By the time this is up my 65th birthday will have passed and while part of me is totally horrified that I have reached this age, another part of me feels that I am blessed in many ways. Don't want to go all touch feely on you but really I do have to count my blessings.
I have been through the mill a bit, two marriages, two divorces which is not how I planned my life I can tell you now, but out of my second marriage came my two wonderful daughters, Kathryn and Helen. I had never wanted children, or so I told myself, but then with the old clock ticking I realised I did, and was lucky enough to have two straightforward pregnancies. I had spent so many years saying Oh No Yukky kids, yukky nappies I rather thought God might have put this down in his notebook and then when I changed my mind said Nothing Doing Elaine. But he didn't and if I occasionally imagine what my life would have been without my darling girls, I come over all cold and goose bumpy.
Of course, I now also have Florence who is the light of my life and by the time you read this I will be in London for the day giving her a cuddle and looking after her. Her joyful shrieks when I arrive just lift my heart and then her yells when I disappear upstairs to the bathroom (which I always have to do after my drive...) because she thinks I am going home or vanishing, are pretty piercing and I have to hang over the bannister and assure her I will be back down in a minute.
I also have a long term friend in my life who has kept me going for years and if he reads this he will know who it is. Can't imagine my life without him either....
Nice birthday cards and good wishes flowing in and loads of messages via Facebook and the internet from all the friends I have made over the last ten years of internet usage, and then a knock on the door and there was a delivery man with a wonderful bouquet of flowers for me. They were from my sister and brother in law and quite beautiful. An hour later he was back - 'Just got back to the shop and I was told to come out again!' and these were from Kathryn. Tears of course and her note said remember last year mum when we were at the opera house? I do indeed and next year will be there again as my trip is already planned and the money box is having pennies dropped into it. I fully intend to stay two months this time. Only downside of course is no Florence for two months but Skype will help.
So a lovely day and will be spending the evening watching DVD's and chilling.
Back on Thursday
