Adding years

Well, this birthday came and went with plenty of eventfulness. I received so much love on the actual day, that I found myself feeling quite in love with the entire world. Leigh, besides making me feel like you (ahahahaha), this primarily means that, beyond my tough and brash demeanor, I'm actually just a mushy little wimp. I'd forgotten that! :D Actually, I've been kind of reminded of it, lately, but on the 12th, I totally remembered, ehe.

In those moments of pleasant-ness, I decided that this year will be an extremely happy one. Yes, it's just as simple as that: I decided, so it shall be. Ahahaha. Well, see, the last couple years have been quite... let's just say... interesting. The coming year has the potential to be pretty trying, but, surprisingly, I'm feeling pretty fine and positive about everything that I know is coming up and that I know will knock me for a loop (who ever uses that expression in real life? ahaha). Well, that's logical: it's called faith and trust in God, yay! But that aside, there's also a mental and emotional thing you kind of have to do... and I'm not naturally an emotionally un-rocked person -- life affects me, people affect me, people's perceptions, vibes and attitudes have a bearing on me, my own wicked nature has a bearing on me and taints the outlook... But I just want to be happy -- and when you're happy, you definitely have an easier time making other people happy (?). So no more dwelling on what I don't like -- it's out there, we all know it, some things need to change, a number of things are trying, we can approach change practically and deal with the things that need dealing-with, but I'll try to put it all in its proper place and perspective and not let it creep out to and affect every other part of life. Good? Good!

--And I want to thank everybody who made the birthday day so special... I really felt quite loved. I don't need huge things or gestures in order to feel "special" (yes, Ange, we know you're speeecial -- and you KNOW it), so everything is special. :D

-For the first time in my life, I feel old: the day before my birthday, I found my first gray hair; at least, I think it's gray -- I have these really blond ones strewn throughout, but this one was quite suspiciously un-golden
-Then my brother called me: had a great video Skype with my niece, Natalie, and Cris and it was pretty swell and happy
-Paul sent me this lovely tune that bears my name -- it's sooo pretty:

-Work: I had to get some banking done and was dreading the online portion of it not working and having to make another several-hours trip into town, as I'd already been in to the bank the day before to cash the check, etc... well, I'm actually fine with taking the trip into town, whenever I have to, I was just really hoping that things could go smoothly with the online portion of it, for a change, and they did! what a swell birthday present! that one was called "Jesus loves Ange"
-I've been feeling rather rundown, there's something going around, sleep's been difficult, etc., so I slept a bit longer on my birthday and I still feel relatively fine, now; when I manage to evade sickness, it's always a grand boon, because I get sick so easily and then I get pretty badly sick, when I do; so that's yet another special-ness, just for me :)
-Then all the Skypes and emails began! I felt so loved!! oh, and all the Facebook posts; pretty convenient having these technological reminders re: birthdays; in a way, I feel like it's cheating if I'm going to rely on such reminders, because I've always been "so good at remembering" (even if it's meant keeping a list -- I do actually have a list, and I consult it, and I think about people all day on their birthdays: I just never write! which makes me feel like the non-nice part of 1 Corinthians 13: what do all these lists and lovely memory-for-birthdays profit me, or anyone else, if I never write/express, ugh), but if the result is everybody taking 2 seconds to say something, cliche as it may be, to someone else, then give us more technology and make the world a happier place! :)
-Nutella! Need I say more? Shelah gave it to me for Christmas and I finally way-over-indulged on my birthday, ahahaha; must save some for pancakes with the ladies, sometime, aherm...
-Then there was gin and tonic at lunch... ah, the way to Ange's heart... actually, one need not provide gin and tonic to make it into Ange's heart, but it really is quite a swell way to spend a birthday lunch time, along with watching Flight of the Conchords and sittin' around blabbing; swell!!
-Then this happened:

Alina, I hope you're sorry for singing "you belong in a zoo" by default (you're fired! ehehe) -- I saw that! Ahahahahaha!!!--And Michaela, I hope you're sorry for encouraging this in your child. I especially like how you guys burst out at "and you act like one, too". Yes, I know: I act like a monkey. It's official.--And it's only Jesus!!!!! >:D (I also think it's quite precious how Laura allowed me a view of her one piggy-tail nearly the entire time -- generosity supreme!)
-Then there were more Skypes and emails and some precious thoughts... Hik, you're in trouble, for the year. Ahahaha. That was pretty funny. You get me every time (memo to self: work on taming the "shocked" expressions, each time one of the guys says something scandalous -- you'd think you would've learned after 30; I just can't help myself!!!). And Emma, you're in the opposite of the dog house, for the rest of the year! Cooo... Cooo... :D
-Then I got a birthday song at Ia's going-away dinner
-Then we played board/card games last night... the ladies... that's always swell
-Paul and Joy are sponsoring a massage for me, when I'm in Thailand; I've never had a Thai massage! I hope 2 people are, specifically, envious
-They gave me ice-cream when we were out

Where does the love end?! :)

So... thank you, everybody, for remembering me, for taking time to send a line, a note, or somehow show your love and care. I don't feel deserving of good thoughts and feelings from people, so it's always very special to me, when they're expressed. :)

Even though I was quite disappointed that I didn't manage to get through the day without people remembering (I did actually remove my birth date from Skype and Facebook a week in advance, then put it back on when I realized people here were already on to it anyway, boohoo -- maybe next year, ehe), the reverse was almost just as good as if I'd succeeded. Harharhar.

Thank youuu!!!

PS Leigh is my favourite person ever and I'll miss her a lot while I'm gone. Yes, I am sorry for the mean things I say and do, and I'll try to do better next year. :D
(I HOPE YOU'RE SORRY!!!)