Gifts

Having confronted a Significant Birthday recently(see previous post ),it would be ungrateful not to acknowlege those who made the day delightful . I have the blessing to have wonderful women around me ! There is the ever-popular Mother,who loves me in all my moods and still makes me feel special.She is warm and witty and much beloved...long may we rave ! She is followed by a dear artist friend who sent me the Sparkly Katy for my birthday(see below and to the right).It turns out that I actually own an outfit similar to her design . Mother and I appeared at her door,suitably attired,feeling slightly foolish,but elegant,nonetheless !For some gifts,words alone are insufficient !There were gorgeous flowers from a distant relative,who remembered my favorite color.Committee coworkers attending an appreciation dinner,not knowing it was my birthday,said very kind and thoughtful things that were,in themselves,gifts...more precious for their lack of obligation. In a defining moment,I read a forwarded e-mail from another special lady,called "Every Woman Should Know" that changed my focus for the better.In the spirit of the day,I share it with you : " A woman should have...enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own even if she never wants to or needs to....a woman should have...something perfect to wear if her employer or the date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...a woman should have... a youth she's content to leave behind...a woman should have...a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age...a woman should have...a set of screwdrivers,a cordless drill and a black lace bra...a woman should have...one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...a woman should have...a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...a woman should have...eight matching plates,wine glasses with stems,and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...a woman should have...a feeling of control over her destiny...every woman should know ...how to fall in love without losing herself...every woman should know...how to quit a job...break up with a lover...and confront a friend without ruining a friendship...every woman should know...when to try harder...and when to walk away...every woman should know...that she can't change the length of her calves,the width of her hips,or the nature of her parents...every woman should know...that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...every woman should know...what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...every woman should know...how to live alone...even if she doesn't like it...Every woman should know...whom she can trust,whom she can't,and why she shouldn't take it personally...every woman should know...where to go...be it her best friend's kitchen table...or a charming inn in the woods...when her soul needs soothing...every woman should know...what she can and can't accomplish in a day...a month...and a year..." To all and sundry...I wish you love and joy !