Thankful for Family and Friends

Family and Friends … The Important Things

There are always so many things to be grateful for, this I’ve always known. But when it comes to my birthday, I realize I have even more than ever to be thankful for! Family and Friends

This year, as it does once every eight years, my birthday fell on Thanksgiving, which means I have an entire day set aside to show my thanks. Even that isn’t enough.

From the so many hundreds who sent birthday greetings on line in so many different places, to the fact I got to celebrate for an entire week, with surprises just about every day, I realize I’m luckier than most.

Another terrific friend, either knowing how much I need it or recognizing how much I appreciate it, had a special mass said for me and my intentions..and gifts don’t get any more perfect than that.  The list goes on and I am so grateful. Another friend gave me several of the most spectacular pieces of clothing, I even made a visit to a psychic! And so much more from my family. There were also all those birthday cards mailed from friends and relatives across the country…what a nice feeling to be remembered so warmly.

Another very dear friend who well knows my love for a great Pinot Grigio, gave me a couple of bottles, together with some fantastic accompaniments to make it taste even better!

When my wonderful and thoughtful niece and her husband stopped by to take me to lunch to celebrate a few days later, that was also very special, great to spend time with them, learn about what loving and wonderful grandparents they are and how much they love their new roles with another generation.

But that wasn’t even enough. When I got home from that spectacular lunch, another great friend from Sea Bright had stopped at my house, and not finding me home, left a most delicious and beautiful birthday cake with a great note that makes me sound so much better than I am.  A wonderful surprise, a great and thoughtful friend.

That’s all on top of spending the day with my daughter’s family which is always a pleasure and surprise. But this year…OK, it wasn’t for my birthday, but the coincidence makes me certain it was!….my youngest grandson, now a Navy Ensign, was home for the weekend and I could congratulate him in person for his latest accomplishment…..he just completed his first solo flight with the Boomers in Corpus Christi, Texas. Ensign Yeoman. Don’t you love the name?….flew the T-6B Texan II solo, which is enough to make any grandmother’s heart stop! But of course he did it with elan, perfection, and confidence in his own ability! Here’s to our military keeping all their equipment in top rate condition! And prayers he never has to fly it into a war zone. Ever.

In addition to all the birthday celebrations, had lunch with a great friend at Sissy’s in the Atlantic Highlands Harbor and while that is always fun, it was also fascinating to watch the wait staff. It’s obvious they love their job, since everyone of them was smiling, happy, eager to help, and kept busy, be it sweeping the floor or polishing the counter when not waiting on customers. Sissy, a pretty wonderful gal on her own, must be doing the right thing for her staff that they always seem so happy and eager to work.