Birthday Sparks of Joy

The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it.

Hubert H. Humphrey

Hello Friend,

Thank you for the birthday wishes. What a gift it is to have a friend.

I had the most wonderful day. It started with chocolate and ended with Jane Austen. What could be better?

The day began early, with a bite of chocolate that The Cowboy had left under my pillow. Then, I spent two heavenly hours reading and journaling, and an idea began to form – I would spend the day engaging all of my senses. Sight, sound, smell, taste, touch – each of them would get a gift for my birthday.

The sunflowers in my dining room had been there for almost two weeks, but when I came downstairs their sunny faces greeted me as though they knew it was my birthday. And I couldn’t resist stroking their velvety soft petals.

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Before breakfast I made a Cinnamon Swirl Banana Loaf. The dazzling cinnamon-y aroma wafted through the house and settled in to bring us joy all day. Mmmmm …

I had only one thing on my agenda after breakfast: to find earrings for Babe’s wedding (which is one week away!!).

So, I walked into a jewelry store I had never been to before and told them exactly what I was looking for. White gold, dangly, sparkly, and in a certain price range. Within ten minutes I was walking out with a charming package. It seemed almost too quick to fully enjoy the moment. But for me, the joy was in the accomplishment. The fact that I knew precisely what I wanted. And got it!

Best Day Ever!

And now I had even more time to peruse a favourite book store. Because, it’s not a perfect birthday without a trip to the bookstore.

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Back in the car, Il Divo was playing on the stereo, and I turned up the volume so the music would surround me, go through me, engulf me. So that there was nothing but the music and me.

These voices, though! I get shivers every time.

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In the afternoon, Babe took me for coffee to La Boule Patisserie and Bakery. La Boule specializes in French pastries, Viennoiserie (which I discovered means “things from Vienna”), breads, and confectionary. Not only are the pastries luscious, they are also strikingly beautiful.

I couldn’t choose only one, so Babe generously let me choose two! They are almost too beautiful to taste, but of course I tasted. I tasted! We both highly recommend the Vanilla Bean Sour Cherry Cheesecake. But get there soon, if you’re going. They’re closing this month!

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Babe and I did a little more wedding preparation back at home. We’re down to last minute details now, and it’s all coming together. It’s going to be such a lovely day.

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We ordered in a late supper, and ended the day with the latest Emma movie. Every one is just a little different from the last, but I always recognize the actual quotes from Jane Austen’s book.

You must be the best judge of your own happiness

Jane Austen, Emma

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I went to bed full of gratitude. Every one of my senses had been richly realized because I’d endeavoured to be mindful of them. I thought, how much we miss when we are not attentive to the everyday.

Thank you again dear friend. My life is rich because of you and I thank God for you.

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Of all possessions a friend is the most precious.

Herodotus

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Featured Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay.