Happy Birthday, Dad...

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Hi, lovely friends, and Happy Friday the 13th!  I don't know about you, but I find that when the 13th falls on a Friday, I tend to have an exceptionally good day.  So much for superstitions...

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This day is extra special for my family as it's my dad's birthday.  I called him this morning to wish him a happy day and to arrange a little celebratory get-together.  To give you a feel for the kind of person he is...this was his reply.

"I'd love to see you, but just to see you.  I don't need a cake or presents.  I think of every day as my birthday.  Each day is a gift because you don't know what tomorrow brings.  I try to go to bed smiling and wake up smiling.  So let's get together just for the sake of being together."

He went on to say that on his actual birthday he thinks of his mom, Ardith, who passed not long ago, and his dad, Frank, who passed when my dad was 2.  He thinks of my brother and me and the families we've made.  He remembers his childhood and his sister, with the aunts and uncles and grandparents who helped Ardith raise him and his sister when Frank died.  Cherished memories are what he thinks about on his birthday.

I wanted to share part of the conversation I had with my dad because I feel that his thoughts about making every day one's birthday are words to live by.  I'm going to try to follow that philosophy, and I hope that you will too.  Let's see if we can begin and end our days with a smile and treat each day as a gift.  I know it's not always easy to do so, but with the extra effort and awareness we are bound to have success.

Have a beautiful day and as always, your comments are like little bright spots in my day...xo



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