19Jul

Era

A few days ago, had you been paying careful attention, you may have heard the universe take a deep breath and gently release an era to extinction. The following puff of breeze was the door to our shoebox apartment closing, and the electric crackle in the air was the current of joy waiting just inside our new fairy tale house. We are surrounded by boxes and have bruises in strange places, but are hopelessly happy to be here. (Pictures will be coming once we shed the cardboard décor.)

And it’s my birthday. I couldn’t ask for more in this abundant world of ours than waking up (gloriously late) this morning to birdsong and sunlight pooling on my bed, to PDA from my husband and sticky-sweet kisses from my girls, and to home. A trip downtown for outdoor jazz and Venetian ice cream didn’t hurt though. I’ve also loved looking through my birthday list from last year, seeing how very many things are checked off (all except 3 ½, if you want to get technical) and how much delight they added to the last twelve months. It seems a birthday tradition has begun.

Birthday gelato

Wishing on each unborn day of next year to:

~ Get lost in a field of sunflowers

~ Host a fabulous dinner party

~ Make millefoglie from scratch

~ Go to a concert with my husband

~ Put our new guest room to use

~ Try a new food

~ Respond to every e-mail in my backlogged inbox

~ Find an agent already

~ Visit another country for the first time

~ Organize a night out with girlfriends

~ Find the perfect pair of jeans

~ Surprise someone with kindness

~ Read a dozen good books

~ Grow some kind of fruit on our balcony

~ Re-learn obscure Italian verb tenses… and try not to forget them again

~ Work out regularly

~ Create a unique dessert

~ Eliminate holiday stress in favor of holiday cheer

~ Find my daily groove

~ Write something from true heart-compulsion

~ Restore a lost relationship

~ Read through a chapter book with Natalie

~ Find my soul mate in stationary and write newsy letters on it

[And the carry-overs from last year:]

~ Learn one beautiful piano piece well enough to play by memory

~ Start college funds for the girls

~ Submit at least ten short items for publication

~ Finish my book

Here’s to a new house, a new year, and new era. Cheers!

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7 comments

  1. That is a great list! I feel confident you will zip right through it, merrily crossing things off left and right. May I suggest Sweden as the country to visit that yyou’ve never been to? And maybe WE can come sometime and take advantage of your new guest room!

  2. Oh, happy, happy, birthday! It is my oldest daughter’s birthday today as well. She turned eight. That means that I have been a MOTHER for eight years, so it is MY birthday as well! Congratulations on your new home. I remember when we moved into our new home almost four years ago. There is something special when you know that it is permanent. I can’t wait to see pictures. I love your list. What a wonderful idea!

  3. You have a beautiful spirit!

  4. happy birthday bethany! 🙂

  5. I love the idea of making a birthday list like yours! I’ll have to remember that, come December. I need some new dreams. I love that you’re happy in your new place. The girls are too cute with their sippy cups on the patio!

  6. I will gladly come and put your new guest room to use! I love your list. We share so many goals in common. And a glorious beautiful happy birthday to you! (belted, sadly.)

  7. Thanks for the lovely wishes! Perhaps I’ll do a better job documenting the list process this year…. will see. I really would love to have you all come visit; let me know when you’re in the neighborhood. 🙂

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