Birthday's Best

Well another birthday has come and gone. It was a good day, with lots of well wishers via phone, Facebook, mail and in person. Allan gave me a sleek new camera small enough to pack around 24/7. Thank you. A Bonus Birthday.

Thinking back to other birthdays I remember ones such as:
One year I awoke up at 4:30 to watch the sunrise from a lounge chair on the back lawn. A Beat the Sun Birthday.

I got a brand new Schwinn two wheeler for my twelfth birthday. We were inseparable for years until it wore out. At sixteen a bright red Wilson tennis racket was waiting for me. I gave it to the grandkids last year. A Biking Birthday.

For my twentieth birthday brother, Jim, gave me some ice skates. I still have them, but the padded lining has turned hard and powdery. Smiley face drinking glasses showed up about the same time, thanks to a good friend. A Bought Stuff Birthday.

At twenty-one I got an engaged. The ring was hidden in the glove box. We got married in September. A Big Future Birthday.

Ten years ago I tried roller blading and broke my wrist. Later that day the car broke down and we had to hitch a ride home after seeing the movie, Mulan. We spent all evening in the ER. A Bummer Birthday.

I'm lucky enough to have a good weather birthdate. Except for about five years ago when it rained all day, most have been - Balmy with Blue Skies Birthdays.

When my birthday was on Sunday several years ago, there was no hiking, biking or shopping. I was able to nap and gave a lesson at church. A Behave Yourself Birthday.

Sometimes I have tried to cram so much into this one day, it would bomb and I regretted doing so. I've had several Bombed Birthdays.

Allan reminded me I was as old as he is now. Prior to that, I was excited for the 'Big' day. In the words of Tiny Tim, "Happy Birthday, Everyone!"

Gals Gabbing

A group of my high school friends got together for lunch this week. A few of the gals hadn't seen one another since graduation. What fun we had reminicsing about old times, jobs, marital status, grandkids and such. Some of us went to elementary school together and go way back. We laughed about and tried to remember some the antics that occurred. Who says you are at a loss of what to say. We talked about old flames, the haunted bathroom, teachers sneaking Coke in the closet and much more.

I pulled out the ole camera and snapped a few pictures. Some of us look the same, others better and yet, who cares. We teased the oldest that will be sixty this year, glad we are the youngest of the group. Call your friends and set a date to gab with the gals.

It's About (Ant) Time

"The ants march in the ants march out,
The ants march up and about your snout."

Do you remember singing this familiar song while marching around with childhood friends on ant and insect hunts?

With a late spring and cool temperatures the ants have stayed, underground or where ever it is they stay, until warm weather brings them outdoors. Ant swarms dot my sidewalk. Both large swarms of them and small piles of sand show their spring house cleaning has begun.

Usually the ants come indoors for a few weeks mid-spring, until it is consistantly warm enough to gather food outside. Perhaps their winter stores are depleted and our homes are a perfect emergency '72 hour kit' with plenty of food and to spare. No matter what I do they usually are found running bootleg from my kitchen to infinity and beyond. Or at work my lunch bag, left on the floor, has been invaded by these six legged "what's yours is mine" creatures.

It may take a while before we notice one ambitious ant first, then a trail of them trying to pack away the kitchen sink. Soon we realize they are back in force. No amount of sweeping, mopping or tidying will hamper their wagon train toting off whatever they like. Vacuum often or you'll discover they are even in your carpet under Dad's favorite chair, gathering crumbs from last nights snacks.

Can you imagine their conversations, "What a haul at the house on the corner." "Tell your family it is a smorgasboard." "We have hit the mother lode in that room!" All the while we are oblivious to them 'marching in, out and about."

Keep an eye out for them, because they will be back, sooner or later!