Ya Gotta love it!

For as long as I can remember

any occasion involving gifts

generally includes  a conversation

with Naphtali along these lines:

 

N - I got your present today.  Do you want to open it?

Me - No, I'll wait.

N - I found it at a little shop downtown,

it's gorgeous.  Do you want to open it?

Me - It's only a week - I'll wait.

N -You're really going to like it. 

Do you want me to tell you what it is?

Me - Really, I'm happy to wait.

 

Honestly, that routine is aired

several times each year.

 

When I arrived on Thursday afternoon

one of the first things she said to me was that

she had put my birthday present in my room.

With that in mind I should be excused

for taking a peek, right?

 

 

I did peek - it was only a bag - and

found four beautiful fabric bundles with

tags that didn't help me identify them.

 

 

So I commented on the beautiful fabric

- said thank you -

and asked if they are bath towels.

 

You guessed it:

Mom!  Those are for your birthday!

You weren't supposed to look yet!

 

Naphtali is a very generous gift-giver.

She loves to give, and

she loves the search for something special.

 

 

I think she scored, again,

with lovely foutas for my bathroom.

 

 

 

 

 



Happy Birthday Aidan!!

Happy Birthday

 

 

 

Birthday greetings for Jacob!

I'm not sure what's required of me in this situation.

Should I feel traumatized that my youngest has turned 30!?

Cards and confetti have been mailed

and though it seems impossible that 30 years have been

measured in this way

the reality is that they have not only passed

but they've been full:

 

 of happy and heartbreaking events

 

of old friends and new

 

of places and opportunities

 

of growth and change

 

of more than could be told.

 

Happy Birthday, Jacob.

Here's to another 30 years!!

 



How did this happen!?

I worked Friday afternoon and over the course of several hours had to write the date 

which made me stumble - you see, I never quite got used to writing 12/xx/11.  

And now it's 01/02/12 - how did that happen!?

You hear it from everyone - that time goes by faster every year - I certainly have to agree.

Saturday we, the three of us, went for a hike at Dolliver Park.  Roughly 6 miles.

 I haven't been there for years.  We all had a great time.

Although at a different time of year those could be my feet this is a google image

We just Tim and I also went out for dinner.  An impromptu stop at Sam and Gabe's.  

It was delicious.  I would go back just for the appetizer and fire roasted tomato basil soup.

Yesterday's planned session of undecorating was derailed by a expedition to find materials to reno Tim's bathroom.  Flooring, paint, toilet, countertop - we came home with a piece of underlayment and a faucet.

Progress.  

Today Tim is marking another birthday.

The gym is waiting for me.  And the undecorating, some laundry, baking, and wrapping presents.  

Did I hear you ask if I have any New Years plans/resolutions?

Of Course - don't we all!?  

Mine I really only have one resolve this year can fall into 2 general categories: 

 Health for the mature, reasonable adult that I have become 

and Vanity well, just because.

Birthday greetings

I know it's unusual to see a second post on the same day but this one was prompted by the events of the day.
Read on:










In January, 1988, our oldest daughter, Naomi, died.  

She was 11. 

 We were heartbroken.

April of that same year saw us moving to Pennsylvania.

We found heart's ease and good friends.

We learned how to function as a family of four.

We experimented with small cars.  There were impromptu picnics.  The night of the fireflies.

And laughter.  Much laughter.

November of that first year rolled around and hoping to avoid some unwanted attention - thinking it was no big deal - I had opted not to add my name to the "Birthday Calendar" that hung in the entry of our church.  Big mistake.

Rob Smith was song leader that day.  Even in those few short months, Rob and his family were already our solid friends and I knew of his well-earned reputation for practical jokes.  It's tempting to call him "larger than life."  He was - and is - a brash, loud, outdoorsy, self-confident ham.  He's also a generous, helpful, multi-talented, kind man.  The grand kids call him Pap.
He is a friend.  And we share a birthday.

  He is a year older, and already much grayer, than me.

So that day he launches into a hilarious routine about twins  - his twin - separated at birth but still sharing personality traits, looks, sense of humor and so on, and on and on and everyone, everyone, knows there will be a punch line. So people are already chuckling and some are looking around to 

figure out who is about to be punched.

We are sitting in our customary back row and I am dying.  Dying. 

I know it only took a few minutes but from my vantage point it was an eternity before he wrapped it up with "Let's sing Happy Birthday to Ilona!" 

The whole place erupted!  

I don't know how he got through it with a straight face!

I had an email from him this morning - with birthday greetings, which I am happy to return.

Happy Birthday Pap.

Bon Anniversaire

Felicitations on the day to you, Naphtali!  Sending hugs and love...

How do you communicate spur-of-the-moment greetings?
Tweet?  Text?  Email? Phone call?

Send a happy birthday to Naphtali.