My birthday celebration was huge for me--the BEST ever over Labor Day. I still feel euphoric to think of it. However,
when December 20th actually rolled around, smack in the middle of the
Christmas Rush as always, self-pity seeped in. After all, I didn't have any of my
family coming to town so the holiday ahead loomed
bleak. But I thought of my dad. One time when I was a teenager I muttered some petulant thing about being bored, and my father said impatiently, "Go do something for someone!" It wasn't the first time he'd said it to us.
I determined to do 70 kind things for people on my 70th birthday. A lofty goal, so I planned to count sending out 40 Christmas cards, possibly doing Indexing for 20 people to help me succeed.
Anyway, my point of view made all the difference. First thing, I helped Salli and kids out (our Mac grandkids) who were leaving early, sending them off with some quicky breakfast food. I spent the whole day focused on who needed what and kept a little log of how I was doing.
A highlight was a visit with EllaRee, my 90-year-old friend. She sent me a lovely note saying how much she needed a visit. "Have a Happy Holiday Season and so will I, thanks to you."
I didn't reach my goal--even with my work on Christmas cards and Indexing. But what a life saver!! I was in genuinely good spirits all day. Even patient with Rog when we rounded out the day with a boring Gossner Classic Aggie basketball game--in overtime.
(FYI, I don't really mind a December Birthday. It's mine. But everyone, including me, is absorbed in celebrating another December Birthday which has far greater significance. I loved celebrating this year over Labor Day. Or mine can wait, such as the card promising a dinner date in January.)
