Today, I am 39.
40 is next. Before I know it I’ll be wearing pink stretch polyester pants and a dotty rainbonnet. I hope. That’s the goal.
I am not ashamed to admit I love my birthday. I like when people celebrate with me. I like happy wishes and shared cake. Why should I outgrow delighting in any celebration of life?
It’s the day I met my mom and dad in person.
Maybe I heard someone singing, unmuffled by fluid, for the first time? I had my first taste of milk, from my mom who bucked the 70s formula wave and breastfed me. I was hatted and wrapped after my first bubble bath.
Other loved ones held me, too. My grandparents, who have passed on, cradled me. How much would I give right now to be able to hug each one of them again for a moment?
June 6th wasn’t simply the day I was born. Me being on Earth isn’t what is worth celebrating. It’s the day I met some of the most important people in my life.
I know I am supposed to be modest and downplay the day but I won’t. I am glad to be alive, to be here, to know the date when my mom pushed me out sunny side up and into a very good life.
My first birthday:
Happy happy happy birthday! 🙂
.-= Melany´s last blog ..Facebook =-.
Happy birthday, young lady! Here’s to lots and lots of love and cake.
.-= Jo@Mylestones´s last blog ..Saturday Evening Blog Post: May =-.
Happy Birthday to you! You will ALWAYS be my favorite. 🙂
Steph
.-= Adventures In Babywearing´s last blog ..Sister For Sale! =-.
Yum, cake!
Happy milestone birthday to you! May this coming decade be the best yet.
.-= Lori Lavender Luz´s last blog ..Dry spell =-.
Happy Birthday! Here’s to many, many more!
.-= Misti´s last blog ..Whatcha Reading Wednesday =-.
Happy happy Birthday Gretchen!
.-= Erin´s last blog ..I am older, today =-.
It is a very happy day for everyone whose hearts you have touched! Happy Birthday!
Happiest of birthdays, Gretchen! May this last year be filled with joy, blessings, and lots of cake!
(and I meant this last year of being in your 30’s!)
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Sunshine =-.
Happy Birthday. That’s a cute birthday of your 1st birthday and the cake looks yummy. Hope you have a good day 😉
Well I’m over 40 and no where near pink polyester pants just yet, thankyouverymuch!
I love your outlook on birthdays! Hope your day is fantastic!
.-= edj´s last blog ..Mawazine; Sting =-.
Happy Birthday! My mom bucked that wave too…and took a lot of heck for it…like we all would be in dangerous jeopardy of slowing starving to death. Funny.
.-= Sarah Turner´s last blog ..Abbey’s Excellent Adventures That Just About Wore Me Out =-.
Happy birthday! I’m a June baby, too; two years ahead of you. 40 isn’t so bad. Hope you have a fun day.
Very cute picture, by the way. It looks like you’re trying to use the force to make that cake come to you.
.-= Angie B´s last blog ..Lifelong Resident of Arkansas Now Home =-.
Oh Gretchen. How blessed we are to know you, even a little. Your wit and wisdom and poetry are gifts. I hope today is marked by laughter and love. (And really good cake.)
.-= Kelly @ Love Well´s last blog ..Kieran, Part One =-.
What a cutie pie – love the picture!!! Oh I hope you get a Sunday nap and I hope you have a fabulous birthday!!!
.-= se7en´s last blog ..Se7en’s Fabulous Friday Fun #21 – Link Up… =-.
Happy birthday! You are exactly 11 days older than me! Love the pic–you were very cute.
Sonja
.-= sonja´s last blog ..Ten on Tuesday–Wednesday Edition =-.
Happy Birthday!
And I can see your babies in that picture!
.-= Kristin´s last blog ..Friday Morning Ramblings =-.
A very happy birthday to you! You’ve heard the joke about the grandma who told her grandson, when he asked how old she was, “49 and holding,” and he then asked, “How old would you be if you let go?” 🙂 Don’t worry about “letting go” into the 40s next year — I’m on the other side of them, and they’re great.
I love my birthday, too. Nothing wrong with celebrating being here!
.-= Barbara H.´s last blog ..Simply Trusting =-.
I am with you! I love birthdays including my own, but I disagree — you being on Earth is exactly the reason to celebrate!
Happy, Happy Birthday Gretchen! I thought the 1st birthday picture was going to be a picture of your birth day. So if that is your first birthday, what do you call your actual birth day?
Happiest Birthday to you – I hope your day has been great!
And I hope your husband doesn’t care that all of your children look exactly like you.
.-= Anonymouse´s last blog ..don’t substitute skim milk =-.
So I apparently posted my comment about this picture on your previous post. Oops. I do see a strong family resemblance between you and your kids in this photo. Happy Birthday
I am sorry to have missed it! Happy belated birthday dear Gretchen!!!!!
So sorry I missed it, but Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, a day late! Hope the whole week is a celebration for you 🙂
Happy (belated) birthday! I also love celebrating my own birthday. Who doesn’t like cake and presents and general well wishes?
By the time you get to the pink polyester pants, they won’t be there. I wonder what the style will be for oldsters then? You will help decide.
I love the gold curtains behind you on your birthday. My children had those in their birthday pictures in the 70’s, too!
.-= GretchenJoanna´s last blog ..Long Doll on the Straw =-.
This makes me happy to read. What a great outlook that you have, and a great perspective on birthdays and getting older. Love you my sister!
It’s the day I met my mom and dad in person. LOL!
Happy, happy belated birthday, Gretchen! I hope you had a WONDERFUL day!
.-= Melanie´s last blog ..Weekday Photos: Macro =-.
Here I am late in responding to your birthday post but I’ve been a way from computing for a week and I didn’t get to celebrate with you this year, but you know your Dad and I were thinking of you from far away. You were our first born and you were 10 days late! You were the one we learned on and I think you turned out rather well for novice parents. You have made us proud and goodness, given us the blessings of many sweet grandchildren. Who would have guessed. God has wonderfully blessed us through you and your family. We’ll properly celebrate you next milestone with you. Our love and belated “Happy Birthday” greetings to you!
Dang it, I’m a little late…but Happy Birthday! You share the day with my son Jake…he turned 5 🙂
.-= Sarah@ Life in the Parsonage´s last blog ..It Can Wait… =-.
Happy belated birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day!
.-= Mary @ Parenthood´s last blog ..June 4, 2010 =-.
What a beautiful post. I had never thought about my birthdays in those terms, though I always love having them! So glad to know ya, Gretchen. Have a fabulous 39th year!
.-= jenni´s last blog ..Fun and Games. Or at Least Games. =-.
Good job for owning it! You set such a good example for those of us for when we approach that age in another 15 years or so.
*giggle*
Okay, so I’m not that far behind you…