Happy 60th

Today I enter a milestone year with hope, which almost seems foreign based on the last few years. It's really true that moving forward is our only choice. Living with the coulda, woulda, shoulda only encroaches on your happiness today and today IS all you have. So, taking cues from my parents to live it fully and accept others where they are today and maybe offer hope for their future is something I can do for them and me. It still feels "odd" to not talk to my parents on my birthday, but I have a lot of years of birthday conversations to remember.

This morning Joe is having a stress test, he's had some BP problems. The cable people will be here this morning too, to upgrade our modem. This evening we're going to dinner. The weather today is snowy, no surprise for January! Summer birthdays are so much more fun, maybe I should celebrate in the summer instead! I think I'll go downtown with Joe and get my birthday drink....with the guys?! Some of them left before I opened gifts and they would have enjoyed the gag gifts. I called Tim yesterday on his birthday and he said I did a great job adlibbing. I think everyone got some good laughs from it, including me.

All in all, I'm looking forward.

Surprise Party!

This was a really fun weekend. Friday morning when I got up, Joe was installing the new "Over the Range" microwave. It looks so nice. Then Saturday afternoon there was a Surprise Birthday party for me. I'd had a couple of hunches and a few hints and it's probably a good thing I was paying attention or I'd have shown up looking like I'd just gotten out of bed!

We had a good mix of family and friends. I think I was most surprised to see Bill and Corky, it had been too long since I had seen them. Some great gifts too and the gag gifts from Tim and Deb in the great bag were fun. Although, Mike was a little embarrased by some of the gag gifts associated with your parent's personal life. Bonnie came in, but unfortunately couldn't stay.

We had a buffet and the food was pretty tasty and cake too. I made sure to recognize Betty Aichler and Betty Beutler's birthdays as well, 75 and 82 respectively. There was a cake for Betty A. too. I wish we had more time to spend with everyone and I hope they understand.

Mike, Dawn, Joey and Ella stayed the night and Bill, Corky, Tim and Deb came back to the house and we extended our visit. So nice. Marc ended up not going to Karen's, so he was here and got to visit with everyone too.

Mike and family left by noon. Back to routine now that the Holidays are over.

That goes for us too. Joe goes back to work tomorrow and I'm back on program and working out. Happy New Year!!!