Birthdays....

This was written a few days ago... as I reflected on yet another big day.

I woke up this morning hoping the day would pass quickly.... like a trip to the dentist office. Hold still.. another one passes. As a kid you anticipate the birthdays and they never come fast enough. Then you hit the big ones 16 - 20 - 21 - 40 - 35- and 40... Those are birthdays that cause you to stop and shout to the world that you have made it to some pinnacle. You bask in the center of the celebration and anticipate all that is coming ahead. And after 40 you are ready to slow down the annual party and yet the birthdays come faster and faster. Gravity is pulling your body to the ground that it came from. The body stops working as good as it used to. I know I am smarter and more mature and way more at peace with myself.. except for the whole age thing. I walk now when I used to run. I go to bed at 9:30 when I used to go to bed at 12:30. I get up at 5 when I used to get up at 9. I have no idea who the latest stars are.. what the singers are really saying. I look in the mirror and I swear my parents are staring back at me. I feel AGE creeping up on me and it is UNWELCOME! But it won't go away! I want off the merry go round... but lets face it - the alternatives are not very good.

And then I get up today and experience a birthday like no other. From the moment I got up (actually yesterday when someone was a day early :)) I have been bombarded with flowers and e-mails and calls and texts and songs and cards and FB wishers. I, who eat alone most nights.., had three offers for dinner! There has never been a day in my life when I was touched by so many. And while I have work to do and calls to make and problems to solve and clients to see and people to consult with and groceries to buy and computer parts to go find..... all the while I have been blessed by all of my friends and family who stopped to touch me today.

So thank you for those blessings but what I really see is a God that has blessed me with a community of people who walk with me... encouraging, touching, laughing, crying, pushing, pulling. And I am so glad for the gift of friends. Thank you!