How I Spent my Birthday 😇

yahia-lababidi (69)in Silver Bloggers • 3 years ago (edited)

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Yesterday, I posted Some Birthday Reflections on How Reading & Writing Saved my Life

Following that I head out, last night, to an Italian restaurant in Miami, to meet up with old friends and celebrate... Life. The food was memorably good: grilled octopus 🐙 & ravioli stuffed with blue cheese and pear 🍐 Mmhmm

Wining, dining and having profound conversations with a poet friend, I felt like I'd already celebrated my birthday.

But, this morning, when my wife suggested we go to the beach and meet with a friend, I was game for an easy, laid-back day.

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Both our friend and my wife were not up for a swim.

Glancing at the dark clouds up in the sky & hearing rolling thunder, I knew I had to seize the moment & took a restorative plunge into the ocean, moments in.

Sure enough, as soon as I got out, it started raining & we quickly dismantled umbrella & chairs, running for cover.

After a big lunch at our friend’s place, my intention was to go for a bike ride, but when I came back from taking out the trash, this little surprise awaited…

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When another friend passed by, we shared our cake with him, then I got out to take my bike ride in an attempt to undo the effects of overeating—before it started to rain, again.

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All in all a sweet, quiet day of gratitude --nature, good company, exercise-- made more exciting by hundreds of lovely birthday wishes from online friends & heartwarming calls from my family & inner circle.

And, just like that, I’m 48 years old!

In closing, these cheery words from celebrated children’s author, Shel Silverstein, who I share a birthday with:

If you are a dreamer come in
If you are a dreamer a wisher a liar
A hoper a pray-er a magic-bean-buyer
If youre a pretender com sit by my fire
For we have some flax golden tales to spin
Come in!
Come in!