So this is my birthday weekend
It’s the end of a sleepless Thursday night, thankfully not one of many, and I’m preparing to greet the sunrise with all the enthusiasm I can muster. I stayed quiet through the night so I wouldn’t wake Hal up. I don’t know why I couldn’t sleep last night; besides sinus congestion, I feel OK. We’re experiencing some freezing rain this morning. I knew it was chilly, so a nice warm shower is in my immediate future. Sometimes, things happen because they happen without any rhyme or reason. Worrying too much about it won’t make the problem disappear, so I’ll take a nap or two during the day on Saturday.
We don’t have much planned for today. I will watch the UK game against Alabama at noon, and then Hal wants me to take him shopping in the afternoon. We need cat food and might as well get plenty of nasty winter weather in store. We’ve been spared the terrible cold this winter but have dealt with snow, although not nearly as much as DC to our north. Let them deal with all the bad weather.
My birthday is Monday. I’ll turn 61, and there are times like this when I feel old. I realize that each passing year, Hal and I are increasingly on our own. Old friends drift away, but we’re still going strong here in defiance of the odds. We just celebrated our 25th anniversary earlier this month. It doesn’t feel like we’ve been together that long, but we’ve outlasted many other relationships. It took me 36 long years to find the love of my life, and nothing will break us apart now.
I feel a sense of dread for my birthday because of the events that coincide. Of course, I'm talking about the Orange Buffoon tragedy that happens in DC on my birthday. I didn't vote for Orange Shitler, but that doesn't matter now. I'll not watch or listen to any of the bullshit.
I got an unexpected birthday gift from an old coworker on Friday. We’ve never actually met in person. She is in San Diego while we’re here in Virginia. She is the last of the old group we’ve managed to stay in contact with over the previous four years. Everyone else has dropped off the radar for me, and she says she doesn’t have much contact with the remaining members of our old gang. I have followed her story as she and her husband are raising twins, and I’m sure my interest has helped sustain our friendship. Anyway, I got a package from her yesterday filled with beautiful crystals and stones. I might have mentioned my hobby to her in passing, but I never expected something like this.
My friend called me on Saturday afternoon. I told her I appreciated her crystal gifts, and we talked for almost 30 minutes. I felt so good after speaking with her. It was like we had known each other for years instead of never having met. Friends like her are precious and worth holding onto for as long as possible. Our conversation cheered both of us up; both of us were feeling under the weather on Saturday. After talking with her and watching the UK v Alabama game (sadly, the UK lost), I took Hal shopping before I got back home and crawled into bed for several hours.
Sunday arrived as scheduled. My birthday is tomorrow, so I’ll avoid political drama and have the best birthday possible. I only expect dinner at a nice restaurant unless it is too crowded. I still wear a mask in crowded spaces, so packed restaurants are out for me. Hal knows that I’m not picky and that the most important thing is that we’ll be together. Aside from Hal and the cats, I need nothing more.
I hope for the best when I finally publish this story later tonight.
Be Kind to each other.