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Heartwings Love Notes 1007 - Birthdays are for Remembering

Heartwings says, "Birth dates remain the same yet each birthday is different."

When I was a young child, my birthday was an occasion for gifts and cake, and sometimes a party, though I didn't have many to invite. I grew up in an isolated part of the town without local playmates. I do remember one party where we played musical chairs, that dreadful game of removing chairs one by one, thus eliminating whomever couldn't find a seat.

Finally, only one person would be left and declared the winner. It was much too competitive for me, and an occasion for pushing and shoving that seemed very unpleasant and not fun at all. I was never one for pushy games.

Celebrations of my young adulthood and onward were often comprised of a gathering of relatives. My grandmother, my first mother-in-law and my great aunt were all born within the same week. The normal pattern was dinners together, and they were lots of fun.

Usually, we all went over to Great Aunt Alice's large home and gathered around her big table. She had a cook who made excellent meals—often roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, along with vegetables served on gleaming silver dishes. There was singing as the cake was brought in and shared, along with ice cream and homemade chocolate sauce.

Those days are long past; now at the time of my current celebration, I have the memories of those with whom I gathered to hold in my heart. The older you become the more memories there are. As though they were images on the pages of a treasured book, names and faces from both my distant and recent past come to me.

I could feel mournful if I chose, yet I do not. They were a part of my past and I gladly put it back where it belongs, with a smile. Though fun to visit, it is no place to dwell. The present moment creates its own memories to be treasured, and I would rather stay aware that I may note and accumulate them.

The years bring change, and birthdays are markers that indicate their passing. When I used to be coy about my age, my mother—then around my age now, used to say, "You ought to tell people how old you are and be proud of it." Well now I do, and I am. Even as I feel the remembered presence of those from former days, I also enjoy celebrating with my current and present moment friends.

One day I will have become a memory in the minds and hearts of those I enjoy being with today. I hope they will remember me and our time together with as much joy as I do them and ours now. Perusing memories is a better birthday game than musical chairs, and far more enjoyable. No one will take them from me, though I may give some away to time. I prefer to celebrate both then and now and have the best of both.

May your birthday memories warm your heart now and always,
Got any easy recipes to share? Food stories to tell? I so appreciate your comments and thoughts. Please write to me at tashahal@aol.com, and for more love notes, check out www.heartwingsandfriends.com. Thanks!
 

I love to hear from readers and would be honored if you would comment and let me know any suggestions or thoughts. If a friend sent you this, you can sign up at my web site, www.heartwingslovenotes.com, where more love notes can be found in the archives.

Blessings and Best Regards,
Tasha Halpert
 

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