celebrating getting old and being cold

those who know me well, know that the traditional gift in a box with a bow is not particularly welcomed around here.  and i really don't think much of holidays and birthdays.  i prefer not to have a calendar tell me when i should remember someone or something important, or when i should be nice to someone.  if you wouldn't normally think of me, then no worries.  but don't pretend that you would.  so, i'm not much into celebrating my birthday just for the sake of societal tradition.  but i WILL use any excuse to spend time with doc M!

i don't remember very many birthdays and probably even less birthday gifts.  i apologize up front for all those who have given me things that i've forgotten.  no offense or hurt is intended.  but i do have about 3 gifts that stand out above the rest and i've 'carried' with me all these years.  one was my 16th birthday that was a surprise limo ride from high school, with some of my friends, to the awesome Farrell's.  another was a pair of fabulous, priceless, timeless, silver doc marten boots that i got from my mother-in-law about 13 years ago.  but the one that tops it all, and always will, is the one i received 16 years ago in my mailbox the morning AFTER my birthday.  it came in the form of a card left in my mailbox.  it had a fuzzy zebra on the front of it, and it was delivered by this crazy boy i had met the night before.  (if i ever unpacked fully after a move, there might be a picture of it here...but no such luck).  yes, 16 years ago on my birthday, the doc and i met.

i am grateful to the Lord for putting him in my path.  and i am grateful that i didn't have a clue what i was doing back then at that young age, or i might've just said i wasn't ready to get married.  because i'm sure i wasn't.  but i'm also grateful for the person he is.  i'm glad i don't get random, impractical, plants in vases as gifts.  i'm glad i don't get credit to some girly store to go shopping.  i'm happy he is the kind of person who wishes he were with me while he's working, even though he absolutely LOVES his job.  i'm so glad i don't have to live with an allowance each month or follow some sort of 'to do' list. i don't live by a long set of rules that he deems necessary for my stereotypical role.  i enjoy that he treats me right all year long, and not just on my birthday and holidays when i put it in some sort of request as a gift.  i love that we have differences, yet are always together when it comes to life philosophies.

alright, enough of that silly stuff.  here's the eye candy from our trip that you've been waiting for.

P.S. and in case you were wondering... weekend in atlanta, fabulous cirque show called OVO, great food, great walks, great scenery. I LOVE BEING IN THE CITY!!