When I was growing up, November 11, Remembrance Day, was often called Poppy Day. The reference is to the poppies mentioned in the poem, "In Flanders Fields" by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. Since I was born on Poppy Day, my mother chose a name for me which refers to the remembrance poppies. At least, that's what she told me when I asked her about my name.
Yesterday, I celebrated my 61st birthday. It was a special birthday, because, last year, when I received my cancer diagnosis, I wasn't sure I'd live to see my 61st birthday. In the morning, I had a lovely on-line visit with one of my long-time friends. Later in the afternoon, my daughter and I went out to lunch. We shared a soup and sandwich - I had the soup and she had the sandwich. We also bought a loaf of French bread from the bakery, to take home.
After lunch, we went to the nearby mall to do some shopping. I needed to buy a gift card for my cousin's daughter's upcoming birthday and a new handbag for myself, as the strap of my current handbag is coming apart. My daughter needed a few warm tops to wear to her office this winter and a birthday gift for one of her friends. It was the first time I've been to the mall in over a year!
We also made a stop at an electronics store, where my daughter bought me a new laptop as her birthday gift to me. My current computer has been having some charging issues, and since I use the computer to work from home, a reliable computer was essential.
Later in the evening, my daughter and I went out to dinner with one of my friends. It was a lovely end to a very special day.
I am grateful for:
- Being alive to celebrate my birthday
- My daughter coming home to celebrate with me
- The gift of a new computer
- Well wishes from family and friends
- Visits with friends
Today, I took it easy and rested, as I was feeling tired after all that shopping and going out yesterday. My daughter took her friend out to a birthday breakfast and has gone out to dinner and a movie with another friend this evening. In between, she set up the new computer for me.
I haven't made many plans for tomorrow. Daughter's flight is in the afternoon, so, I guess we will have a quiet morning and I will drop her off at the airport, after lunch.
How is your weekend coming along? What have you planned for tomorrow?
Happy Happy Happy Birthday To You, my friend! I'm so glad that you girls had a nice day yesterday. :)
ReplyDelete((Hugs))
Thank you, Dawn. :)
DeleteHappy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jess. :)
DeleteHappy belated birthday! What a year you've had ... but what a blessing that you're on this side of your challenge! Here's to many more happy years ahead!! And what an amazing gift! So sweet of your daughter to gift you with the computer and set it up for you! You may be able to donate your old one to organizations that refurbish them for those less fortunate. Am so happy you had a nice birthday!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carolyn. :) That's a good suggestion for the old computer.
DeleteIam the french which reads everyday your blog.
ReplyDeleteI was born too on November 11th. (69 Years).
Happy birthday Bless
Vegevi
Lovely to hear from you, again! Happy birthday to you, too! :) Hope you had a lovely day.
DeleteA belated Happy Birthday Bless. What a year you've had. I'm sending many good wishes of health and happiness your way. X
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jules. :)
DeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWell done on your journy. Not just the stuff that was doctors and pills and chemo because while you dealt with that with courage, your whole blog was a wonderful read of a tough mountain climb with dignity.
I don't know if they wear poppies in Sri Lanka, but we do here every year. It's good to remember. I think your name must be beautiful, but I also think Bless suits you as well. x
Thank you, Lyssa. Both for the birthday wishes and the comments about the blog. I tried to write about what I was experiencing without being too sorry for myself! :)
DeleteYes, they wear poppies in Sri Lanka; or, at least, they used to when I was there. I am assuming they still do. It's been 26 years since I last visited Sri Lanka.
"Bless" came about as an abbreviation of "Bless My Mess" which was my on-line name on an organizing forum. Everyone there just shortened it to Bless and I decided to go with it for the Blog, too. :)
Happy Birthday! And many more. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. :)
DeleteHappy belated birthday - love and prayers and best wishes for the year ahead xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angela. :)
DeleteWishing you a very Happy Birthday, albeit a belated one. It sounds like you've had a wonderful time with your daughter and what a fantastic gift of a laptop.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly how you feel about celebrating your birthday. Here's to many more for both of us :) xx
Thank you, Suzanne. Each birthday feels like a wonderful gift, doesn't it?
DeleteOh my. It sounds like you had a wonderful birthday. I will also add my warmest wishes for the coming year. You received a new laptop from your daughter?? Wow. I would have been excited to receive a new charging cord for the old one. How very fortunate for you, and such a lovely gift from your daughter.
ReplyDeleteI did have plans for shopping on the weekend, but they didn't pan out. So I fell back to plan B and prepared some more cards for gifting and for sending at Christmas. I have run out of 2-way tape, so I just cut out the mats and the die cuts, and did the stamping and inking in preparation for finishing later.
Thank you, Susan. I did offer to pay for part of the new lap top, but she wouldn't hear of it. :)
DeleteSorry your plans to go shopping didn't work out, but sounds like you made good use of your time. :) Hope you have a lovely week ahead.
I hope that your next birthday will be even happier than we all have been wishing you for this year!
ReplyDeleteBushlady
Thank you, Bushlady. :)
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