The Magic of an Ordinary Birthday

Today is my 39th birthday. Even though it was an ordinary weekday of juggling responsibilities, I spent it doing things I enjoy: Wrapping gifts, taking and posting pictures, writing captions, receiving mail (wonderful early response to the annual appeal... insert shameless plug here: http://www.hospiceoforleans.org/index.php/how-you-can-help/), signing thank-you letters, drinking coffee, eating... and eating ...and eating: Italian cookies, General Tso's chicken and Clark bars, listening to classical music (insert shameless plug #2 here: http://interactive.wxxi.org/listen#fmstream), being sung to (including by three lovely ladies in their 90s... a trio of nonagenarians!), getting text messages (including one from a favorite septuagenarian -- my Dad), chatting with my bestie in Britain and my big sis in Brockport, hugging and kissing my kids, picking up after them (ok, not a favorite activity, but sweeping beats stepping on Cheerio crumbs... or light bulb shards, as was the case this evening), checking Facebook (thanks for the love), and all the while, praying fervently for friends traversing a treacherous valley. I regret that I did not get out for a run today, but tomorrow is Saturday, and I shall stride my way into my 40th year!

Ready, Set, Say: "Clark Bar Improv Cake"! In the above series, left to right, 1) We prepare for our official birthday photo (no, Cordelia, you can't have a Clark bar yet), 2) Lucy checks Mommy's teeth for residual broccoli bits from the General Tso's chicken, and 3) The rest of us finally realize we're being photographed, while Delia still gazes longingly at the deliciousness in front of her.

  

“Here ends another day, during which I have had eyes, ears, hands and the great world around me. Tomorrow begins another day. Why am I allowed two?” ― G.K. Chesterton

Throwback Thursday: The time we met Capt. von Trapp

My sister Brenda has been archiving old photos and came across these doozies the other day:

First, Christopher Plummer (so dashing, as ever) with classical music radio host Mordecai Lipshutz at WXXI public broadcasting station (where Brenda works), circa 1993 (?), when Plummer came to narrate William Walton’s Henry V with the RPO. 

The station staff had strict instructions NOT to bother the Plummer, but Bren and I were undeterred, armed with a postcard we were determined to get him to sign.

 

Captain von Trapp was gracious to us when we produced this postcard of him as the evil General Cheng. 

As you can see, we were pretty excited. (Believe it or not, these dorky dresses were very much in style at the time.)