Happy Birthday To Me!

Ordinarily, I'm not one to announce my own birthday. Modesty prevents me from doing so. But hell, it's been such a good day that I thought I'd write about it.

A friend of mine made turning 41 sound soooo cool. He wrote: "Born in the summer of love and two years to the day before Jimi Hendrix woke everybody up on a Monday morning at Woodstock with the national anthem." Pretty good, huh?

My mother took me to dinner (Thank you, Mom!), and I was able to speak to each of my three brothers on the phone. My three wonderful sisters-in-law sent cards, phone calls, and text messages. My friends who live far away have inundated me with phone calls, text messages, and online greeting cards. Heck, on a Dixie Chicks fan message board, there's an entire thread devoted to wishing me a happy birthday.

I received a snail mail card from my brother, Stephen, and his wonderful wife, Joy. Stephen wrote inside "I hope on your birthday you will be reminded of what a special and caring person you are and how much you mean to every person lucky enough to know you." That made me feel a little weepy, but it really got me to thinking. Originally, I didn't expect too much out of today. I was content to stay home, packing and cleaning. But Stephen is right. It is a day to stop and reflect on all of the people in this world who love me and whom I also love. I have the most wonderful family I can ever imagine. My Mom is great, and my each of my three wonderful brothers married women who are like sisters to me. I have extraordinarily supportive friends who offer unconditional love.

Here's to another year of love from family and friends.

I am truly blessed.