Thank You.

It's funny ... I've never been too keen on celebrating birthdays, mine particularly ... and for no particular reason either.

I woke up sad though, thinking that I would be spending my day alone in daily routine. But in the end, all was well. I have lots to be thankful for.

... like for getting me out the door and to the spa appointment that awaited me yesterday morning. It felt grand to end my treatments with the words

"You're all set, Ma'am. Everything's been taken care of."

And, I'm sorry for spoiling your lunch-time surprise. I didn't mean to weasel it out of you with my early morning puppy tears. But, thank you for taking a half day of work so that we could have a birthday lunch and spend the afternoon together.

Later on, it was wonderful walking into Mom's house, and seeing all the cooperation that went into my birthday dinner. Mom cooked, Dad ran out to the store to pick up some things, Jacki went to pick up my PadThai request, Hay took care of little chores along with Joni and Andrew, etc ...

... and little did I know, you were off all the while with another surprise!

Thank you.

Jason did a wonderful job with my birthday cake.

Last year you brought me to tears with a GRAND surprise party with a surprise Pooh ice cream cake (2 things i love in ONE treat!). This year, a smaller gathering which proved to be more intimate and a Pooh cake AGAIN, though more touching.

Seeing the image of Poohsticks bridge warmed me throughout. Bridges, playing poohsticks, taking walks, chatting on the porch, sitting beneath trees and all other things that have come to encompass our love and relationship filled my thoughts at the sight of the cake. I could not help but be overwhelmed with emotion. It was wonderful to have been able to share that with our family (and literally when I passed out slices, too).

This is the second consecutive year that you've tackled a wonderful surprise and I have now embraced this:

that birthdays are honored to show love towards the celebrant, and to celebrate with loved ones is reason enough to say "it's a wonderful life and i'm eternally grateful."

love always,
A