Chicken Scaloppine

Every year on or within a few days of my birthday I eat a serving of Chicken Scaloppine from Romano's Macaroni Grill. It's my favorite restaurant and my favorite meal full of carbs, fat and more calories than I should have in a week. And you know what? I enjoy EVERY last bite. I look forward to this day and as any of my friends can tell you, I talk about it for a long time before it actually happens. And that first bite NEVER disappoints me. It's always better than I remembered and makes me very, very happy. Today was the big day and it was almost enough to inspire me to do the "happy dance".......but not quite.

Perhaps more special to me is the tradition of enjoying my favorite meal with my favorite girlfriends. This year it was a smaller crowd, but included my best friend with whom I have not celebrated a birthday for 5 long years. It also included someone I've known for 18 years but not really let KNOW ME until very recently. What could be better than girlfriends dishing about life over Italian food, real Dr. Pepper and rich chocolate cake?

It's the relationships that mean the most to me, the food is just a delicious bonus. This year I celebrated with a lot of people, and boy did my party start early! Last weekend I enjoyed time with my family. I cherish the handmade birthday card made by my 9-year-old niece, the wobbly signatures of my nephews and my 14-year-old niece being sure to sign her full name, in case my memory fails..... She really does think I'm that old!! I had lunch with my mom at a wonderful Greek restaurant and enjoyed a yummy strawberry cake from my staff. Saturday I enjoyed the company of some other really special friends and then dinner with a close girlfriend 2 nights in a row. Although I think she invited me over tonight because I cried last night at dinner and she was worried!!! Today I received many birthday wishes from friends scattered throughout the country - feeling special and cherished is not familiar to me, but this week I felt both in spades.

All in all I can see that through my relationships God is answering my heartfelt prayers for community and intimacy. I can see everyone's fingerprints all over my life and I'm not trying to wipe them away, I've come to love those smudges. And I'm enjoying knowing and being known, even when it rocks my world.

Turning Old

I knew it the moment it happened - the moment I turned old. It was last weekend while having dinner with friends. I found myself inexplicably discussing the results of my recent blood work. I did the same thing two more times last week and sealed my fate. Young people just don't do that! Since when did dinner conversation include cholesterol levels???? Since I turned old....

Of course, I've also noticed other signs of age. I now sport numerous "light black highlights" in my formerly jet black hair. I fear I'm beginning to resemble Lily from "The Munsters" because I have a definite white streak. Reading is torture if the lighting is not just right so I now use 3 industrial strength lights, making my apartment resemble a stadium. I also sense that bifocals are imminent because apparently my arms have shrunk and I am no longer able to hold a book at a far enough distance to actually see the words. Then there is all the creaking and popping that occurs when I stand up - especially if I've been sitting on the floor, but I'm not complaining because at least I can still get off of the floor!

If you happen to be one of the lucky ones who catches me lapsing into middle age lingo during dinner, tug on your left ear lobe or something to signal me to STOP IT. Subtly redirect the conversation toward a cool rock band or something young and hip and let me pretend that I'm cool.......and not turning old in a few days. Thanks.