• 

My birthday weekend is always on Pride weekend so there is an inherent sense of celebration (and rainbow glitter) in the air. It also falls during some of the longest days and late June weather is generally perfect for the beach.

As the 9th anniversary of my 40th birthday approached I found myself not wanting to plan anything because all of the ways I usually celebrate (including live music festivals at the beach, spa days, lobster fest, backyard bbq, hugging all my favorite people, preparing lots of food to share, eating out with Chris) couldn’t happen. And I felt like I would only be disappointed.

I am so glad I fought that feeling. In this year of pandemic, I look back on the past year with thanksgiving and joy (twinged with pain and more than a little fear). I’ve had some great adventures with SophiAna (including taking her on her first trip to Ithaca with Tasha and me) and look forward to new memories when her baby sister arrives later this year. Had a fabulous girls weekend at the beach in October. Chris and I snuck in a mini vacation to Miami at the beginning of January and at the end of January I went to Tampa for a conference and got a bonus visit with my nieces and with Bert and Nick. In August, November AND February, my spirit was renewed with the sisterhood of the Creators Haven.

This time last year, we made an incredible move from one loving community to another. Journeying with Park Slope UMC this year has filled me with gratitude and love. This congregation is passionate, faithful, fierce, compassionate, and justice seeking. They are dedicated servants who are committed to building the Beautiful City.

The time of quarantine was book ended by officiating two weddings (including on the morning of my birthday). Love is all around us and is always the right time to celebrate. And on my birthday weekend it was wonderful to celebrate Pride in worship with Rev. Naomi guest preaching. Later many from the church had a stoop party/caravan for our beloved music director Pam who is retiring. Stoops make a perfect physical distanced party space.

Coming to Park Slope a year ago, it was a blessing to have friends already in the neighborhood and to make new ones. The parsonage is perfect for entertaining and while that hasn’t happened in recent months, the home is occupied with wonderful memories of special people filling the space for celebratory get togethers from earlier in the year. And it was lovely to enjoy some birthday celebration on the parsonage stoop over the weekend.

Sadly our favorite Park Slope Korean spot seems to have closed but Chris and I enjoyed a wonderful take out dinner from our favorite taqueria instead. This was the first weekend we have had takeout in months (we tend to stay a phase behind NYC). I made some yummy lemon cupcakes with strawberry buttercream using this recipe https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/homemade-lemon-cupcakes-with-vanilla-frosting/ and oops I doubled the butter but other than having to bake them longer, not surprisingly the extra butter did not make them worse. LOL

It was great to connect online for a fun birthday Taboo game night with some of my favorite people. The day before my birthday at a social distanced back yard family cupcake, ice cream sandwich, and watermelon party (that followed a perfect afternoon at the beach), we reminisced about a community our family was connected to in the early 70s. Their motto was “Start the day with love. Spend the Day with Love. End the Day with Love.”

As I move through this year that leads to 50 I hope this mantra can order my steps.

“Start the day with love. Spend the Day with Love. End the Day with Love.”

Thank you all for birthday love and blessings. I am truly grateful for you.