Yesterday was my 63rd (ouch!) birthday, and it was absolutely spectacular. My mother serenaded me on the phone, Ashley texted me from Heathrow on their way back from Madagascar, and I had a lovely chat with Alison from Ohio. Numerous Facebook friends wrote essentially meaningless posts on my wall, although several of them (and messages I got) were extremely heartfelt and moving. I can't say enough about John, who treated me to a couple of gifts, but also made a reservation at my favorite restaurant and gave me the birthday attention that I never got from Henry. It's been a year, during which life has gone sideways, and upside down, but then righted itself...somehow. In 2018 I was back in New York with my kids and their then boyfriends (Kramer is gone, unfortunately), struggling over what to do about Henry. It was exactly on this date last year that I decided to send Henry a "Dear John" email because I just couldn't deal with the situation any longer. It was one of the most difficult things I've ever done, yet I knew that I needed to take control over my life, instead of watching myself spiral further into neurosis and insecurity.
My iPhone decided to send me this picture yesterday, which really didn't help my frame of mind or my nostalgia...
But my birthday dinner at Duke's definitely reminded me that John, whom I met too soon after Henry, is a wonderful gift. He's such a thoughtful guy!
After the Marionberry pie, compliments of the restaurant, a walk along the waterfront was the perfect activity. We watched people fish, and enjoyed the views of the tip of Mount Rainier and the moon.
We went by his younger daughter's new house in north Tacoma, looked around, and met the neighbors--a friendly couple(Tony and Mike) with three kids and a beautiful German shepherd(Max).
John has been worried about the disquieting sounds of my old milk frother, so he bought me a new, shiny one. He knows how much I love my mochas. :) I also mentioned to him how much I like the very unhealthy candy corn, thus he managed to find a bag of it. Pure sugar and corn syrup, but it's so good!
My financial advisor sent me these beautiful flowers; I can't quite figure out why he's so nice to me, unless my account is really that big? Unfortunately, I'm leaving for Iowa on Thursday so I won't get to enjoy them for long. I'm even packed for the trip, including my goat yoga outfit! ;)
Cards are important to me, and the one John chose was very sweet. There is no talk of love between us, nor did he sign the card Love, John. We're having great times though, and he's so dependable and caring that I try not to worry about it. Well, maybe a little...But the main thing is that we are HAPPY. He is kind, and wants to be together. He's not hung up on his late wife or immersed in guilt and bitterness. He loved/loves her, yet is able to move forward in a new relationship. Henry never quite could, not with me anyway.
I never expected the calla lily to come back, since the stray cat used this planter as a litter box. (few of the many tulips in here bloomed this past spring) But a botanical miracle happened, the plan for just Martha Washington geraniums in this box got disrupted, and I had to adapt to something unforeseen, this plant that decided to thrive where it wasn't supposed to. It's been a metaphor for my life in the past year. The sadness of letting go of my expectations, while embracing the unanticipated. :) Now, I'm on to Iowa this week with its State Fair, a reunion with Ashley and Ryan, and hopefully, many interesting adventures! Let the good times roll, eh?
