Happy Birthday, Dear Buddha!

Well, I had to come out of the cave in order to celebrate Buddha Dog's 14th birthday, didn't I???

This morning, Mr. CfP and I loved all over the furry guy and, in celebration, I shared some of my morning sauerkraut* with the birthday boy.  He LOVES sauerkraut! 

Last night, we started Buddha on a medication which was suggested as a result of his echocardiogram.  It already seems to be helping -  I never noticed his gaggy cough during the night and I haven't heard it this morning!  If it makes life a little easier for the guy, I'm all for it.

I was starting to think that it was sad that I can't play "rope" with Buddha for his birthday.  I can't chase him around the house like I used to and we can't hike for hours.  Then I realized that, for my birthday, as I, ahem, "mature", I no longer want to play pin-the-tail on the donkey and I don't want to go out to a bar and drink too much.  Who's to say that Buddha doesn't want a celebration more appropriate for his wise, elder age?  Maybe he'd rather just enjoy some sauerkraut?

My favorite photo - Buddha all ready for a 3D movie

*   This is how weird I am:  My usual breakfast consists of a small bowl of sauerkraut - either homemade or the good stuff from the health food store - and two pieces of dry toast made from Elana's Pantry's gluten free, almond flour bread recipe.  Super yum!

Happy 90th, Dad!

During this Memorial Day weekend, my dad, a WWII veteran, celebrates his 90th birthday. My dad and his four brothers all served in World War II and they are all still alive today. The oldest is 92.

When I was a kid, I thought my dad knew everything. I remember when he used to come tell me goodnight after I had snuggled into bed. Before he got to my room, I would think up at least one question to ask him because I knew that would keep him with me longer. I asked questions about how we see color, about lightening, and about the universe. More than having an interest in the answers, I wanted my dad to spend time with me. I'm sure I asked "Why?" or "How?" at least ten times just to keep him sitting on the side of my bed.

I don't remember at what point my dad quit knowing everything. He was always the one I would call when something needed fixing - I knew that, no matter what, he was the best at such things. But when it came to the big questions of life, for the longest time, I got the idea that somehow I surpassed him in wisdom.

Now all of my dad's "fix-it" skills and knowledge are stored away somewhere where no one can find them. Gone are all of the smart and wise answers he used to give me as he sat in the dark on the side of my bed. But now, more than ever, I realize that my dad is the very best dad a woman like me could have. Through his beautiful example, I am learning about life lived in pure kindness, effortless patience, and endless gratitude. How lucky am I to be able to learn from the best of 'em?

Happy Birthday, sweet Dad!

Birth

I have these little Angel cards in a bowl on my desk. I haven't looked at them for a long time, but recently, I've felt like picking one out of the bowl and sitting with it.

Today's card is "Birth", which is kind of fitting since two days ago was my daughter's 30th birthday and sometime this month (we don't know the exact day) is Ms. Kitty's 20th birthday.

Here was a star danced, and under that I was born.
William Shakespeare

My daughter - a little, bitty person with a big, big tree. ;-)

My daughter is a beautiful young woman who celebrated her 30th birthday at Disney World (that is so like her!). She is overly-responsible, but she has a charming, child-like quality that I hope lasts a long time. She is my first child. I knew her before she was born - through dreams and, well, just the knowing that a mother can have.

Today my daughter found out that a woman who is very special to her was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is not expected to live long. My young'un hasn't had to face such things in her life, yet. In fact, up until now, she has done whatever she could to avoid facing them. But I know that this time she will walk into the fire, bringing love with her. I'm very proud of her for that.

Ms. Kitty. Isn't she a cutie?

I just Googled to find a cat age conversion chart. The one I found only goes to 20, but I'm not telling Ms. Kitty that. According to the chart, Ms. Kitty is 96 years old. Next year, I'm figuring that she'll be 100 in human years. I'll have to write Prez Obama then, so that he can send her a congratulatory letter.

Ms. Kitty is doing pretty well for such an elder. She has recently lost her voice, so she walks up to me and mimes a "meow" when she wants to be picked up. She seems happy and she purrs whenever anyone pays any attention to her.

I hope that I age as gracefully as my cat.

And I also hope that my breath smells better. Whew! This kitty has breath that wilts the house plants!

Why Wait? Let's Celebrate Today!

On my other blog I once wrote about Terry Tempest Williams' latest book, Finding Beauty in a Broken World. I am a big fan of TTW's. I love her books and the work she does in the world. After I wrote about Finding Beauty in a Broken World, I was contacted by TTW's publisher who asked if I would like to speak with Terry for my blog. Would I??? But it never happened. I don't know why, other than the fact that I am not a big-shot blogger. The three people that read my blog would not create a huge spike in book sales for TTW. I don't think of TTW as an opportunist, but publishers must be in order to survive as publishers. I don't feel the least bit sad about the fact that I didn't get to talk with MY FAVORITE AUTHOR. Just being asked was quite the gift.

BUT guess who I am going to see at the Botanic Gardens this summer! MY FAVORITE AUTHOR! She can't avoid me THAT easily! The Gardens just came out with their speaker schedule and we have already bought the tickets for TTW! Yippppeeee!

Another thing that I am looking forward to this summer (Insha'allah):

I kept hearing that Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton were going to be doing a concert here on June 21st. Well... considering that I've never seen Eric Clapton and considering that June 21st is my birthday and considering that we saw Steve Winwood a couple of years ago and it was a great concert, I STRONGLY hinted that this concert experience was meant for me. But Mr. Carol For Peace thought the money would be better spent on a get-away. I didn't agree, but just decided to let it all go. When I went to bed Saturday night, a piece of paper poked itself out from under my pillow - a print-out of the seating at the concert venue with arrows pointing to OUR SEATS!

Oh! I feel like it's already my birthday! The gifts have already been received.

Gifts are fun, spending time with someone special is wonderful. And the thoughts behind those things are priceless.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Carol For Peace!

I have celebrated FIFTEEN of your birthdays with you!

I remember the first birthday of yours that I spent with you. How could I forget???

Both people that make up every new couple should have to fill out a questionnaire pretty early on in the relationship. One of the many good questions on it should be: "Do you like surprise parties that celebrate your birthday?"

You had just moved in with me. I thought that EVERYBODY liked surprises, so I contacted your friends in Boulder - many of whom I'd never met - and we figured out a plan where everyone would arrive at our place at the same time. Remember the woman who showed up early, flowers in hand? She nearly ruined the surprise, but then she attempted to save the day with her story about how she just happened to be in the neighborhood and decided to stop by our house (where she'd never been before) - and she just happened to have a bouquet of flowers on her. Yeah...

Well, I guess that it doesn't matter that she kind of blew the surprise SINCE YOU DON'T LIKE SURPRISES ANYWAY.

Party pooper...

Oh yeah. I didn't stop there, though, did I? Was it your next birthday that I blindfolded you and drove you all over the city, turning this way and that to totally confuse you before we ended up at a nearby restaurant for your birthday dinner? What a good sport! You ate your dinner even though you were a little green around the edges from all of the blind rockin' and rollin' you did in the car.

But I learned! No more surprises for you! I'm living transparently now.

Anyway, I celebrate this experience of growing more and more in love with you. I celebrate that you have lived on this planet for SO MANY YEARS! ;-)

I love your generosity - that you would pay the fence people more than they charged because you felt they weren't making enough money for the amount of time they put into the job.

I love your patience - anyone who can live with me for 15 years HAS to have loads of patience!

I love your kindness - it just oozes out of your pores.

I love your memory - without your memory, there wouldn't be a memory in this house. You ground me in time (something that I don't often find important, but it can come in handy).

I love your intelligence - another quality that this home would be sorely lacking if you weren't here. Well, the Buddha dog would come close to making up for it. ;-)

I mostly just love being with you and learning and laughing and creating and going to work together.

I love that you love me.

There's much more that I love about you, but you'll have to ask for the rest of the list!

I adore you, Mr. Carol For Peace.

You are my partner for exploring life.

Happy Birthday! My life and the world are both better places because of you.



"The minute I heard my first love story I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along." - Rumi