Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Odd Decades

Ten years ago my marriage was disintegrating. The destruction, due mostly (according to him) to my failure as a teacher; "you were supposed to teach me to be a man, father." In the midst of that miasma was my 37th birthday, barely a blip in the whole scheme of things.

I as a hard-working mother of two, 20 years ago. My five year old son was looking forward to starting kindergarten. My nearly two year old daughter was busy doing what toddlers do. We had been thrown out asked to leave our apartment because the man and the landlord got into a fight. Between working a full-time job, school orientations, chasing a toddler and looking for an apartment, the only thing I can tell you about my 27th birday was that it came and went.

My graduation from high school was 30 years ago. Much of the time immediately following was spent preparing for college and my eventual move to on-campus housing. My mother decided to rescind her permission, forcing me to cancel the move, my life as I had envisioned. I could write volumes about this decision and the subsequent affects, but I won't, today. Needless to say, my 17th birthday was met with very little fanfare.

Forty years ago my parents split. My father's erratic behavior and cruelty leading up to the split gave me cause to celebrate. Little did I understand the devastation this event would cause and how the precarious house of cards mother had formed would come tumbling down. In all likelihood there was some sort of cake for birthday number seven. Maybe.
Ten years from now when I think of my 47th birthday I'll recall having a pre-birthday cake and celebration with my lady love. I'll remember my mom taking me to lunch the Saturday before, asking me at the end, "so...what is on your agenda, for the rest of your life?" Saturday evening I met a blogger and others for dinner and had fantastic time. Hanging out with my son and having the honor of feeding him, again, graced a good part of Sunday afternoon. Sunday evening my daughter and I cheered as the Chicago Sky trounced the Houston Comets. D met Ma and Pa Berenstain, certainly a most memorable moment in her book.
Monday found me playing hooky from work to spend the day communing with nature and seals, lions, tigers, bears, birds, kids, moms, dads, nannies, tourists and...more. Neta called me early Monday morning and serenaded me. She called again late Monday night for final happy, happy wishes and to get a round-up of my day. This birthday season will be recorded as one of the happiest of the odd year birthdays due to the happiness surrounding me most days, these days.

Cheers!

18 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday!

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  2. Anonymous7:51 AM

    Happy Birthday!

    Here's to being fully in charge of your own life!

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  3. Happy Birthday, Deborah! Here's to a great year!

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  4. Happy Belated Birthday! May this be the best year ever!

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  5. Happy happy birthday.

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  6. Happy Birthday!!!!
    What a great entry. So many of your words of your earlier years completely resonate with me. So glad that happiness surrounds you now!!!
    Best,
    RC

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  7. Anonymous1:53 PM

    Hope you had a great 47th Deborah!
    Leos rule!

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  8. You know I love you baby...hope it was the best.

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  9. Happy one. I wish for you 50 more memorable, happy, and content birthdays!

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  10. What a great piece of writing!

    Happy Birthday, Deborah!

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  11. Many tanks, all!!

    Neta, yes, I know. kisses

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  12. Anonymous11:26 AM

    What a wonderful way to celebrate you. Those earlier birthdays have a ring of familiarity to them. Ick. This last one sounds perfect. Here's to many, many more happy ones for you.

    Happy Birthday, Deborah!

    Hugs,

    Cate

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  13. happy birthday that all sounds fantastic! I wish you all the best and may they keep getting better!

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  14. Anonymous2:49 PM

    And that was a birthday well spent!

    All the best for the next decade and beyond :)

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  15. Excellent and wonderful.

    I've heard that the best of our lives are ahead of us. Who would have thought so at 27, or 37?

    Here's to the rest of birthdays being spent with peope you love, being who you are, doing what you want to do.

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  16. Happy Happy Birthday!!

    Brightest blessings for the year!

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  17. Happy Belated Birthday!

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