Birthdays

June is a rough month.  At the very end of May my dear darling son celebrates the anniversary of his birth.  Then comes a string of celebrations: ex's birthday (ok, not really a celebration but still has to be acknowledged by the kids), Father's Day, a friend's birthday, my dear darling daughter - in - law, and then, me.  It gets sorta overwhelming - the running around, the money, the activities.  I get tried and, well, so does everyone else.  By the time my birthday rolls around everyone else is celebrated out!  It's really ok - I've never been a big showy kinda gal when it comes to those sorts of things.  The acknowledgment is nice and I enjoy the gifts and, when I get one, the CAKE.  I love me some birthday cake.  Have I made that point before?  I have a favorite kind of cake.  From Publix.  Butter cream frosting.  Gotta be the butter cream.  Not the whipped topping.  The B.U.T.T.E.R. C.R.E.A.M. Rarely do I get it though, which is actually a good thing.  Would hate to think I'd get on a sugar/butter cream high and gain back the 34 lbs I've lost.  I don't wanna go there again, now do I? 

So... tomorrow is my birthday.  Well, if I don't finish this post before midnight then it will actually be my birthday today.  Woo hoo! I'm getting old!  I've left the mid range of 40... I've crossed over into the beginning of the end (of my forties that is).  I'm not exactly where I'd hoped I'd be but I'm sure not where I once upon a time was.  I've not paid too much attention to the fact that tomorrow (or today) will be it... truthfully it sorta embarrasses me - this whole getting thing.  I'm not used to having a fuss made over me and it makes me uncomfortable to be honest but we grow, right?  I've been through a lot of changes in the last several years, I've met a lot of people, been a few places.  I've developed some pretty great friendships and it's not really been until recently have I realized just how great they are.  Today was a huge expression of that and I'm still sorta smiling about it now... let me share-

My daughter asked if she could go with a friend and her mom today to shop for a bathing suit.  I didn't think much of it really - it's not so out of the ordinary.  I worked, and would be at the office until at least five.  Lately I've been working until six... six thirty.  It's nearing the end of the fiscal year and lots of data needs to be entered as well as court preparations for next week need to be done.  There are thirteen cases to be heard during the three hours of docket time.  Did I mention there is lots of data to be entered?  Ok, good. Just making sure.  Daughter says, "What time you think you'll be home?  Joan and SMO said they'd be at the house and visit for a few when we get back if you won't be too late."  Nothing out of the ordinary there either. They'll be leaving tomorrow evening for a family vacation.  I said I'd be home about five thirty and, in fact I headed out to make it home at that time.  I get home, walk in the house and there they are - my dear friend, her daughter, her daughter in law, her granddaughter and my daughter - four generations of women waiting for me with streamers and balloons and smiles!  They'd cleaned the house, made dinner and were ready for a party!

Surprised doesn't begin to describe it.

How wonderful to be thought of, to be planned for, to be celebrated!  The dinner was out of this world and they had cake for me - Publix cake with butter cream frosting!  Rebecca had bought me flowers - sunflowers!  My favorites!  I had gifts - a sweet little gift from the girls and my friend, well... she got me a gag gift and it makes me laugh and blush all at the same time.

We've all been reading the Shades of Grey books.  She's finished the three and I'm in the middle of the third now.  Scandalous stuff I tell you but oh so wonderfully sinful and wicked (and honestly I enjoy some sin and wickedness although I don't particularly participate in such things like I might would hope).  So she gives me this gift... a sly smile on her face and she says it's not really my gift - it's a gag gift... and I realize it's probably something I don't want to take out of the bag so I peek in and sure enough... she's bought me a whip!  A WHIP!  What in the world am I going to with a whip?  It's not like I'm even having sex, let alone kinky sex.  It's funny though - very funny!  And it's one of those unabashedly personal gestures that only comes when friends get to that place - that place of delightful familiarity, comfort, and co-conspiracy - when stuff like that loses any kind of weirdness and just becomes a wonderful moment of fun.  And to top it off, our other buddy and co-conspirator calls me at the stroke of midnight - she's just gotten off work and wanted to wish me a happy birthday.  She brings up the whip and she says, "You have a month to use it!  If you've not used it in a month you have to pass it along."  Ha!