An Ordinal Birthday

I’m having an ordinal birthday this year. You know, when the numbers follow each other the way they usually do. Like 23, only for me it’s 67. This past year was a double same digit year — 66. I loved when that started at 11. Funny thing though, I’ve been thinking of myself as 67 ever since I turned 66. Not sure why. Doesn’t matter. I’m grateful I’m still here. I’m grateful for good friends old and new. My best friend is away on my birthday this year. That of course means the celebration will be extended. Old friends and new have been taking me for tea, buns, or breakfast. I received unexpected gifts and cards in the mail. I’m a lucky human. Last year I noticed I was closer to 70 than 60. This year that’s not even on my radar. My brain and body still work. I’m at the age, much like 3, where I grant myself full permission to be fully who I am. It’s bliss. Sure, there’s crepe-ish skin, and a body that fusses if I fall asleep before I assume a “good” position but I walk and dance and giggle. How lucky am I?

This year I seem to have “birthed” myself a bit. Maybe you’re familiar with the surge of energy many pregnant women experience just before they go into labor. Sometimes they start to scrub something. My birthday is Monday and on Thursday I had a very full day. It started with a 30-minute bus ride to a neighboring town. The buses around here are short and white and all the drivers are not only friendly but have a wealth of local knowledge they are more than willing to share. (I moved to this area just shy of a year ago.) So after a comfy bus ride complete with stunning Vermont spring beauty out the windows and stimulating, friendly conversation inside the bus, I arrived for pastry and excellent coffee with my very good friend, the one who will be away on my actual birthday. We nosed around town and laughed and talked the way we always do. Then we hopped in her car and went to another quaint Vermont mountain town. My friend stayed for a bit. Just before she left I mentioned how taking the bus to one cool town and from another felt just like being in Europe and hopping on the train to go to two cool cities.

On my own, I shopped for some last minute items I had been searching to find for my new apartment. One was a large basket I wanted for craft supplies. All the ones I had previously seen and liked were over $100. Nope. I found the perfect basket for $12 in the antique/junk store. Score! I shopped around some more and then went to yet another good bakery and had more excellent coffee and a cookie. I read one of my current books until I caught a bus home. Repeat scenic window views and excellent conversation. Oh, and the bus driver when he heard about my day said, “Wow, it’s as if you were in Europe and went to two cool cities.”

Once home I put all my new things away and then began a high energy whirlwind of getting things done. I took one of two large square, Euro style pillows I had and remade it into two bolster-sized pillows for my daybed. I saved the extra stuffing and put the unaltered pillow aside to do something else with later. I also took the two lovely, Euro-sized shams and hand sewed them to fit the new pillows. I washed the three earrings I wear almost all the time. The jeweler had instructed me to soak them in warm water with a teensy bit of Dawn liquid and scrub the backs with a soft brush. I made my mom a card. I started notes for several writing projects. I watched an old movie and a new series. You get the idea.

The next day I returned to that first town with a new friend who bought me a yummy breakfast. She took the backroads way. Such a delight. We talked and walked and explored. It was an extremely fun day. Today a friend who has been out of the area on a work assignment with her husband came to town and treated me to buns and gifted me an artfully funky pair of earrings. We talked and talked and talked. A joyful experience because she has a similar Italian upbringing and there’s so much we don’t have to explain to one another. We walked, and talked some more. Then had tea. I told you I’m lucky.

I took myself to lunch after snagging a few new books at the library. My new sandals arrived in the post today. I have a jar of organic jellybeans on my counter. I mean who could ask for more?

Cinse Bonino
2023