Special 75th birthday

My birthday, and others I care about, is in January. I loved hearing the story of my folks who lived in Canada at the time of my birth, and drove across a frozen lake to Warroad Minnesota so I could be born in the United States.

 As an adult, I haven’t appreciated that, as a writer, first thing in January I have to get my writing information together in order to submit my sales tax form. Than begins working on family taxes. That is not fun at all.

 This year, Keith had a doctor appointment in Omaha early in January. We stayed with our daughter and family. With so many in the family having January birthdays, including my oldest and youngest granddaughters, Cassie had a supper where we celebrated their birthdays, my birthday as well as those of one of Keith’s brothers and his wife. 

 With that, I figured my actual 75th birthday would be a quiet affair with just Keith and me. Yes, I received Happy Birthday greetings through Facebook and Messenger, including from my oldest granddaughter Tori. I received phone calls from my sister Karin, sister-in-law Lorene, and others.

What I didn’t expect was daughter Cassie, with our two youngest grandkids, to show up just for lunch and a couple of hours before returning to Omaha. Oh, the hugs were wonderful. Ellery made me a new rubberband bracelet. Ezekiel showed me all the dinosaurs he’d drawn explaining their different powers.

Keith had ordered gluten free cupcakes that were delicious. Of course, the kids preferred them to the chicken dinner.

We ate, laughed, and talked. I wasn’t ready for them to leave. The kids weren’t ready to leave either, but we hugged and let them go. I messengered Tori and I could almost see her laugh as she wrote that she’d known but had been sworn to secrecy. 

 But celebrating didn’t end. The next day our good friends invited us over for lunch and to play Quirkle, which I love to play. More birthday celebrating.

 Sunday afternoon Lorene came by with gifts and frozen yogurt, which we like. We’d eaten the cupcakes and hadn’t thought much about ice cream. Well, we celebrated once again.

 I expected a quiet 75th birthday, but family and friends turned one day of celebration into three. I was overwhelmed.

 Never underestimate the blessing on others when you reach out with a text, a call, and, most of all, with your presence. Certainly made a difference for me and gave me wonderful and precious memories.

 I feel so blessed.

 © 2024 Carolyn R Scheidies
Kearney Hub column published 2/18/2025
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