Thoughts on My Birthday

Today is my birthday.  It is a happier birthday than it was last year.  Last

year my beloved Aunt Susan died just days before.  She died July 12th,

her birthday would have been the next day on the 13th.  We loved having

our birthdays so close together, and for my whole life we celebrated our

birthday month.

So this is my first year without her.  I am doing okay and honestly feel

better than I have for several years.  I am looking at this year as a new

beginning and planning on enjoying each and every moment of it.

Here I am on the right, celebrating my fourth birthday with my best friend Barbie.

Barbie and I shared the same birthday and always had our parties together despite

the fact that she was two years older.  All of her friends and all of mine came to

my house for a big party.  

Barbie was always like a big sister to me.  I didn't remember this, but Barbie

was the one who taught me to tie my own shoes.  I read about this while 

reading an old letter that my Daddy wrote to his parents.  From what Daddy

wrote, I was very "matter of fact" about the whole thing and proceeded to

teach my new found skill to all the kids my age.  Barbie was my role

model ~ and by the way, I also had a very,very big crush on her older

brother Eddie who was four years older than me :-)

Barbie and I lost track of each other over the years, but I never fail

to think of her on July 18th.

Over the weekend,  my husband David celebrated his birthday too.  We have

always celebrated three full days ~ the 16th, 17th and 18th, and it has always been

fun!

David gave me a Fitbit for my birthday.  I love it!  I am now tracking every

step, how much I exercise, how many calories I have burned, how much

sleep I am getting and how much water I drink each day.  If I sit too long,

it will beep at me to get up and move ;-)  I have always been fit, but now

I expect to be super fit.  No excuses!

I am looking forward to the next year of my life that now lies before me.

I will have to achieve some kind of momentous accomplishment that

equals learning to tie my own shoes when I was little.  I have a really good

idea of what that will be, and before long, you will know too.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who come to visit me.

Your comments, support and love mean the world to me and have

made each day a better one for me.  

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley