A Birthday Recap

Wow! You sure know how to make a girl feel special. Thanks to each and every one of you who allowed your blogs to be "hijacked" by my husband and who sent birthday wishes. I was overwhelmed and thrilled beyond words. I am very blessed, indeed. You all helped make my BIG 4-0 very memorable.

And, how about that husband of mine? I am sure you won't be surprised when I tell you he makes his living in PR and marketing. I had no idea he'd cooked up such a bloggy surprise. Thanks, honey!

I thought I'd share some of my birthday events and happenings with you, all of which illustrate how very blessed I am with wonderful friends and family.

I began celebrating way back on October 22 when my boss took me to lunch at the Four Seasons Atlanta. One of the most spectacular things about any Four Seasons property is their flower arrangements. If you're ever traveling and can pop into a Four Seasons for just a few minutes, you will not be sorry. Their arrangements are true works of art.

Back to the lunch.... Just the fact that I got out for lunch was enough of a gift. Every single day I eat in the office, usually taking bites between working with clients and answering phone calls and questions. When we sat down, my boss said, "Should we splurge and have a glass of white wine?" And I laughed because....well....she's the BOSS. And so I told her if she wouldn't tell, I wouldn't tell. And we promptly ordered chardonnay. We had a great time together. She travels about eight months a year so we rarely get any time together at all, let alone leisure time with wine. Her gift to me was a beautiful Hermes scarf, hand-picked by her in the Paris flagship store, and an antique medallion framed in one of our beautiful custom frames.

Last Thursday I met my dear friend Kathy for dinner after work. Kathy and I used to work together and we share the same birthday! How neat is that! We met at the Buckhead Diner and had a wonderful dinner, including a serving of the Diner's famous homemade bleu cheese chips. We figured out we hadn't seen each other since July and so we had a lot of catching up to do. She gave me a pumpkin for my collection and a bar of luscious hand-made soap. Love 'ya Kath!

Doug and I went to dinner last Saturday - just the two of us! - for another birthday celebration. We were long overdue for a date night, and what better occasion than a 40th birthday, huh? We went to a nearby steakhouse and indulged our every whim with martinis at the bar, wonderful food, wine flights and pumpkin pie for dessert.

But, the best part was being with my husband - alone - without anyone calling my name or pulling on my leg, or telling me "NO MA'AM! TIME OUT!" I mean, I'm 40 now...a little old for time out, don't you think? But then again, if I went to the time-out chair I could prop my feet up and fall asleep. But, I digress...

On Tuesday, my actual birthday, I met Doug for breakfast at The Flying Biscuit. The place is a hoot and the food is wonderful. We decided the interior decor was a mixture of High-Falootin' Barn meets Folk Art Kitchen. I took the day off and Doug treated me to a hot stone massage and facial at my favorite spa, which took up the remainder of the morning. He also had a gift bag brimming with CDs waiting for me at breakfast, so I spent the afternoon doing a little shopping while listening to Reba Duets, Kenny Chesney and Bruce Springsteen. He also got me a monogrammed charm with my birthstone for my charm bracelet. Too sweet for words, that hubby of mine.

My mom sent her signature "box full of gifts" including: jewelry, candy, kitchen gadgets, snowmen and a pumpkin for my collection. I opened that Tuesday night after we finished our Mexican take-out. I did not cook once on my birthday, which was another gift all on its own.

I talked to my mom after I got home from the spa Tuesday and she told me again the story about when I was born. She doesn't remember what my actual due date was, but November 13, 1967 was a Monday and, since she was having a C-section, her doctor told her he'd go ahead and schedule the delivery for that day, at 8:30 in the morning... "the first baby of the week." In those days, the dad waited in the waiting room, and rumor has it my dad was "a little late" getting to the hospital. I still have the pink stuffed poodle he brought me the day I was born.

My mom was two months shy of her 41st birthday when I was born. She came home with me a week later, on November 20th, and the day after that my brother Jon turned three years old. He had a terrible ear infection and my mom's mother and step-dad had arrived from Nebraska to help. There was also my (nearly) 13-year old brother. I'm sure he thought it was really cool having all those toddlers and babies underfoot.

Thanksgiving fell two days after Jon's 3rd birthday and my mom's brother and family of five showed up at the door that day, unannounced.

He said he figured they'd be home since she'd just had a baby.

God bless my mom.

My celebrating winds up this Saturday with a little party for friends and neighbors at our house. I'll have the camera warmed up and will share pictures next week.

Thanks again each and every one of you.

Now do you see why I call this blog "WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE?"