55 And still alive

Tuesday was my birthday.
No car. No girls. No Dave til 7
One of the hardest but best lessons ever,
I learned years ago. No expectations.

Woke up to the birds singing...that chickadee one that sings Cindeee Cindee. My Poppy used to say.
Sun rays peeking through the curtain checking out the newly 55 year old.
55. Went to bed the night before dreading that number more than any other.
55. There's nothing nice about it. It's not pretty to look at or to say. I'd even rather be 56 than 55
She's 55
"Soooo not Hot" my crazy kooky best friend Gail reminds me everyyy year since we both turned 50
Afterrr her opening line...
"55 And you're still alive!"
My first birthday call of the day.

Not Hot, all alone, but yes, still alive
And so very grateful for that.

Certain birthdays, this in particular, probably the aloneness part...
Remind me of an awful awful birthday when I was 12 and grounded.
A nightmare and shame that haunts me all these years
Together with a friend we pulled up the neighbor boy's tomato plants. He was just a few years older than me.
Supposedly the neighbor boy put my friend in his hand dug Woman Hater hole and left her there for days.
As told by my friend to get me to do this.
Which was more like 9 minutes we later found out. After we did it.

My parents had just split up and I was angry at all the injustices of the world.
Males in particular.
Especially those who owned a Women Hater hole

Hiding under our breeze-way table with freshly pulled tomato plants in my little hands, roots between my fingers. I can still smell the earth.
Like Storm Troopers they were looking for me.
My mom, little punk brother (last post he was King) and the Woman Hater. Who was then justified.
Shaking my brains out scared to death. Wishing with all my might I would have picked a different place to hide. Like the garage. Or the woods. Or I shoulda just kept runninggg. Forever.
All three spotted me at once.

Three days later, no party, no birthday cake, and no leaving the yard. For two weeks.
TWO.
Torture in the summer
I spent those days in the hot sun laying on the cool grass with my pink transistor radio.
..I did get a present because they already bought it
"Thinking about what I had done"

Been thinking bout it for 43 years
I'm sorry Johnny P. So sorry with all my heart.
I cannot even kill a spider. Plants..Tomatoes! :( :(
The thought still makes me weep.
Why didya have to have that gosh darn Women Hater hole
Why Johnny
Why

Tuesday July 26th

My card from Dave waiting on the breakfast table

x o x

...we have always had a card rule in our house

Handmade only

:)

Packed my Birthday companion up and headed down to the village

Carolyn and I out for some window shopping and a little lake looking

...all ya can really do with this goin on

Came home

Took a little nap

Made myself a Caipirinha at 5:00

Then surprise celebrations started comin at me!

My Fairy God-Friend Patience, head to toe in her pretty flowing white dress

floated in with this!

Antique, Hand painted, Heart shaped 

Alwaysssss makes myyy heart sing <3 <3 <3 

loveloveloveee!
Just wonderful for my Valentine Tea!

Then Nancy, another Fairy friend <3  scooped me up and brought me to Blue Water for some Sushi!

 Dave came home early and joined us :)
Um. Tom.
...just not a Sushi guy. Tommy Turkey Burger guy! :) :)

Love spur of the moment parties!

...and chocolate milk toasts!

 Couldn't ask for better friends!

x o x

The next day celebration with my Lacy

Indian Food! 

 Dave and Lacy are sooo card connected

Always!

Our lunch was soooo delicious!

 On our way out we were told to grab some of these

???

Not exactly sure what we popped in our mouths after we were told to

...weren't we taught never to do that?

Just the perfect Indian ending whatever they were!

Onto the next Lacy Surprise!

Always heard about the amazing vegan Milk Shakes at Strong Hearts Cafe

JUST RIGHT for that hot SUMMAH afternoon!

 I loveee when she takes care of me

She always knows exactly theeee BEST things to order!

It's the Cooker Girl in her!!

Blueberry Banana and Orange Pineapple

MMMM!!!!

My present from her!

A crepe pan!!

Since the Lavender Fest THAT'S all I've been yackin about!

Comes with a how-to DVD and it's from FRANCE!

:) :) :)

This girl not only chooses the best foods but also the very BEST prsents xox

It was hot in the cafe so we went to the little park across the street

 Laid under a pretty polkaaa dottt tree

And daydreamed the rest of the day away

Love you with all my heart my dear sweet Lacy 

x o x

Someone told me that Birthdays last all week!

A month if you want them to!!

Sooo

Yesterday I packed my little companion up again and went down to the Market and then the Antique Boat Show

 BE STILL MY HEART

The BEAUTIFUL Organic vegetables, Peace Wreaths, Design and Display

PACKAGING

And the two CUTEST farmers on the PLANET!!

 Sweeet prettyyy Tamara

<3
Sow Loud Farm

 Really

How could I not buy one of EVERYthing!

Another AMAZING 

HARD working

LOVE tilling 

Farmer Friend xox

Rosie <3 

 Come on!

I could not do this in a MILLION YEARS!!

WOW Rosie WOWWW!!!

 Picture PERFECT

Alwayssss each and EVERY week for years and yearsss

THANK YOU from ALL of us Rose!

xxx

And just look at these cutecuteCUTE Mother Daughter Bakers!!
Haute Cakes Design

 I was gabbin a long time with friends under a tree that I didn't get to this booth til they were almost sold out

Would have LOVED to see their opening display!

Had the BEST gluten free vegan cupcake everrr!!

Leaving the market

More eye dancing!

 Carolyn wishing with all her little might she could buy me that sweet truck 

Down to the Boat Show we past a display of some of my friend Gail's artwork

She's the one who's father created Captain America!

And the kooky one...she knows it. I'm not being mean

...the whole town knows it :)

...maybe thattt was a little mean. Sorry Gaily xoxoxox

BUT...

SHE SURE CAN PAINT!!

Our annual Antique and Classic Boat Show

Now THIS is Summah!!

Later on Carolyn and I met up with another doggie carriage!

 Julia xoxoxoxo and her Pocahontas 

 Together we stroll with our happy pups

:)

I kinda get a little embarrassed with mine

With everyone who stops to greet Carolyn, or even looks in her direction

I go into this big explanation how she isn't really spoiled and I'm not doing a Paris Hilton little dog thing

That she's having Doxie leg and back problems and really can't walk

...someone said I should get a handicapped sticker for the front of her carriage so I don't have to splain!

As the sun sets

My boat will be called
SUMMAHLAND
:)

And The Judge comes home

Another magical birthday in my little town

Will never forget, Johnny