Saturday, September 05, 2009

Dad Update and Happy Birthday to Me!

Dad Update
Dad is doing the same, which is a good thing. He has some bowel issues (I promised him I wouldn't mention that, but...oh well) that hit him about 24 hours after he takes his chemo that comes in pill form and still has a lot of fluid in his legs and feet. Both should start clearing up with more mobility and medication. He still has a great appetite and is in good spirits.

Happy Birthday to Me
I'm 54 years old today. I'm at that age (and have been for several years) where I don't really know my age until I stop and do the math. I quit counting at 49 years old and decided to start going backward. So, actually, I'm only 44 now! Yay, me!

My birthday message to you is full of cliches and blah, blah, blah. However, after losing my cousin this week and my dad being so sick last week, you're going to get it anyway. Here it is...

Every single fun, mundane, stupid, bad, good, eventful and non-eventful moment in your life is important. Pay attention. You never know which moment will suddenly pop into your brain years later with a significance you never imagined.

We all know that the weddings and baby births are magical, but so is waiting for your kids to get in the car after school, washing clothes and pulling weeds. Going to WalMart with a friend to pick up more snacks because you ran out in the middle of the party can be a cosmic experience on many levels.

Road trips. Ah, road trips. Whether they be with family or friends or people you don't even like, there's just something about being in a car that lends itself to bonding and conversation and even aggravation. But, it's important.

It's all important.

8 comments:

Susan in St. Paul said...

Glad your dad is doing well on his chemo , despite the unmentionable...

Happy Birthday! I agree wholeheartedly with your message and we all need road trips whenever possible.

Mommy said...

The million cosmic moments you and I have shared together are always popping up in my mind! :)

Happy happy birthday, my friend! :)

TBM said...

Amen, amen, amen.

Happy Birthday, Laurie!

Laurie said...

Thanks to all of you, my sweet friends. :)

Lorna said...

See, that's why I've been reading your posts for 5 years. Happy birthday!

Lorna said...

See, that's why I've been reading your posts for 5 years. Happy birthday!

Zina said...

Road Trips are the BEST THING EVER!!! A lot of my family memories are from road trips. I'm still processing Alan's death. There is so much I can't remember and I wish I had paid more attention and hadn't been so selfish and self centered.

Thanks for the messages.

And Happy Birthday again!

Laurie said...

Lorna, so nice you said it twice...and I'm not deleting either of them.

Zina, don't be ridiculous about all that "selfish" talk. None of the rest of us had seen Alan since the crawfish boil (maybe your mom had, I don't know). We were pretty much kept in the dark about his condition, I'm sure because Alan wanted it that way. We can all be there now for Aunt Gladys (and our moms and each other) and that is just as important