Another fresh start . . .

I hadn't given it much thought, but tomorrow is my birthday. I started getting birthday wishes at the beginning of the week, which was my gentle reminder that it was just around the corner.

For years we, as a family, have had "birthday week" where we would do little extra things for the week of the upcoming birthday. On birthday morning, the birthday girl or boy would wake up to decorations in the living room, soap messages on the bathroom mirror (that tradition was started by my mother), and presents on the table.

For my birthday last year my husband went through the motions, but I knew his heart wasn't in it, and he made it so unhappy. I think it was one of my worst birthdays.

I miss the special things that he used to do for me. For example, on Valentine's Day he had always done a scavenger hunt. He wrote clues that would take me around the house, and at the end of the hunt there would be a present. Last year was the first year that he didn't do one for me, and it was on that day that I knew our marriage was over. 

Tomorrow I will wake up to the cat staring in my face, willing me to get up and feed her, and to a fresh pot of coffee. There won't be any decorations in the living room and there won't be a soap message on the mirror, but I think it will be just fine. It is another hurdle that I will get over and be happier for doing so.

To a happy celebration, and to a fresh start - - Happy Birthday to me!!!