34.

Last night, after I had picked him up from his twice-a-week daycare, I took Macho and the little bug through the Chick-fil-A drive-thru for dinner. (I know, I'm like Mary Poppins with the healthy homecooked meals sometimes.)

As we were waiting for our turn, I looked in the rearview mirror and I said...

Hey Macho, guess what tomorrow is?

What?

Tomorrow is Mommy's birthday.

Oh? It's your birsssday?

Yep.

Like, when it's wake up time?

Yep.

Do you know how old I'm going to be?

I dunno.

Can you guess? How old do you think I'll be?

Nine!!

Nine! Wow - that's great guess. But no honey, actually, I'll be thirty four.

FORTY FORTY WOW!!!

No,  no.... THIRTY four.

Yeah, Forty four! WOW!!!

 

I just rested my weary head ever so dramatically on the steering wheel and thought...

soon enough, dear child.

On a more sentimental note, I did receive not one but two cards in the mail yesterday from my parents. As I read each of them in the car in my driveway (no I couldn't wait until I got inside to open them) with tear filled eyes - I really had one of those full circle moments.

I wondered if at thirty four my mom was as excited to be receiving a card in the mail from her mom and dad as I was just then. Or if Macho will be as thrilled to read what I have written to him on his birthday so many years from now.

I mean, every child by this point in life, knows with an absolute certainty that the card will say, I love you. And, every child, by this point in life can predict with a moderate amount of certainty that a check or a few crispy dollar bills will fall out as they open, said card.

So knowing all that in advance - why all the excitement? I suppose, it's because I feel loved. And there's no greater gift you can give someone than to love the hell out of them for a long long time.

I'm grown up. I get it now. I'm a parent myself. I'm at that point now, where I'm less interested in tearing that card open - thinking about what I'm going to treat myself to with the loot - and more interested tearing it open just to read and re-read the words on that card.

Old age, I guess. Makes us all soft.

 

Comments

[Liz]

Happy Birthday honey! Hope you have a great day...you deserve it!

[heidi]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY katiegirl!!! i have been having many of those soft moments too, and you couldn't have summed it up better. it is all about feeling loved...it's a great feeling. as i look into my soon to be 13! year old daughter's eyes (she's as tall as i am) i see myself and feel like my mom...crazy stuff it is...makes me feel like i musta given my parents a run for their money!! have a good one!! xoxo

[Meem's]

Happy Birthday Katie! Your birthday was a most amazing day for us -- very, very special!! We have always felt so blessed to have you - and your brother....our very own miracle babies. Have a wonderful day - and go get your facial/massage ;)