July 19, 2010

a wrap up

it was the best of times and at times, it was the worst of times.  a birthday week and weekend.... how do you ever sum it up.  for those that didn't know, my beloved tony (my cat) passed away last week after 17 years of faithful companionship.  i miss him.  a lot.

on to the birthday celebration.  it was a great weekend - quiet and laid back (mostly like me).  i had lunch with wonderful friends at the asian bistro and carol brought me an assortment of baby cakes.  i meant to take a picture of them but they go so very fast (delicious one-two bite(s) of the most scrumptious cake ever.)  then out to the movie (the sorcerer's apprentice with nicholas cage - very cute), a salad for dinner and a girls night in to watch a dvd (valentine's day - again, better than i expected but still brain candy). 

yesterday was a mish-mash of errands and working on photography homework. (a simple, artistic shot of something complex)  leave it at i was too hot to be breaking new ground.  and then dinner with the family for my birthday - the girls were beautiful.  i hate my nephews couldn't be there...but they were with their dad.  (sad face)

i wish i had some profound or wise words for turning another year older.  but, in all humility - i don't.  basically i think that waking up to face another day is one of the greatest gifts that we have because we are never guaranteed another day and it's up to ourselves to fill the new day with what will help us resolve to be happy, satisfied and fulfilled, of course while treating others well.  so...reflections over the past week months include:  when you think you've reached the bottom, hang on and try to climb back up.  life may (or may not) knock you around a bit - don't wait to be rescued, rescue yourself if you can.  never say no to help though - and ask for what you need - that's not being rescued - it's finding what resources and tools are available to you.  never be ashamed to ask for what you need.  life does go on - maybe not in the way we expected it, but there are many ways to happiness. 

***********************
today on my ipod - i feel the earth move (carole king), gravity (angie aparo), tuff enuff (the fabulous thunderbirds), good (better than ezra), suddenly i see (kt tunstall), no bad news (patty griffin), let your love flow (the bellamy brothers), heart in hand (vertical horizon), learn to fly (the foo fighters)

32 comments:

  1. i had no idea about tony....was he your pug ?

    i'm glad your weekend was filled with highlights and food and a movie and laughter.....

    if i had been there, you would have been wearing a party hat and blowing a horn....inside the restaurant, while i took photos :)

    yes....seriously !

    hugs to you......

    ReplyDelete
  2. sorry to hear about your loss. but happy to know you had happy moments this weekend too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. no, it was my cat. the pugs belong to my brother...and they've adopted me too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sorry about Tony.. I lost a lot of birds in these years, now I only have one left.

    I LOVE that quote!
    And happy birthday!!!!!!

    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. What a loss! 17 years...my oh my. Your weekend sounds like it was nice; nice to spend time with friends and family. I hope the week is off to a good start for you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. birthday celebrations sound lovely...i am so sorry about your cat, char...that is very sad, i know you must miss him terribly, that is a long time to have a companion...
    i love your reflections, i very much needed to hear them today...
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds like a wonderful, my kind of, weekend and birthday! Again... so sorry about Tony =( I know...truly I do.
    Its good to be another year older....considering the alternative :)
    Hope you have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Char I am so sorry about Tony, your faithful companion, ( made me tear up when I read that)
    glad you had a nice birthday, words of wisdom in this post. take care.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So sorry about Tony - would you like a Cocker Spaniel?
    I love your reflections from the past month - good stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Just a note to say I'm sorry about your cat...it's hard to lose a pet you have had so long..also I want to say how excited I was to see your comment on my post last week, and to see that you are a new follower. I have enjoyed your writings since I started blogging.
    blessings,
    glenda

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm sorry about your cat. You must feel very sad at the loss. I can almost see that sadness in the photograph, the flower looking a little lost among the dark vastness around it :(

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have never forgotten the deaths of any of my past cats...it is always a sad time. I'm very sorry to hear about Tony...yet So glad you had 17 years with him...That's a lot!

    Otherwise, it sounds like you celebrated your birthday pretty well...

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  13. as always your photo is really so stunning...to lose a pet after so long is heartbreaking , so sorry!

    your birthday celebrations sound very nice

    ReplyDelete
  14. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO YOOOUUUU....HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO YOU.....HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO CHAAAARRR....HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO YOU....
    I can not believe that by having this awful dial-up connection I have missed SO much.
    So sorry to hear about your Cat,I know how it feels...a loss.
    AND...Happy belated...sounds like you've been having wonderful celebrations...
    please forgive my tardiness.
    hugs dear friend...
    I have been reading posts from last week...whilst I still can...not many pager load properly with this Net Connection!
    HAVE a fab week.
    Char.x.

    ReplyDelete
  15. so sorry about tony. i have two almost-16 year old cats and the reality that they only have a little while left makes my heart ache. *hugs!*

    xo Alison

    ReplyDelete
  16. aw, i am so sorry to read you lost your beloved kitty. i know how much that hurts. my very first best friend was my cat. and still i can't imagine a life without furry friends.
    here's wishing you a very happy belated birthday. i hope you continue to celebrate your life & you!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh I'm so sorry for your loss. They are our babies! Be well and happy belated birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  18. bless tony's sweet heart.

    sounds as though your weekend was great.

    will we get to see the homework?? : )
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lovely photo. Happy birthday. I hope this year brings you much happiness and new friends. I'm sorry about your kitty.

    ReplyDelete
  20. happy birthday. simpleness is good i think. i appreciate it more and more as i age.

    and no bad news is a great song on any day

    XO

    ReplyDelete
  21. I think your words are very profound. I read them twice...I'm sorry about your cat. I would be very sad without mine. Have a super rest of our week.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I've been remiss in my blog visiting and am upset to hear about your companion pet passing away. Oh, I feel for you, Char. Just so sorry.

    Happy Birthday, though!

    ReplyDelete
  23. i'm so sorry to hear about tony. pets are just such fabulous companions, and it is so hard when they leave us. hugs to you.

    and hope you had a nice birthday. really nice. you deserve it, and keep that celebration chugging along as long as you can. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  24. isn't it amazing how pets fill our lives with extra love and laughter and when they are gone it's like a part of us is missing? so sorry about Tony. i know the feeling.

    happy birthday a little bit late!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Well, things seem a little down at the moment. That's okay. It happens. Life's filled with ups and downs, right? It's the downs that make the ups look better. I hope the Foo Fighters are helping...maybe a little bit? Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Char, I'm so sorry about the loss of your dear companion and friend. Tony's long life with you makes his loss all that much harder.

    I'm glad you had a sweet birthday with friends and family to help you through this time. I'm adding my birthday wishes too! ((hugs))

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm so sorry that you lost your dear kitty companion and friend. It's never easy, is it?

    You have a very good outlook on life, Char, and I hope life repays you well, because you deserve it.

    I'm glad you had a good weekend, even though it was a sad one, too.

    ReplyDelete
  28. i am so sorry to hear about the loss of your kitty...i so understand this loss all too well...

    i lost my beautiful silver persian, schuggie 10 years ago this month.. i had her from 1980 to 2000 and i still think of her everyday..she sits on my nightstand in a darling container with a squirrel on it...on a pile of oaks leaves and acorns...my sweet girl...

    and as you might know i lost my toy poodle buddy on march 3rd of this year...
    losing them is such a heartbreak and a loss forever ...
    sending my heartfelt sympathy to you, dear friend

    kary
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  29. Happy Birthday and i am sorry about your puss it is so sad. Your header is wonderful and that pic of the gerbra well its gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  30. (((hug))) sorry about your Tony-cat...you were friends for a long time and I know how sad it is. You have a lovely attitude and I hope this next weekend is happier for you ... Maybe you can even have another birthday celebration! (why not?)
    :-)

    ReplyDelete
  31. I think your wise words are perfect...a mantra for us....happy belated birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Happy, happy belated birthday, Char. I wish you comfort in the loss of your Tony. I wish you contentment at work. I wish you much laughter and new friends this year. Love, Relyn

    ReplyDelete

i feel as if each comment was between us as we sat and sipped something warm....i love to hear what you're thinking.