Sunday Post: 9/26/21

Yesterday, it was my birthday
I hung one more year on the line
I should be depressed—my life’s a mess
But I’m having a good time
—Paul Simon

So, yesterday really was my birthday. It was nice. I got amazing surprise presents from the roomie, then a good friend came over for games. I had cakes from Missouri, drank some moscato, and lost at Wingspan. Twice.

On the Facebooks, I was overwhelmed with affection. I got well over 100 messages, representing 18 US states, 4 countries and 3 continents. I heard from folks as far away as Melbourne and as close as my kitchen.

I need to remind myself of this the next time I’m feeling unloved.

My favorite thing, though, that I have been told about birthdays and perspective was some truth dropped by my friend Leigh, 20 years ago. I turned 35 two weeks after the twin towers fell, after a plane crashed into the Pentagon 18 miles down the road, and a group of heroes in PA likely saved the Capitol building. Leigh’s birthday had been the day before mine, and on my birthday she texted me and simply said—

“Aren’t we lucky to be having birthdays?”

And we are, even in the complicated times we find ourselves living in now, so lucky to have friends, and wine, and games to play. So lucky to be having birthdays.

In other news this week, I got a root canal, which was amazing. Didn’t hurt at all and the pain was pretty much gone before the septocaine wore off.

I also got approved for my first #arc review, which is exciting, and I got a note from AJ Lancaster last night thanking me for the review of her Stariel series. I won’t lie—I was fangirling a little bit.

I read so many books this week. I got into a romance series and didn’t sleep but a couple hours at a time till I got to the end. I know you’ve done that, waking up from another nap and reaching for your book, or looking up and realizing that it’s 3 am and you just say “eh…” to the dog and go back to the book? I see you there with your bleary eyes, making deals with yourself that if you just get to the wedding, you’ll put it down.

So the total ended up being seven books, with a side of sleep deprivation:

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Coming up this week is a mini family vacation in the mountains, which should feature more games and more wine and hugging. Lots of hugging.

Stay safe and read something amazing—