Thursday, September 29, 2011

On this day ...

... thirteen years ago I was with my college boyfriend, sipping my first legal glass of wine on the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train, soaking in the fall scenery and stopping off at a Seattle area winery for tasting.


... four years ago today I was on a day trip with my family of four, carrying a newish baby boy in my arms, enjoying the splendor of a picnic in the woods, thoughtfully and lovingly planned by my husband of six years.


... one year ago I was trying desperately to get a baby to nap.

I was figuring out how to be involved in my kindergartner's public education.

I was working on coming to terms with the fact that within the year I'd be in a new home, in a new community on the other side of the country. Again.

I don't remember much about that day.


And today, I'm teaching an almost-2-year-old how to use the potty. And I'm also teaching him that he can trust me -- that I am trying my hardest to always listen to him.

I'm teaching a 4-year-old how to read and to understand that I will teach him anything he wants to learn so long as he keeps coming back for more.

I'm teaching a 6-year-old how to add using a number line and to understand that the world belongs to her if she can discover how to carve out a place in it for herself.

I'm baking my own birthday cake and it will probably have plastic animals and rainbow sprinkles on top. It will be perfect.

I'm awaiting the return of a husband who can't possibly know how much I miss him, and not just because it's my birthday, but because all of this is great, but none of it is half as good as it could be if he were here to enjoy it with me.
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13 comments:

  1. DanaSeptember 29, 2011 at 8:32 AM

    Happy Birthday! I commend you for actually being able to remember those details of years gone by, as sparse as they may be.
    Dana

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  2. BlessedMomof2September 29, 2011 at 8:34 AM

    Happy birthday! I hope N gets home soon !! Enjoy your sprinkles!!!

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  3. EmilySeptember 29, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    Happy Birthday, D!

    And, oh! How I understand! It's wonderful and beautiful and still kind of all mixed up and lonely to celebrate your birthday with your kids while your husband's away. You're loved though, and deeply. Enjoy you day!

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  4. NancyinAbqSeptember 29, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    And oh, how he misses you, too. Just counting down the days. Now just a short stop over in the land of the ancestors and he's almost there wth you. He will come home and bake you a second birthday cake or pie or crumble or brown betty or muffin or puff or crisp or quiche or cobbler or cookie or whatever you'd like so that the five of you can take it out and create another fine birthday memory. Have a beautiful day.

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  5. nancySeptember 29, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    Such a lovely post of birthday of the past!!! I hope you have wonderful day & we all wish we could celebrate with you, have a piece of cake for us!!

    Miss you all N & A

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  6. Chalupa OneSeptember 29, 2011 at 11:02 AM

    i love this post! i always think of my birthday as my own personal new year -- looking back seems to be a great way for me to move forward. i hope the homecoming is sweet and you have a fantastic celebration sweet in your future!

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  7. amie todayis-amie.blogspot.comSeptember 29, 2011 at 11:25 AM

    happy birthday sweet friend! spinkles, hand made cards, plastic zoo animals, and pee on the floor... i know these are some of your favorite things and i'm glad they surround you on your birthday! you are almost there.. nick will be home soon. wish it were sooner. hoping you guys can get some time to share new memories and you can tuck them in the "on this day" file... even if it's another day :) love ya!

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  8. gamizoneSeptember 29, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    hmmmm. ive never heard the story of the other boyfriend. He must have been a loser.

    Have a wonderful day, and hopefully we'll all meet up in a month or two.

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  9. blue heronSeptember 29, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    Happy birthday! Hang in there, homecoming is right around the corner. I have a stack of presents in the living room constantly reminding me that Keith spent his birthday half a world away and I didn't even send him off with a card.

    And by the way, did your really post this at 4:53 AM on your birthday? How do you find the energy to write at that hour?

    Katie

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  10. stitchinpennySeptember 29, 2011 at 4:20 PM

    I love the ease with which you share your life. You make the stories you weave seem as if they were written in a book of how life should be or maybe they were always there from the beginning of time. Your writing is so natural yet inspiring. I don't know how long it is until your husband is home, but I hope that he appreciates how much he is loved and missed while he is gone.

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  11. stitchinpennySeptember 29, 2011 at 4:21 PM

    Gee I forgot the Happy Birthday wishes. They were supposed to be in the last comment.

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  12. NancyinAbqSeptember 29, 2011 at 11:30 PM

    Oh, yeah. I forgot to say, along the lines of Aaron's smartie comment, that it isn't clear who that college boyfriend is... hmmmmmm.
    By now, this birthday has shaped its memories and I hope you're sleeping well. I love you.

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  13. Nicole PikenOctober 2, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    Love you.

    ReplyDelete

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