It's minutes until the stroke of midnight on my official birth day, and I am sitting on the couch wrapped in blankets, popping cough drops, blowing my nose every two seconds and drinking tea. I guess that's what I get for partying all weekend long...
It was totally worth it though. While the weekend did not include any running, I did exercise my lungs a lot while laughing my head off with a couple of the best girl friends on the planet, as we worked our way through pedicures, a pitcher of margaritas, Mexican dinner deliciousness, Sunday brunch, and shopping. Phew. That's a long list of girly stuff.
Before all the girly stuff, a whole group of wonderful friends and family members joined me in celebrating a quarter of a century with a potluck picnic in the state park, as sunshine washed over us. I attempted to use an outdoor charcoal grill and baked cupcakes from scratch (not at the same time, both for the first time in my life!) and no one has called me yet complaining of food poisoning ... it's been more than three days so I think I'm safe.
In my family, we don't usually make a big deal out of birthdays, especially now that my sisters and I are older. We always take care to mark the occasion with a couple of cards and a special dinner with Mom and Dad, maybe a cake.
But this year is different. I'm celebrating so much more than a number and a day -- I'm celebrating, with relief and pride, the end of a long, tired period of grief and the renewal of self that could have only occurred after surviving a treacherous journey and conquering my personal Kilimanjaro.
Kinda vague, I know, but hey, it's the Internet.
This sentiment I attempted to make clear in a sort of speech at my birthday gathering on Saturday. It's sad but true -- I'm a whole lot more articulate when it comes to the written word, but I hope one thing came across in my garbled burst of emotion: This fall marks a real turning point in life and an occasion to acknowledge all the unanticipated goodness that has surrounded me this year. It has come in the guise of family and friends who never wavered in their love and support no matter the circumstances, as well as personal and professional successes. For all that I am grateful.
I'll give you readers a break now from all the serious stuff. My next post will be about something fun, like, you know, slow running. And how those cupcakes are contributing to my slooow, sloow running.
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