vilmablenman
Summer Birthday--Bring It On!
Yes, it happened again—another birthday, last week in fact. But I must say, after 60 plus years, I’m getting used to birthdays. And I’m owning each one.
I might as well say the number since my husband’s friend surprised us with lawn cards that literally covered the front with colourful signs of cut out flowers and summer creatures and in a prominent place, an easel wishing me well on my birthday and naming the number.
All passed by, gawked, smiled or wondered why.
I wondered the same when I woke up, saw the signs and was shocked by the sight of my age advertised on the easel. But after breathing, I laughed—out loud, and that’s when I decided to own the day—all of it—all my age and all that comes with another birthday.
After all, it was the opening day of patios, the lifting of lockdown, third wave, in the second year of the pandemic and the roses in my garden had suddenly bloomed.
Lunch on a patio was sweet. But sweeter still was the perspective that came with owning the day and giving gratitude to God for life, love and laughter.
Whenever your birthday is, whether it's summer or not, I celebrate with you and hope it’s full of the three l’s also.
The poem below came as I contemplated the truth about birthdays, about each day of birth and gave thanks.
Days of Birth
Own it—the day of your birth
for all it’s worth, for all you’re worth.
Own it.
Take it as treasure
Found, as gift given as surprise
As oasis for desert traveller
As sight restored to blind beggar.
Because that day
Repeated in one year
Each year like a ring
Around a tree, a rung on
A ladder—marks ascent
And you alone give consent
To grow greatness or weakness
So own it, even though you know
it—the trail of trials, the traumas
and triggers ongoing, the uphill
climb.
Mime the words you cannot
say, but own that day—every day
as a birth day.
--Vilma Blenman
