Blessed

Thank God halloween is over, I think it's such an obnoxious "holiday." I know, CRAZY for not liking it am I.. but you're the one getting your rocks off on dressing up in costume past the age of 12:)

I caught a cold that wouldn't let go of me for almost two weeks... until today! I think today is the first day back to 95% normal feeling. Gotta love the change in seasons! Rewind two weeks, before the cold, and my parents were in town for my birthday. They flew up for the weekend, took me to dinners, hung out with me for a few days and took me to see Jersey Boys. It was a really great weekend, I felt so loved and immensely lucky. Not just lucky to have two parents that love me so much but to have two parents that I really REALLY love right back. Jersey Boys was an incredible show, too! We all knew we'd probably enjoy it but had no clue how great it would actually be. Fantastic. Also, each dinner reservation that my mom had made for the weekend, she made as a "birthday dinner" with the restaurant when she called so they would make sure to do something special. She thought it was hilarious. I think after 4 birthday dinners in a row I felt sufficiently celebrated! They made sure to extend the celebration the entire time they were in town and I was so happy to spend my 28th birthday with the two people that have made these 28 years possible.

There's always something reflective about getting another year older. In the past I always thought that 27 would be a special age for me, I even blogged about that a few years back as I looked forward to it. It just seemed like it would be a good year, a good spot in the grand scheme of my entire life. Naturally as the 27th year of my life came to a close a couple weeks ago I looked back and asked myself ".. was it really all you hoped it could be? Was 27 really such a GREAT year?!" I stopped dead in my tracks. Before I could even finish the thought process I mentally smacked myself across the face. How dare I even question that? I began to think of the joys and blessings of the past 365 days. The mental, physical and emotional growth. The incredibly special people I surround myself with and am so fortunate to call my friends - the things I have been able to learn from them. I traveled to 3 different countries in my 27th year on this planet, two of which I had never been to. I hiked in the mountains of Yellowstone, visited friends in three different cities and had three different sets of friends visit me in my city. I made the biggest accomplishment, to date, in my career. I met 3 of the 4 goals/new years resolutions I set for myself with regard to work as well (I still have until December 31st for the 4th!). I've been blessed with health, happiness and above all the love of incredible people.

I had all of those things on my mind on the 17th, my birthday, as I was driving to the airport to pick up my parents. I counted each blessing, reflected on each exciting endeavor I was so fortunate to partake in over this past year and all the people I am so lucky to have in my life. Then I thought specifically about my parents that I was about to see. Two people that not only gave me the opportunity to live this life I've enjoyed for the past 28 years but kept giving and continue to give beyond the great gift of life. Two people who would travel a thousand miles just to make sure my day felt special. A mother who would take a bullet for me and father who would do the same. Two people who bless others to a level that sets an example I only hope to come close to one day. As family members we sometimes disagree, like most people do who are close. We aren't perfect, no one is, but my God how much better could it get.

No one has it the easiest or the hardest. No one has the perfect situation, and by no means do I write any of this to say "wow, look how great things are for me.." God knows I have my life's challenges. But rather in reflecting on a year of my life, one in which I used to think would be special for some reason, I realized it was quite special indeed. I approached the airport terminal to pick up the two people who love me more than anyone on this earth ever has and as I saw them standing there waiting for me I thought to myself "if it hasn't been what someone would consider to be a great year, I don't know what the definition of great is.."

birthday dinner number 3:


I am so blessed,
M.db