Being present for the presents.

Remember when you were young and giddily counted the days until your birthday?

As the years pass, so, it seems does the giddiness. After packing on several more decades, I’ve begun dragging my feet toward that inevitable day in May.

However – whine and carry on as I might, the day still comes. And this year, it finally occurred to me that while I may look far too old to keep having birthdays, it’s actually kind of wonderful that they’re still rolling around.

And rolling in with style! A pre-birthday trip to Kauai…

…and a festive sunset harbor cruise under a full moon with so many dear friends.

The jacarandas are all dressed up for my birthday:

And yesterday there was even a chicken parade!

My big present came early. And I do mean BIG present. I’m the first to agree that good things come in small packages but with economy tanking it’s clear this is not a year for sweet surprises in small jewelry boxes.

So instead, the biggest present I’ve ever gotten.

How big?

Bigger than a breadbox, that’s for sure!

The CE had the most gorgeous planter built for my garden!

Isn’t it amazing?

So instead of sulking and hiding from mirrors this birthday, I will be elbows deep in the dirt and joyfully planting. Maybe, at the last possible moment, I’m finally figuring this birthday stuff out…

“My birthday…is assuming the proportions of a scandal!”

– Colette