthday cake. They in turn sent me a picture of the cake. It was beautiful! Hope they enjoyed it...hope it tasted as good as it looked!

So, Happy Birthday to me! I haven't accomplished all I wanted to in this life, but I have accomplished some things and I have been blessed way more than I deserve. I have a wonderful husband that I am totally devoted to, and two of the most wonderful people on this planet to call me Mom. I look at them and see all that they have accomplished and I am proud. Very proud. I have accomplished more through them than I ever could have accomplished alone in this life. So, in retrospect, maybe I have accomplished a lot. Just not the things that I set out to do. Regardless, I am proud. Very proud and very blessed!

What a Vacation!

"The rains came down and the floods came up. The rains came down and the floods came up." It rained so hard in Myrtle Beach, I thought we would float away. The wind was blowing so hard there were gale force wind advisories out and it was raining sideways! No use trying to use an umbrella...it just got turned inside out! At times it rained so hard, I couldn't even see across the parking lot! But it made for some good sleeping late Friday morning!

Toward the end of our stay in Myrtle Beach, we finally got to go out and walk on the beach a little bit. It was freezing and very windy! Beautiful, but freezing. Tim never got to hit a single golf ball. We went out and took in the sights a few times and overall, had a very relaxing time in MB. On our last day there we woke up to the sun shining in a bright blue sky. Wouldn't you know it?! It was still cool, but a beautiful day. We enjoyed our last couple of hours there before heading home. We had a good time. So good, in fact, we plan to go back. I just hope the weather cooperates next time!

Winter in Myrtle Beach

What's the big idea?!?! It's supposed to be warm and sunny in Myrtle Beach. It was freezing cold and windy. When we got to the hotel, the valet guy came to open my door and when he did, the wind blew into the car and blew everything that wasn't tied down out into the driveway. I was so embarrassed! All 50-gazillion pages of the Atlanta Journal newspaper, our mail, my birthday cards, my Southern Living magazine, an empty water bottle...literally everything that was loose in the car went flying out of the car. Me, Tim and the valet dude were chasing papers all over the driveway! After we finally got it all collected and the luggage on the cart, the valet guy looked at me and said "Welcome to Myrtle Beach, ma'am." What a welcome!

We went upstairs to check out the room and unpack and then left to roam around the hotel and go get something to eat. We had not eaten since breakfast at Cracker Barrel. We went to this really great place called Captain George's. The concierge recommended it. It's an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet with over 150 items. There are 4 full food buffets and then a huge dessert buffet. The bars had everything anybody would want...a huge salad selection, a whole section of breads ... rolls, hushpuppies, etc., American fare or Italian for those who don't eat seafood (fried chicken, meatloaf, roast pork, ham, pasta dishes, chicken parm, mac & cheese, veggies, etc.), and then the biggest seafood selection I've ever seen. They had fried, baked, broiled and casseroled everything! Oysters, crabs, clams, fish, fish, and fish, crab cakes, crab salad, boiled shrimp, fried shrimp, scallops, lobster, seafood pasta salad, seafood pasta casserole, and more fish. They had seafood dishes I had never heard of. And Tim's favorite...crab legs! A group of young men came in and the only thing they ate were the crab legs. They would go to the bar and get a plate piled high with crab legs, eat them, and go back for more. They never ate any salad or veggies or any other seafood...just crab legs! There is no way anyone could eat some of everything there. We walked around it to see what all was there and then chose the items we wanted. It would be very easy to eat yourself sick at a place like that! The food and service were both great, and the decor and ambiance made you want to come back. It was very relaxing and had - of course - a nautical theme. The food bars were shaped like a boat with huge sails above them, so it looked like it was served on big sailboats. Neat! We ate til we were full, then had coffee and just relaxed for awhile. I had wondered what the hours were, because people just kept coming in and they just kept refilling the serving dishes and it was getting close to 9:00 p.m. As we left, I looked at the posted hours...it said they were open "Monday through Saturday 4:00 pm until..." The hostess said they keep serving as long as people keep coming. Glad I don't work there!

When we left, it had gotten even colder. We were wearing our leather coats! We drove through Myrtle Beach just taking in the sights and getting familiar with the area before going back to the hotel for the night. What is that, Tim? Is that rain??????????

Myrtle Beach, Here We Come

We left last Wednesday after quite a busy day headed for Myrtle Beach. Wednesday was a trip in itself. Wednesday was my birthday...the big 50!! WooHoo!! I always take my birthday off as a day just for me. That's the day I take care of my annual physical exams (you know the routine, women...pap, mammo, etc. etc.). Yeah I know. I've been told it's a weird routine I have - doing this on my birthday, but I kinda figure it's a gift to me. Who else is gonna take care of me, but me? And besides, if I schedule it for my birthday, I won't forget! I usually do the physical check-up, then have my hair and maybe my nails done, have a quiet lunch somewhere and just enjoy the day...MY day. Anyway, I wanted to sleep in - after all it WAS my birthday, but no such luck. I had to get up early to take the dogs to the vet for boarding (and Macy's surgery), then off to the Driver's License office to get my license renewed, then back to the house to pick up a few things, run a couple more errands and then dash to Chattanooga for the doctor's appointment. As soon as I was out of the doctor's office, I headed back to Cleveland to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions and then go back to the house. I forgot to take Belle's meds with her to the vet so I had to get them and go back to the vet again. I finally got back to the house after 5:00 pm. Where did the day go? Tim had errands to run before we could go and neither one of us had packed. We threw some things in the suitcase, loaded the car and away we go! Whew! Finally.

As soon as we were in the car, my stomach very loudly proclaimed that it has been neglected all day and is ready for some food. I had not eaten all day. We wanted to get on the road, but decided to go ahead and get something to eat in Cleveland so that when we did actually get 'on the road' we wouldn't have to stop for awhile. Besides, I just needed to stop, relax, unwind and share with Tim how my day had gone, what the doctor said and just general stuff like that.

We ate, talked and relaxed. It was late, but we didn't get in a hurry. We were officially on vacation and if we didn't get any farther than Atlanta tonight, that was fine. We were on vacation! We finally left Cleveland and got as far as Madison, GA - south of Atlanta - before we stopped.

After a good night's sleep and finally getting to sleep in a little bit, we got up and took our time getting dressed. We went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and then headed down the highway toward Myrtle Beach. I am so ready for a few days off. I'm ready for Myrtle Beach. I just hope Myrtle Beach is ready for me!!

Words of Wisdom

I'm going to let a friend of mine add a few lines to my blog today. Enjoy!


* What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

* Make yourself necessary to somebody.

* To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thanks, Ralph.

Spring

Spring. A familiar word. A happy word. The word 'spring' conjures up pleasant visuals in my mind. Bright blue skies, dancing puffy clouds, vivid yellow jonquils, striking red tulips, a soft breeze blowing, my windchimes singing...ah, spring! (A bit of Bob Ross going on there, I know!) Yes, it seems like I do remember experiencing spring at some point in the past.

BUT WHERE IN THE WORLD IS IT NOW?!?!?!?!?

Is spring ever gonna come again? Is spring gonna sprung? I took Belle out this morning for her regular ritual and she walked over to the backyard, leaned down and was sniffing something. I didn't pay much attention. After all, she's a dog. Dogs do that. They sniff - and it seems like the grosser it is, the more they sniff! Anyway, she would sniff this spot on the ground, walk away and come back to sniff again. She did this several times. And everytime she did, she would sniff and sniff for the longest time. My curiosity finally got the best of me so I went over to see what in the world was so "sniff-acious" - probably just a pile of poo from some new dog in the neighborhood. But, when I got over there, I saw the tiniest, little, most perfectly shaped bright yellow flower with beautiful teeny tiny green leaves! A sure sign of spring!!! And Belle even recognized it and didn't want to leave it! It must have smelled heavenly cause she sure smelled it a lot and she was very careful not to destroy it. I wanted to take a picture of it, but I didn't have my camera with me. But it's there. I saw it. Belle smelled it and together we smiled. Yes, boxers do smile! It's yucky outside today. It's cold and rainy and just generally a depressing looking day. But you know what?

IT'S THERE...THE PROMISE OF BETTER THINGS TO COME!

Life is short

Life is short.

Forgive quickly.

Kiss slowly.

Love truly.

Laugh uncontrollably.

And smile.

I went to the funerals of 3 friends within 3 days' time last week.

Then, I found out that a good friend of mine, quite a few years younger than I, has breast cancer. Her doctor told her that this particular cancer is a "very aggressive, nasty type of cancer." Not encouraging, to say the least. She is scheduled for a double mastectomy next week. She is facing her mortality square in the face, eye to eye, nose to nose. I ache for her.

At one of the funerals I went to, I left feeling good...uplifted...happy, even. They called the memorial service a "Celebration of the Life of [her name]" and it truly was. She was a remarkable woman who brought up an amazing, wonderfully talented and gifted family, 5 generations strong. She was a very happy person and an inspiration to all who knew her. We celebrated her life. The pastor officiating the service even had the congregants to offer an ovation to celebrate her life. It wasn't just an ovation, but a long, standing ovation. As odd as it may seem, it felt appropriate. No, I've never been part of a standing ovation at a memorial service, but it was right for her. We celebrated her life, what she had accomplished and what she accomplished through her family. She will live on. I didn't shed a tear. Instead I laughed. I smiled. I had several "Awww" warm moments. And I felt good when I left. I told someone that it was a beautiful service, and I don't say that often. Especially regarding funerals. But it was.

At one of the other funerals, everyone who knew the deceased was so happy for her. Happy for her? Yes, happy. You see, she had had crippling arthritis since she was just 11 years old. She died at 71, so for 60 years, she had suffered. She had never known the joys and pleasures that most teenage girls do. She never knew the thrill of being married and becoming a mother. She didn't travel very far. She was totally dependent on family members her entire life. She was completely incapacitated and bedridden the last 25 years of her life. But you know what? She was one of the happiest people you could ever meet. She was always singing, always had a joke and according to her family, was one of the most mischievous people ever! Several people made the remark that whenever they went to visit her, they always left feeling better than when they arrived. She left her mark on this world. She didn't leave it through children of her own, but she left it on the hearts of all those who knew and loved her. We are so happy for her now. Because now, she can walk, run, jump, skip, stand up and sit down - and do it all without pain. She has been relieved of her earthly useless casing. She is happy...she is whole...she is free. So, yes, we are happy with her and celebrating her deliverance from disease. It is hard to grieve for someone who has just received so much.

During the same week, 2 friends gave birth to their first baby. There were complications in both cases. In the first case, the baby was born with respiratory complications and was put on a respirator and was kept in the hospital for several days. We were worried. We cried. We prayed. There had been no prenatal indications of any pending complications. It was one of those unpleasant surprises that we never want to face. Everyone was very concerned and the mood was quiet and gloomy for several days. A somber time.

In the second case, the complications were with the mother...a young mother experiencing her first childbirth. She went into labor on a Monday, not delivering the baby until early in the wee hours Thursday morning. The family was upset, scared, tired, nervous, weepy, irritable...not your usual happy, excited enthusiasm while waiting for the birth of a baby. The young mother was having major problems with her blood pressure and with major blood loss. After much labor (oh, what an appropriate word!), she finally delivered a beautiful baby girl. The baby is healthy and very alert. The mother is still suffering. The family is still concerned. They are so proud of the baby, but when you talk to them about the mother, the look on their face changes. They wrinkle their brow, they frown, their eyes tear up. They are worried...worried about the future.

Thinking back on these events of the past week, I realized that feelings seemed reversed. There was celebration at the passing of those we love and yet we cried and were worried at the birth of two beautiful babies. It reminded me that we should rejoice at the passing of a saint and mourn at the birth of a baby. The child's life is full of pain and hardship, while the saint has completed this life and has gone on to receive his reward. It also reminded me of the scripture that says "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." [Ps. 116:15].

The Circle of Life. We're all a part of it. What an interesting study!