August 15 – “Birthday musings”

I awoke yesterday to a bad cramp in my hamstring … on my good leg.  It finally subsided, but I couldn’t get back to sleep, so my day began closer to 5 than to my usual 6.  I did find three FaceBook birthday posts waiting for me (I use the light from my phone to get to the bathroom so I won’t wake Chris up in the mornings).  One from a lawyer, one from a doctor, and one from a teacher friend who now lives in Greece.  Guess that makes me well-rounded, huh?

I have to admit, I did do some work on my birthday. That sermon still looms for the upcoming Sunday.  But then I had a visit from my little buddy across the street, Brennan.  Seems his Mama told him it was my birthday, so he and Monkers (His stuffed pal) came over to wish me a good day. 

Chris joined us as we were chatting, and when Brennan left she brought out a present for me.  Very light in my hands.  Eagerly, I looked inside and found … a piece of paper.  And on it was an incredible artistic rendition of the gift that has not yet arrived (ah, the joys of internet shopping).  But soon to be a part of our arsenal?  A new selfie stick.  I broke my old one a while trying to make my new phone fit it.  Can’t wait for it to arrive.

We did go for a walk, too.  Chris asked if I wanted to stay at home with my phone and wait for possible well-wishes.  Tempting, but the call of the knee and the time with the wife was too much to resist.  The walk won out.  I’m still holding at a mile and a loop.  Chris is still at four miles.  So the time with the wife was limited, but greatly enjoyable.  She told me she loved me ten times (She counted.  And continued to say it and count it throughout the day.  I’m pretty sure she passed 65 times sometime during the afternoon).  I kissed her somewhere in the mix of all that unbottled emotion, and she continued on her way.  I hobbled home.  Sadly, no Lovey to talk to on this day (I did see her brood taking a walk later in the afternoon.  I asked if they were Lovey’s family, and the new Mom immediately replied, Oh, so you’re the one.”  I answered, “Yeah.  I get that a lot”). 

I had two lovely escorts for lunch.  Chris and Cailyn took me to Shrimp and Stuff for a popcorn shrimp dinner.  Nice.  Also got to play with their new brindle boxer puppy named Tilly.  And … had the inestimable joy of cleaning up after the new youngster.  Check that one off my bucket list.

Throughout the day I did begin to receive message of well-wishing from good ol’ FaceBook friends.  Lots of them.  Social media is truly the new approach to saving fifty cents for a postage stamp.  I do appreciate all the thoughts from virtually every era of my life (Back as far as junior high.  Farther if you count family.  I got a message from our junior high pole vaulter, a cheerleader, and even one of the quarterbacks). 

The birthday half of my day transitioned in the afternoon when it morphed into an assistance program for the celebration of Kel and Christina’s anniversary.  They brought over five little birthday candles for us to hang out with while they went on a date.  Gotta say … Ezra’s “DadDad … DadDad … DadDad … DadDad” mantra might just have eclipsed Chris’ “I love you” campaign.  Guess she’ll have to take notes and try harder next year. 

So now another year is behind me.  65 of them in fact.  Chris is still around and appears relatively content to stay, so there is that.  I guess what remains is … oh, wait.  That means her birthday is coming up … Friday.  Gotta go …

Psalms 91:2 says, “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”

Father, thank you for those who still remember a connection of some sort with me.  I do appreciate them.  Bless them for their efforts at recall.  Amen.