Gifts

Things I’ve been looking forward to on my birthday:

Well-wishes from family and friends on Facebook.

Birthday snacks at work from my co-teacher.

Things I wasn’t expecting:

Unicorns at Clarksville Commons.

An arty party at the library.

This conversation:

Talking about my upcoming birthday with students. 

Me: You know, I don’t really know what I want for a present this year.

Little boy: Beer?

(I teach four year olds.)

I certainly wasn’t expecting this 

Since it’s my birthday, and I can write what I want to, I want to take a moment to express gratitude for the gifts that make my birthday, and every day, joyous and worth living. Those gifts are people: family, friends, coworkers, blog readers, acquaintances I know from their passionate involvement in our community, leaders who lead with insight and love. Columbia/HoCo wouldn’t mean what it does to me without you.. 

You are the gifts. 

I had a conversation with my boss yesterday where I lamented that, as of this birthday, I could no longer get by with calling myself middle-aged. 

“But, you’re not old!” She said.

“Maybe not, but, if I say I’m middle-aged now, I’ll be saying I expect to live to be 120.”

She looked at me for a moment.

“It’s a goal...” she suggested.

Challenged accepted.