Birthdays

 Earlier in life I had birthdays mainly in the summer, then I married and my husband and a lot of our inner circle fell between February 20 and March 5, two even sharing the 28^th of February. The other two of us in a group of 7 actually shared the same day and month if not the year so we always felt equal to the “fish”. And parties there were.

Then the children started coming and we enlarged our horizon’s, but again with my in-laws it was interesting to note that one of the nephews on my husband’s side shared my own mother’s day and month. My sister-in-law (as in my husband’s sister as opposed to his brother’s wives) almost shared my dad’s birthday and there was many a year when we got them switched around. Wishing my dad a Happy Birthday two days before wasn’t such a problem, forgetting my sister-in-law’s for two days, not so nice.  Then my dad died on my sister-in-law’s birthday complicating things even more.

 

And now, although I perhaps will never reach my goal of having someone on each day of the year, all of the months have filled in quite nicely.

 

As we are apparently 20 million (yes, you read right) on this earth who share each birthday, happy birthday to all of you, who along with my dear sister-in-law, share this particular day.

 

Clipart library

 

One of the best…

 Birthdays yet

 

Thanks to all of my delightful and thoughtful family and friends.

 

This year I had decided to go back to a favorite hotel with a long-time friend.

On the day itself, first message from my older son, then a continual flow of WhatsApp, sms, email and I am sure physical cards although I wasn’t home to receive them.

I was on a high even before attending the concert that we had chosen: Andras Schiff

Who played a Bach, then a Hayden, following by Mozart and Schubert. After that we were sure that he couldn’t do anything else, but the Brahms encore was perfect.

 

Back to the hotel where we were going to have our dessert: what a surprise, they presented me with a birthday cake! I had wondered when I got an email during the afternoon offering my a percentage on my next trip if they realized that I was actually in the hotel, yes – not only the computer program, but the people who run the hotel.

 

I went to bed on a cloud.

The only negative of the whole day was the rain, but that did NOT spoil my parade this year.

 

 

Credit goes to the chef of the Golfhotel in Saanenmöser, Switzerland. It was every bit as good as it looks!

Could’ve, Should’ve?

It would’ve been my husband’s 85^th birthday today. He died 20 years ago just three weeks before his 65^th.

He could have lived ‘til 85 – at least statistically for that generation. Those who made it through WWII had a good chance and there are several of his university friends who have. He also has several who didn’t make it much longer than he.

Should have?

He was 10 when the war ended and probably wasn’t well-nourished throughout his early life although his father did his best and sent his family out of the war-bombed city to the countryside.

He had his first major illness at just 32 and owed his life then to penicillin.

At just age 34 he had open heart surgery – the replacement of the aortic valve: he was lucky as living at that point in a major city in Switzerland that had the latest machines.

At age 45 he had his second open-heart surgery with the replacement of his mitral valve and re-replacement of his aortic valve. They threw in a pacemaker as well.

He never had colds, the flu only once that I recall, but major crisis he could do.

What kept him going? Probably finding someone to be at his side, then the birth of his adored sons. He worked hard to stay healthy and got those last 20 years.

So should he have turned 85? On will alone – a resounding yes. Logistically probably no.

I’ll still remember and still raise a glass to an extraordinary man. Happy Birthday RSL!

In Alaska the summer of 1999 less than 6 months before his death

19 Million people and…

Best birthday cake yet! Thanks S

 P.D.James!

Oh the luck – I who love words and greatly appreciate P.D.James actually share the same birthday. Who knew?

Kind of cuts one back to one’s size doesn’t it?

19 million people.

I in fact have two very good friends who share my birthday and know of at least a half a dozen others amongst those surrounding family and friends.

It was a fun day – at one point I figured a blog would need to say something along the lines of “I wrapped myself in love – friends, family and even strangers”. It was a low-key, stress-free birthday with cell phone calls not happening at the same time as fixed phone calls, with just the right mix of coffees, lunch, and even running into the family who’s party I had been unable to attend. The day, socially, ended with a cocktail/dinner with some of my best friends.

I would wish for this every day, but the joy probably would swamp me.

Lucky, lucky, lucky me that amongst the world’s 7 billion+ I have so many with whom to share my life.

My slice of that gorgeous creation - love resberries!

It’s my birthday and I’ll read if I want to…

Read if I want to, read if I want to. (My generation knows the refrain: “It’s my birthday and I’ll cry if I want to”, but hey I welcome each one – proof that I’m still having a party!

 

But back to the “it’s my birthday and I’ll read if I want to”:  I have a new kindle and already spent an hour reading the instructions then downloading a half a dozen free books. I can see that I will quickly be addicted and splitting my time in between so many classicals that I’ll never catch up. It is going to take some good willpower to turn it off, lay it aside and get on with “real” life.

Well actually maybe I’ll answer the phone, open the cards, have lunch with my friends, including one who shares my birthday; send text messages to the other two who share my birthday, check Facebook for the lovely people who will post to my wall.

I am blessed beyond measure in my family, my friends even those acquaintances on the periphery of my life

But, hopefully I’ll also read if I want to!