The one with the 25th Birthday

This year’s birthday blew last year’s out of the water.

Dad won tickets to Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Ernest” and we decided to use them last night. The play was incredible and so fun. I am really glad I chose to read the play this week before seeing the production.

I awoke earlier than planned this morning when some Springfieldian friends called to say “Happy day”. From there I moved to the couch where I snuggled with Dharma and napped on and off whilst watching Lady and the Tramp. Dharma showed great concern for Lady whenever she howled because she did not want to be alone. It was rather sweet.

Eventually, I got my lazy bottom off the couch and walked up the stairs where I saw my first glimpse of sunshine for the day. I ran a frothy bubble bath and relaxed as Celine serenaded me. By the time I finished getting ready for the day Mom was home and ready to party. After running a couple of errands we ventured to Lee’s Summit where our massage therapist awaited.

Three hours later Mom and I were greasy and relaxed. We hopped in the car and drove home where we hastily put ourselves together for dinner. In between leaving for dinner and arriving at dinner, I got a fun phone call from my precious goddaughter. She sang happy birthday to me!

After not having really eaten anything all day but cookie cake, I arrived at Tosso’s quite hungry and expecting the party to have already started, however, there were few occupied seats and no plates being tossed about. My parents, one my best friends, and I totally had a party at our porch table though, ouzo shots and all.

All in all, the best part of my birthday was hearing from everyone I love -family, friends, teachers, mentors, etc.- all in the same day and being lucky enough to spend it with some of them.

The one with the car radio

I generally have to play around with electronics for a while before they even start to have a conversation with me, however, they do eventually listen. This especially goes for the programming buttons on my car’s radio. I have been living back in the Kansas City area for 11 months now and my radio stations are still in-tune with Springfield stations. It might take a lengthy conversation with my radio to get it done, but after 11 months I should say it is nearly time. New goal- program car radio to local KC stations before 12 month mark.

The one with Bambi and Simba

“You got to put your behind in your past.”

Bambi and Simba came together in the Tapley home a couple of weekends ago. For the longest time I had no desire to watch Bambi because I know the mother’s fate. Since I was a kiddo my own mother refused, and I do mean refused, to watch The Lion King because she knew the fate of the father. Somehow a new, and seemingly manageable, goal manifested recently- if I agreed to watch Bambi then my mother would sit through a viewing of The Lion King. Ta da- goal accomplished.

Turns out, Simba and I have a few things in common. We each left home, learned things through the death of loved ones, returned home, and became stronger for it all. When it comes to the Circle of Life, I am fairly pleased with my placement in the ring at the moment. “It’s the circle of life, and it moves us all through despair and hope, through faith and love.” With that in mind, I am sure to come back around to faith and love. Eventually.

“Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance… you need to understand that balance and respect all creatures…” There is delicate balance between despair and hope, and between faith and love. I learn a little more about this balance everyday. Through despair I have renewed a very special friendship from many moons ago and I am thrilled to celebrate in her wedding next month. Through despair I have become ‘Hilly’, Godmother to Addie. It is treasures like these that make me believe that hope will see me through all despair. Despair brought me back home and hope will lead me forward.

Maybe that means staying here where my heart explodes with happiness so often or moving right along to unforeseen adventures. Either way, “I finally got some sense knocked into me, and I’ve got the bump to prove it.”

* Thanks to those who encourage me to continue thinking and writing. I love and appreciate it.