A few months ago my friend Joanne had her 79th birthday. She commented to me that she was now celebrating her 80th year. A few days ago I turned 74. And she reminded me that I was now celebrating my 75th year.

The celebrations actually began two days before my actual birthday. A friend took me out for lunch that day. And my life group celebrated members with May birthdays, where I helped blow out candles on a cake with three others. And then the day before my birthday my granddaughter surprised me with a video call.

And then there was the actual day. I went to a movie with a friend in the afternoon and then went out for dinner with other friends that night.

I’ve celebrated birthdays in several places in the last few years; Culiacan, Mazatlan, Tlaquepaque, Aguascalientes, Leavenworth and East Wenatchee to name only a few. But the most memorable ones were the days when my kids were young and we were all together. These are far more memorable than my own birthdays as a child.

So what else have I been doing since I’m back? Mostly spending time with friends I haven’t seen in seven months. And I’m back volunteering. Then there’s writers group and book club. I’m back at church and I also attended a Memorial Day service. It goes without saying that I’ve been enjoying the warm weather here after freezing in Winnipeg for a month.

This weekend is going to be more of a musical one. But more about that in my next post.

Have a great weekend!