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!