It's My Birthday and I'll Celebrate it How I want To

It's my birthday today... It is the forty-fourth year of my existence in this exquisite, challenging and exciting life. This past year has been very interesting, full of enlightening experiences to bring me to new levels of awareness and I thought it only fitting that my birthday celebration should be just as unique.  To begin with, I wanted it to be about sharing and connecting with others instead of expectations for myself.  I also wanted to do what pleased me without waiting for approval or surprises... and I decided this year, I would celebrate four times in four different places and different people...
With these thought in mind, I bought myself a birthday cake last Saturday and went to have a double celebration with my great aunt, Sabiha Hala; she turned 98 this year and unfortunately I missed the birthday party her neighbors threw for her last month.  

Instead of the traditional Happy Birthday greetings, I picked one that said 'We Love You, So Glad You are Among Us' for the message on our cake.  Anyone who has ever met my Sabiha Hala would definitely agree this is the perfect sentiment for her... I would also like to hope that some day it would a sentiment my nieces and nephews would think in regards to myself...

I had bought her a bracelet with the evil eye to ward away 'Nazar' (bad things that can come upon a person due to other people's enviousness.)  So, at 11 in the morning, I got her out of bed to sit at the table I had set for her and blow out candles on a birthday cake for the two of us.  I don't remember ever having a more meaningful or memorable birthday experience.  She assured me that I reminded her of herself and she would 'bestow her hand' (pass on her wisdom and knowledge) upon me; in return I insisted I wasn't ready for the honor just yet.  


Later on in the day, I blew out another candle with my husband since he wasn't going to be with me today.  Although, his voice was the first one I heard this morning as soon as I woke up.  And now, I am ready to start my festivities here in New Jersey with ... who ever is available... 

I am planning to go bake a gluten-free cake for myself now and invite one or two people over for dinner.  We'll see how the rest of my celebrations will turn out... but... I have already received so many wonderful gifts this year ... a nephew, an incredible summer in Bodrum, news of another expected newcomer into the family, hope for a great year with my whole family nearby, and I have also given myself the gift of enriching my life through connecting and sharing...


Happy Birthday to Me...  So Glad to be in Among this World...