More birthday thoughts

Again, it's not my birthday, but I am thinking about birthdays because of Paul. His is this week, and I am excited to make it the best ever. I am looking forward to him unwraping his gifts because I found so many things that I believe he will love. Without spending too much, too! I might even be more excited about his birthday than he is. Birthdays were always big things when I was growing up. We would decorate the dining room, make a special dinner, and there would be numerous gifts to open. Relatives would call, and excitement would be in the air. When my kids were at home we would always go out to breakfast on birthdays, no matter how early we had to get up. It was a great way to start the day out feeling special and loved. I am trying to replicate that feeling for Paul this year. It's hard to grow older, to know there are doors closing behind you that can never be reopened. But there is also anticipation for the many good years ahead we will have, and the reality of our being together for them makes it even better. People's expectations of how someone should look or act at a certain age can be intimidating and even depressing as the years advance. We are not anyone's expectations - we are just ourselves.....with tattoos, enthusiasm for adventure, crazy ideas, and enough life experience to know we should be grateful for every minute. We may BE grandparents, but we are not the expectation of what a grandparent is. We are just ourselves, young where it counts, and with the added benefit of the perspective of age.