Happy Birthday To Me



Posted: Thursday, July 21, 2011

by Michele Winslow
The Cooks Kiosk

Today is my birthday.

I have turned thirteen, again.  If you add the two numbers of my age together that is the sum of what the numbers add up to.

This thirteenth birthday is a wiser, more mature age.  No longer do I worry about keeping up with the latest fashion trend, worrying just who or how many BFFs there are, what party I’m going to or why I was not invited to another.

No, this thirteenth is one of reflection, of sometimes wondering where the years went.  Of realizing I am now Grammy a term my youngest son gave to my mother.  Of knowing in the next couple of years, or sooner, I will be Nana, as another generation makes its entrance.  One I can really spoil, knowing there a two generation between us.

An age of where I can appreciate baby birds awaking me at five in the morning, knowing that the cycle of seasons has come full circle once again.  The wonder of seeing an absolutely gorgeous sunset, knowing I will never see one exactly like it again.  For each sunset and sunrise only appears once, each day being different.

In winter, seeing the new buds on trees, knowing spring is not far behind.  Seeing children at the school bus with their anxious parents as the start their first day of school.  Looking out of my window each day as they grow and mature, until one day I see them with their children. Viewing the brightness, freshness of spring as the earth renews itself, the heat, warm breezes and crickets of summer, taking a walk in the crisp air and the beauty of fall, the cold bone chilling and snowy days of winter.

Viewing pictures of my grandchildren.  Infants, toddlers, smiling with missing teeth, birthday cake smeared faces, head and shoulders holding on to the side of a swimming pool, kindergarten, grade, junior high and high school graduations. Especially Christmas, as they tore opened their gifts.

Remembering the first time I saw them, when they were just hours old. Or the chubby toddler who is now a slim, mature young lady stepping out into the world.

Times have not always been the best, but in the scheme of things, the good memories have out weighted the bad.  Yes, they are remembered because they are a part of my past but fading more and more each year.

Life is like the old photo album which was my mother’s.  Each picture, each page is a different memory, a different story.  Memories which can bring a smile, a chuckle, and yes even a tear for our lost love ones.

Life is like a patchwork quilt and hopefull I will turn thirteen once more, to explore all the different patches, photos and remembrances of my life.

So happy thirteenth birthday, once more, to me.
Michele Winslow has been writing poetry and short stories since grade school. Following in her grandmother's footsteps she has been blending herbal teas since the early 1960's. For the last twenty years she has been making facial, bath and body products using natural organic products. During the New England flood of 2010, all ingredients were lost. She retired from the Bath and Beauty field, but is currently having fun with another hobby, cooking.

Visit us at the "Cooks Kiosk" www.thecookskiosk.com

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