Not that you want to know the ins and outs of bathroom activity but sometimes when you are contemplating life while on the throne so to speak, you find your mind wandering; sometimes even searching around for some reading material or putting another thing on your “honey do list” if you are so inclined. Besides the kitchen, the bathroom decor gets the most use. Literally. LOL. I have to smile when I think of those books you can buy at Chapters or any used book stores of that infamous book For the Bathroom Reader. Let’s face it, we have all been there, done that. Too much information?? Yeah. Anyway I think there is a lot of thinking that goes on in the quiet of one’s morning constitution unless of course you have only one bathroom or you have little children who like to join you or the cell phone starts ringing. Geez. Getting old before my time. Oops getting sidetracked.
This morning I was thinking of my mom’s bathroom and birthdays. How in the world my mind goes to those places, I have no idea. But since I can remember, she had this long rectangular framed wooden calendar hung on the wall of the main bathroom. And as I was saying earlier, your mind can wander at times while doing your business and in this particular case, your eyes may find themselves glancing up and voila….you see this perpetual calendar with dates, name and years on it. (FYI, a perpetual calendar is not made for one year and discarded but a forever calendar designed with no year date attached to it, only the months shown or some facsimile thereof). Sometimes when visiting the little girls room, I find I glance over at the calendar automatically. Funnily my mind will notice things when I should be focusing on the business at hand, instead of noting that my mom did not change the month!!. Or holy moly, I forgot so and so’s birthday or anniversary. Or doing a quick calculation in my head to the realization that I did not know so and so was THAT old. TMI. My bad.
But, I am grateful for that perpetual calendar. Not only does it have the birth dates of the living but also mom put the end date of those dearly departed. It is not something I want to forget. Sometimes in the still quiet of the night, I feel the spirit warming my heart as I think of those who have left this earthly place. It brings much joy and sometimes freely falling tears of love. Although the ache of the loss of loved ones never leaves, it is profoundly felt especially now as December opens with Advent season as Christmas draws near. And of course, the rejoicing in the birth of Jesus, love born on Christmas. Hmmmm.
Birthdays. Celebrating a new page of your life and if you are fortunate to have friends and family, celebrating their day too. Acknowledging YOU. You are here. Oh the joy of getting older. Now let’s face it, not everyone sees a birthday as a celebration. It may even be depressing, sort of like birthday blues. Oh my. Growing older can be a bit off putting at times but maybe we should look at it as seeing how far we have come, celebrating the birth itself. Thanking God for you. Wow! Being born and being alive. Fantastic!!
Yes, there might be a tinge of hurt and loneliness, if people in your life do not even remember your birthday after awhile. Sorry for that feeling. I wonder how many people would remember birthdays if Facebook was not around? Thank goodness for small mercies….kind of like a perpetual calendar. Yet, on the other hand, if you do not tell people it is your birthday then what? It is kind of a catch 22 or even a conundrum. But thankfully God has your picture on his Samsung refrigerator to remind you, you are not alone. Just saying.
This week I celebrated my 62nd birthday. I did it!! Thank you Lord. Where did the time go? I have no idea. It is not something to hide from, although many have a thing about keeping it a state secret. Not sure why. Although I think of my mom right now who seems to celebrate her being 29 each year so I am not quite sure how that works and how I could possibly surpass her but hey, there are mysteries that cannot be explained. It behooves me to think that I have been on this planet for a long time, like 743 months, 1 week, 6 days, 5 hours, 13 minutes and 19 seconds to be exact. But the clock keeps ticking. LOL.
In celebrating my birthday, I can honestly say I have grown older but have I grown up? Well that is debatable as my brother might say to me. I guess I am on the hill now. Does this mean that I am needing more prune juice, velcro shoes, A5-35, fiber ….nah. You are as old as you feel. I got this.
A birthday is a precious gift no matter how young or old you are. And I am most grateful for the best wishes of family and friends that I have received past and present. My well is filled to the brim. To know that it is a new year before you of a new beginning, full of possibilities, of new tomorrows and promises, and a chance to meet the challenges in everything you try.
Let this day, if it is your day, be one of love and heartfelt joy in celebrating YOU. Know that this note comes with heartfelt love and joy for you on this day. As George Meredith shared “don’t just count your years, make your years count.” Wherever the year ahead takes you, I hope it’s happy. Blessings.
Let us pray for those whom are in need of our prayers and keeping the celebration of birthdays alive and well for all.
Bit of birthday humour….
After 30, a body has a mind of its own. ~ Bette Midler
Live your life and forget your age, ~ Norman Peale
Middle age is when you’re sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn’t for you. ~Ogden Nash
Just remember, once you’re over the hill you begin to pick up speed. ~Charles Schulz
The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age. ~Lucille Ball
It’s important to have a twinkle in your wrinkle. ~Author Unknown
The good thing about getting older is if you don’t want to do something you can say, I’m too old to do that! ~Kate Summers
You’ve heard of the three ages of man: Youth, middle age, and you’re looking wonderful. ~ Cardinal Spellman
Artificial intelligence is a wonderful thing. I told my computer that today is my birthday, and it said that I need an upgrade. ~ Author Unknown
Age is a number and mine is unlisted. ~ Author Unknown
Karenpondering 