My "Big" Birthday

Of course, every new decade I refer to this day of the year as my "big" birthday...but, this one really is for me. I'm trying to not think about it, guess that's my coping mechanism. I put it for this day as a vacation day a couple of weeks ago, in anticipation of avoiding all reference to the number sixty. And, this morning I took Mom out to the Garrison for coffee & bagels. Cathy and Lukas arrived shortly after we got our order. Cathy came bearing a gift...a large potted lily with dark pink blooms that I will be able to plant outdoors when Spring finally decides to grace us with her presence! I was also gifted with a surprise at the cash register...Carolyn (manager & Doug's aunt) gave me a gift card from my sister Emily & her oldest daughter Gelena! I gave Mom a look and said, "How'd they know we were going to be here?" She just looked startled, then said, "Oh! I told Gelena on the phone!" Mystery solved. Mom also presented me with a card which brought back many sweet memories of the day she and Dad brought me into this world. She told me he was so proud of me, would hold me all the time and just gaze at me, and never once responded to friends' question, "Do you ever wish you'd had a boy first?" in any other way than "No". When she cried, Cathy jumped up, went around the table and put her arm around her. I held her hand, and we all tried to smile through the tears. Dad, I love you...we all love you and miss you.