I’ll be 41 on Thursday but the celebrating has already begun. It’s been this way for the last few years where my birthday will fall on one day but I’ll actually celebrate for two or three days in a row. This doesn’t mean that I party hard, drink myself into a stupor and tap dance on the roof of my house. It’s more like I get a dinner here, a present there and special moments with friends and family at different times. The tap-dancing drinking-stupors I save for my children’s birthdays. That way I share the humiliation while providing entertainment for friends and neighbors.

I’m getting another long birthday celebration this year as well. Amber came home last week. She and Crystal cooked me a delicious dinner and wonderful birthday cake. Amber brought me a very nice merlot that came in this super cool bottle:

There’s a lion and an eagle and a heart with an eyeball and stuff. On the back of the label, it says things like “this is the inspiration” “this is the air” and freaky stuff like that. I don’t know what any of it means, but it’s quite good wine.

This weekend Crystal was a model at a bridal show in New Bern. She and her friend Ashley hit the cat walk like skilled pros in front of a crowd of a couple thousand or so. It was wonderful to watch. I took pics but they didn’t turn out to well. I was crying like an idiot when Crystal would walk out there - so confident - so strong - and so incredibly beautiful - that I couldn’t get a decent picture.
Here’s what I did get:

She looked amazing. Here’s her and Ashley practicing back stage:

My mom was at the show as well. While looking at all the vendors, we found one called “Bedazzled” based in New Bern. It’s a mom and daughter jewelry shop of all hand made items. I found a lovely pearl and crystal necklace and matching earrrings. No sooner had I said “I love that!” my mom bought it for me.

After the event, we went to Greenville and had dinner at the new Rucker John’s restaurant - Ashley’s brother is the manager. The food was delicious and the restaurant is gorgeous. After our meal, we found out that he’d taken care of the bill - the whole thing was on the house.

It’s been a great birthday so far. I’m looking forward to 41. There are a few things I want to accomplish this year and a few things I want to change in my life. I feel the need to do things differently.

Like maybe when I tap dance on the roof from now on, I’ll twirl flaming batons and sing “Waterloo.” The neighbors will love it. My kids will hate it. And I can blame it all on the Green Lion merlot.