Yesterday I had the unexpected good fortune of a perfect day.
Recently I let my brain wander to the "When did I have a 'normal' week?" category and came up with "The beginning of October." Quickly intent on starting a "wow, my life is overwhelming" Pity Party, I went the other direction. I decided to claim it for what it was... a-typical... and move on.
Later, I realized that if anyone has met me in to 2010 year, they must think I am one giant train wreck. A (random) tumor that leaves me debilitated for months from March-May... then a fall season of grieving and death... wow, this girl comes with some junk. (And "new" friends? I am a giant train wreck. Just usually, the issues are only major because I make them so. This year, however, the issues have been legit... and large.) I started claiming in that moment that I am looking forward to New Years Day, when the promise of a new year- and some new "normalcy"- brightens my mood.
Then, in the midst of planning for that "future", God does what He so often does... He redeems my "present". With just a shift of my attitude and the entrance of The Birthday Bubble, 2010 seems like it may end in the positive.
My gal pal, Leigh, introduced me to the magic of The Birthday Bubble back in 2002. Before that, I'd just celebrated my birthday a wee bit before the 7th and a wee bit after, calling it all "My Birthday". Once Leigh showed me the glorious spirit that comes with owning all of those wee bits and encompassing them in a segment of time known as "The Birthday Bubble"- thus making each moment in said Bubble exciting and not just a tag-on- a new beautiful tradition was born.
It was fitting that this, my 35th Birthday Bubble, was christened by none other than Leigh herself. After our family's Christmas tradition of getting out all of our decorations then ordering Chinese Take-out, Leigh came to pick me up for a girl date. A few hours of conversation and a couple of chocolate covered cherry martinis later... The Bubble had begun.
Yesterday would have been one for the books, Bubble or no Bubble. But the beauty that it occurred IN The Bubble makes it even more festive.
Dan had a meeting in Raleigh, so Miss E and I were taking on the duty of finishing our decorating. She woke me up BRIGHT and early ("Mommy, do you want to see the sunrise?!?!") ready to put ornaments on the tree. As we were decorating (read: Mommy was doing the "boring" parts), we (read: E) watched a Playhouse Disney Christmas DVD... only to look outside and see massive snowflakes. Seriously? Snow while decorating your tree? Unbelievable. After the Disney DVD went off, I immediately introduced E to Buddy the Elf as she watched a super fun Christmas selection I hadn't seen in far too long.
We took a break from decorating and went outside to play in the snow. Buddy had inspired us to throw snowballs, after all. We came in, took baths to get warm, then cuddled up back on the couch to watch Rudolph... certain that Dan (read: Captain Cautious) would not want to go out later for our previously arranged evening plans.
Was I in for a shock when he got home and said "Come on girls! Let's go!!"
We went to see Tangled (super. just super) and then, thanks to the kindness of dear friends, enjoyed dinner at the Village Tavern. Complete with Birthday Ice Cream and an amazing server who sent me home with a new salad- since mine came dressed and would be soggy, therefore not good for leftovers.
Seriously.
Perfection.
Christmas decorations and movies... Snow... Snowball fights... Warm baths... 3-D movies... Yummy dinner... what's a girl gotta do to live like this all the time?
Oh, right... I remember... not expect it all time. And just enjoy it when it happens. Especially when it happens in The Birthday Bubble.
(My fave "bubble" pic... even if it's non-birthday.
Thanks, Elise, for capturing it.)
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