Birthday Weekend Continues

Lunch: Rice and Curries

I had a phone call from my friend S in the early afternoon, asking me if I was at home.  I answered, "Yes", and asked why.  "Oh, we just want to stop by for a minute to drop something off."  She is the friend who makes some of the most delicious Sri Lankan rice and curries and I had a suspicion what the "something" would be.  I quickly picked a bag of fresh curry leaves from the garden to give her.

She, her husband, and their daughter came by a few minutes later, and brought me a homecooked Sri Lankan rice and curry meal - rice, jackfruit curry, mango curry, and salted dry fish fried with onions and tomatoes.  When I thanked her, she brushed aside my thanks, saying it was just half a meal as she couldn't make half the things she had planned to make!  I told her that it was more than enough!

I noticed that my friend's right hand was bandaged up and I asked her what happened.  She was in a fight, she joked, a boxing match.  Apparently, she burned her hand when a pan of hot oil spilled over while she was cooking, last night!  Oh my goodness!  And she still brought me a birthday meal?  She was going to see a burn specialist, tomorrow, she said.  We visited for a few minutes (I had my mask on).  As always, before she left, she told me to let her know if there was anything I needed!  I told her to let me know if there was anything I could do to help her, at least until her hand healed!

It was another sunny day, and it was warmer outside than it was inside the house.  I sat outside at my little patio table to have my morning cup of tea and to say my morning prayers.  

In the afternoon, I read a few more chapters of the library book and chatted for a bit with friend R.  Friend S had taken her a container of food, as well.  

Later, in the early evening, neighbor S called me - she had made some baklava and would I like to have some?  How could I refuse homemade baklava?  

Homemade Baklava for Dessert

I told neighbor S that I will share it with my daughter when she comes home, next week.  She said that's why she gave me four pieces - two for me, two for my daughter.  I put the pieces in a container and put them in the fridge.  

Thank you, everyone, for your lovely birthday wishes.  I appreciate them all.  I know that some people don't like to celebrate their birthdays as they get older, but, I want to celebrate each and every one!  Each birthday is a milestone, I think.  When I was diagnosed with cancer at 59, I was unsure if I would live long enough to see my 60th birthday, later that year!  I think of each birthday since then as a blessing, a gift to treasure, and a bonus. 

Moving forward, I want to make the best of each day I'm privileged to live.  Not quite sure how I'm going to do that, but, I want to have no regrets about each day when I go to sleep.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Friend S and her family bringing me a birthday meal
- Neighbor S bringing me some of her homemade baklava
- An afternoon spent reading
- A warm and sunny day
- Being able to order something online (Dancer's favorite cat food) and have it delivered to the doorstep

Today's joyful activity was having my friends visit me. 

Plans for tomorrow include doing a load of laundry, some tidying and cleaning, and taking the trash cans to the curb for Tuesday morning pick up.

How was your weekend?  What are your plans for Monday?