Happy Birthday to Me

Yesterday I turned 40.

I had to stop and look at that a moment and realize that I don’t feel as wierded out about it as I thought I would. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t “just a number” like a few people told me but it is A number and not the most important one that I will deal with in my life.

I spent my day in anticipation, what was hubby gonna do? Were the kids gonna forget or rush in and spread the birthday joy? Were my friends gonna call, email or write? How about Facebook and Twitter?

By the end of the evening my questions were answered. Hubby brought roses and CHOCOLATE (does he know me best or what. Who needs diamonds when Snickers will do?) and the Kindle DX was ordered and is on its way. Of course that covers Anniversary in November and Christmas but I am good with that as well. Both of the macho young men that I have spent almost half my life raising responded appropriately and if one of them hugged me a little longer and harder than “seeming” for his age, that is ok with me too. There was a surprise party planned but didn’t happen because of a hospitalization of my best friend’s mom and well, all good parties are held at her house cause she makes the most amazing food ever. Johnny Carino’s, my guys and more food then I should eat in one day was an awesome substitute. And Facebook jumped all day long with friends and relatives I haven’t seen in years all wishing me a happy and blessed day. I even got to talk to the mother of my 21 year old God-daughter that I last saw when she was 6 months old.

All of that is well and good but it made me realize a few truths in my life that I don’t see often because I am so focused elsewhere.

1. I am blessed each and every day for having these people in my life. It isn’t just on the birthdays or holidays when this wonderful support system is seen but every single day.

2. Little things make me happier than the big things. The Kindle is great and the party would have been awesome and yeah, I won’t lie, I was bummed that it didn’t happen but when I asked myself why the answer was because my favorite people, my family and friends, were going to be there, and I missed the opportunity to spend time with them. It was the company, not the thing that meant the most to me.

3. My husband is an awesome man. He sat and quietly told me what he had planned, who he had invited and how my best friend “had done all the planning” and I just knew he was leaving a few things out. He left out that he knew it was important to me so he never forgot the comment I made a few years ago that I would like to celebrate my 40th with my first big party. He left out that even with the mind that deals with facts and figures all day, he had to employ some serious creativity to keep this under wraps. And he left out the fact that he knew me well enough to know that I would be disappointed but was important enough to sit down and tell me, “I’m so sorry it didn’t work out”.

Everyone who told me to have a blessed day, or wished me a blessed birthday, thank you. But I am here to tell you, I am blessed daily. I pray you are too.