Reflections

Today is my birthday so that's what I'm going to talk about today. Birthdays are a time of celebration, but also a time of reflection, depending on our age. When we are young, the day is pure fun - a day that revolves around you and the celebration that you are alive and in this world. As we grow older, it becomes more a time of reflection, a way to look back at the past year, and our past life, and think about what we've done and where we're going next. That is probably what I will spend at least part of my day doing.

But I will also enjoy spending it with my family and babysitting my 2-yr-old grandson. Yesterday my hubby took me to lunch at a little cafe downtown. This cafe specializes in chocolate. Almost everything they make has some sort of chocolate to accompany it, from incredible hot chocolate to dipped strawberries to chocolate-raspberry vinaigrett for your salad and desserts that make you drool just to look at them. They also feature organic foods that are good for the body as well as the soul and the environment. Those of you who know me well might think that this is a strange place for my hubby to take me. Why? Well, unfortunately, I am allergic to chocolate. And vegetable peppers. Plus I have other eating issues and my hubby, well, let's just say neither one of us goes out to eat much. But even without the chocolate, lunch was wonderful. Then my son and d-i-l invited me to have dinner with them. I enjoyed a wonderful pot roast and cake afterwards.

But what made the day for me was the gift I received from my son/d-i-l/grandson. It is a book. And not just any book. A little more than a year ago, before we moved closer to them, I wrote a story for my grandson. It's about being loved from both nearby and from far away. I included family pictures in the story, printed it off on heavy-duty paper and bound it with string. To my delight, he liked the story and looked at it until it started to fall apart. Last night, they presented me with the story, professionally printed and bound as a hard-back book. It is a gift that goes beyond price and my delight is beyond measure. I can honestly say it is the best gift I have ever received.

And today? Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch (grandson's favorite) and probably a TV dinner for dinner (hubby works second shift, so I have the evening to myself). Then a good book - either to read or write. My idea of a good day.

Today's teaser: Write a scene for your character's birthday using the following: mask, rubber ball, plaque, chocolate.