thirty-nine

 

September has always been my favourite month, and I'm sure a large part of that has to do with the fact that it's my birthday month (along with a not insignificant number of other people)! I love September weather -- the tide of temperature climbs from cool mornings to hot afternoons and then recedes to pleasant evenings, and darkness falls at a civilized hour (7:30 p.m. around here). and of course, school starting again was a huge landmark in my year as a child, and now again as my own kids are starting school. I welcomed it for myself and now I welcome it for them ;) 

this year, Nick gave me my birthday present early, on Friday (two days before my birthday). I had picked up Caliente pizza for dinner using a birthday reward for a free medium one-topping pizza -- I chose pickles! -- and of course we got another cheese pizza for the kids. after dinner he asked in a somewhat leading way if I wanted to have a campfire and make s'mores. when I came out to the yard, he had set up my new zero gravity recliner chair, complete with an attached tray table and drink holder. did I specifically request this very chair? yes. was I any less grateful to have received it than if he had magically deduced I'd wanted one? absolutely not. it is SO comfortable and I can mostly recline myself back in it now without shrieking (if you go all the way back, it kind of feels like you're going to tip over backwards, but you won't! you won't! I keep telling myself.) 

Cece took this "special effects" picture that cracks me up

Reese's peanut butter cup s'more. yes, please and thank you

that evening I noticed a bit of scratchy throat but didn't think much of it. we had planned to go out for dinner as a family on Saturday night, either to Hofbrauhaus or Penn Brewery to feast on German food and a stein or two of beer. my throat was still bothering me on Saturday morning, and as the day wore on, I felt worse and worse, with congestion, fatigue, and some achiness. no fever or cough, but of course I took a Covid test. it was negative, but I still wasn't up to doing much. Nick took over kid duties and fed them leftovers for dinner and I basically slept from 4 p.m. on. 

Sunday morning (my birthday), I woke up feeling completely fine apart from a little bit of a runny nose. (as an aside, I have dealt with minor illness this way for my entire life. unless it's something more persistent, like strep or Covid, which I have had twice, if I can just sleep for a day, I usually bounce right back. odd but good, I guess?) I took another Covid test because Covid is a sneaky little bugger, and it remained negative.  the rest of the family was fine too, so I dropped off the older girls at catechism class and went through the Starbucks drive through to redeem my free birthday drink. 

triple venti white chocolate mocha. according to Birthday Law, you have to order a venti and an extra shot for your birthday drink. if I had paid full price for this, it would have cost $8.02, which is insane. 

then we went to church and afterwards Nick suggested a family photo, which I am so glad to have because usually I'm the one behind the camera/phone. and the girls even cooperated, which was even more notable! 

Nick then directed us to make a "mad face"

a close up. Elizabeth wins the prize. please note her beloved Christmas blankie which comes with us everywhere.

since we missed our grand plans for dinner out the night before, we settled for our other favourite family haunt for lunch: the local Chinese buffet. I could pretend we only go there because it's easy with the kids, but I'd be lying. I love their lo mein and General Tso's and basil chicken and egg rolls of my own accord and I'm not ashamed to admit it. 

then Nick headed back to church to play for the vespers service, and my lady friends arrived for a little celebration! (I had kept them apprised of my symptoms and they were willing to risk it.) we took a bottle of cabernet sauvignon out to the backyard and then feasted on sushi and a delicious almond cake Amelia had bought from a bake sale (the label specifically said "delicious almond cake", and it was not wrong). 

this was called the Lover Boat and it was a delight! it said it would serve 2 people but the four of us were quite content with this plus the accompanying salad, soup, and brussels sprouts I roasted while we were chatting

Nick arrived back home and proceeded to present me with another cake, a decadent chocolate truffle concoction. meanwhile, Greta took over cooking dinner for the family with her standby meal, pesto pasta (the roasted brussels sprouts are technically supposed to be mixed into the pasta, but the ladies enjoyed them much more than the kids ever have). 

it was so good!

then we were off in a rush to meet our Lyft and head downtown. I invested in the arts once again ;) and purchased a subscription to the Broadway national tour performances that come to our local theater throughout the year. my standard ticket is for the Sunday evening show, and the first performance of the season just happened to be on my birthday evening! 

Amelia and I are wearing the same lip gloss, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb. (according to Sephora, the full name is Gloss Bomb Cream Color Drip Lip Cream, which is just ridiculous, but the gloss is fantastic!) the last time we all got together, for Blair's birthday, Amelia put some of it on all of us and it's like the Traveling Pants of lip gloss. so I bought myself some of my very own.

Amelia sat a few rows back (the show was nearly sold out so there weren't any available seats next to mine). Blair and Amy walked over from the theater to our local college bar and continued their evening (Blair had seen the show the day before). the performance was great, made more so by my unabashed use of binoculars. and of course, during intermission we had to try the signature cocktail. 

after the show we discovered this little alcove room with amazing couches and murals, and obviously had to do a birthday photo shoot

once we got back home, Nick brought out these high-quality wooden recorders, so we had an impromptu jam session. well, most of the actual jamming came from these two. I exclusively play the piano and viola and have never learned a wind or brass instrument (apart from the standard issue 3rd grade plastic recorder). Nick went to states on trumpet in high school and Amelia plays the French horn and teaches middle school band, so she knows all the things. it was such a funny, nerdy and perfect way to end my birthday.

sweet messages, texts, phone calls, and physical cards from friends and family all added to the celebration. Nick asked me how it felt to be 39, and I have to say I agree completely with my grandmother's assessment of her age. she always said that whatever age she was at that moment was her favourite age. sure, I'm not always thrilled with my 39-year-old body (I would gladly trade that in for my 29-year-old body), but you don't birth four babies without some extra stretch marks and squishiness and gray hairs. at least I don't. and the older I get, the more I appreciate authenticity, integrity, and the importance of showing up for each other, rather than keeping up with pop culture or the latest fashions (which is appallingly apparent to anyone who sees me or my closet). I'm more comfortable saying what I mean, and more sure of what I want. and that is to love God, to love my family, to love my friends, and to feel that love in return. as I embark on my 40th trip around the sun, I pray that love continues to deepen and enrich my life and the life of those around me. 

Your turn: What was your favourite birthday celebration as a kid? As an adult? Do you play an instrument? What do (or would) you order for your free birthday drink from Starbucks?