Thoughts on a Birthday Celebration

Every year, everyone has a birthday that arrives. This day, March 25th, is my husband's birthday. It happens to be one of those months that fluctuates with a variety of weather trends. Howling winds, chilly night, and springlike temperatures arrived. Even thought the birthday comes at a difficult time in our lives, we will celebrate because there is always room for cake, candles, and happiness on this special day.

I have a special wish this year. Let there be a pause from the medical issues. Emily Dickinson reminds me that aging is not a negative. ⤵

"We turn not older with years, but newer every day."

Time to Pause and Celebrate

years pass

life broadens

memories are etched in our hearts

while love grows like blossoming flowers

harvesting hope

renewing faith

persevering onward

©CVarsalona, March 2025

Today is Day 25  of the March SOLSC#SOL25.

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for the space to write 

with a reflective, worldwide group of educators.

Writer's Note:

This is the first trinet poem that I have written. There are 7 lines in the format. Lines three and four have six words in each line. All other lines have 2 words per line.

#SOL22 March Musings Day 28: Family Pictures

Are you the family photographer? I am always with my camera documenting family events with photos. It is one of my passions ever since I took a photography class in college. Capturing the essence of a moment is something I delight in so yesterday at my husband's "big birthday party, I I took multiple photos to find the right one that shared the joy of the event. This morning, I found a quote that will guide me as I continue to take photos.

"There is one thing that the photography must contain - the humanity of the moment." -Robert Frank

I would like to dig deeper into the photographic element of connecting with people in the moment as Robert Frank did in his photo taken in 1949. 

Capturing the Sensitivity of the Moment

sensitivity touches the soul

moments

connect

to

photographic

moments

life

evolves

around

each

moment

sensitivity touches the soul

©CV, 2022

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NOTE:

I had difficulty synching up my two computers between Day 27 and 28. There were glitches that I just found. The links are correct now.

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Thank you Two Writing Teachers for this daily meeting place to connect with a community of reflective writers.

NOTE:

What Birthday Girl Knows

Excitement was in the air last Sunday. My little grandgirl turned two years old. Our family gathered at her house to decorate with a Frozen theme while the little sisters slept.  A jeweled princess crown and presents were laid out. A blue foil-streamer walkthrough was set up for the princesses' entrance to the party and a beautiful cake embellished with dripped icings on a raised, tiered cake platter awaited. Frosted silver sprinkles glistened around a blue sparkle castle. We were all excited to see our little granddaughter's expressions. 

The question of the day was, Does Aurora really understand what a two-year-old birthday means? Of course, my thoughts went straight to poetry and digital art.

What Does the Birthday Girl Know

How to

Make an entrance

With a gown of royal semblance.

Wear a crown, dance around.

Share a smile, not a frown.

Find her royal toddler seat.

Pray with grace; begin to eat.

Search for a birthday sweet.

Stick a finger in the treat.

Make a delicious mess.

On her face and fancy dress

Clean her hands and face with ease.

Open her gifts with expertise.

Respond to age-related questions.

"Two" with a number of finger suggestions.

©CV, 2022

If you look back at my September 2021 post you will see another poem for Aurora when we still thought of her as a baby. Now, she is the big girl.

I take a few more steps backward to share my latest published poem in my wonderful poet-publisher friend, Bridget Magee's newest anthology 10*10.

I appreciate the opportunity afforded to me by Bridget. The following poem was written with Aurora in mind. I like to sing it instead of just reading it to her. We laugh when I sing because I use gestures and movements to make Aurora giggle.

Today is the Poetry Friday Roundup at the community's poet-author and recently retired keeper of the schedule, Mary Lee Hahn. Mary Lee has a succulent poem about a pomegranate, one of my favorite holiday treats. Thanks, Mary Lee for sharing your poem, What the Pomegranate Knows, and for giving me a format for my own poem today. Did I mention that I appreciate this weekly roundup because I get to savor all the poetic posts?

I also appreciate Linda Mitchell's star logo and the beautiful winter poem swap that she sent me. It lit up my holiday. I will share her work after I send mine out.

Happy Birthday Greetings To My Daughter

There is a special bond between a mother and her daughter that lasts forever despite any interruption. When my daughter's birthday rolled around, I decided to share some old photographs to celebrate the day since we could not be together. The internet interrupted my plans.  For six hours I attempted to rectify the internet-disruption-of-service issue we have been experiencing for a month. As time rolled on, my stress increased until a picture popped up on my screen. It offered a solution. Take the modem's yellow wire and place it in the red connector box and not the yellow one like the service provider said. 

With that issue resolved, I proceeded to beat the clock in time for a happy-birthday-wish-video chat. Old photos were scanned and created into an e-card. A text message was sent out and birthday wishes exchanged. During the video chat, I shared more old photos while my daughter, husband, and daughters were traveling home from an outdoor picnic. Three-year-old Sierra was especially intrigued by the photo of Mommy as a little girl with the American Girl Doll, Samantha, waving at her. 

This morning I decided to add a song, "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Wormack, for the festivities. Its line, "Time is a wheel in constant motion" offered an uplifting message: live a life full of taking chances and not being afraid to move beyond the comfort zone. With this thought, I rest assured that my daughter will pass on her spirit of hope and resiliency to her daughters.

Pause for a moment and listen to "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Wormack.

Tonight a birthday cake will be shared video-style and a pandemic-style birthday

will be remembered forever.

Sending my slice of life into the universe of writing at Two Writing Teachers.

Turning 40

While I like to think that I can turn back the clock to 40, I have to leave that thought for another day.  Today, I am celebrating my son's very happy birthday.  

It was 40 years ago when our first child unexpectedly slipped into the world with an immense challenge. My husband and I named him Derek, the people's ruler.  As an affable striver, my son overcame many odds thrown his way.  Holding tightly to his dreams, he sought to find his place in society but life is not an easy road to walk when you are disabled.  Because of his fortitude, Derek always used his talents to make his mark.  Yearly gold medals in swimming at the Games for the Physically Challenged led him to donate his time and strength to raising funds for special education while dreaming of a college degree. Despite the odds, Derek graduated from community college and continued onward to become a proud Hofstra University graduate.  Advocating for himself, Derek sought every option to succeed in learning with the constant support from family,  counselors, and teachers.  

While his road of life has been strewn with rocky patches, Derek, as the champion, continues to strive to move forward on his journey.  Today, as a disabled young man, he finds solace in writing.  Feeling the pangs of isolation during Quarantine Life, Derek decided to try his hand at podcasting.   Below is his introductory video that we created.  With the heart of an advocate for disability rights and a voice to soar into the world, Derek is an example of what can be accomplished.  May doors be opened for him and all those striving to BECOME. 

I celebrate Derek's forty years of life today with a cherita poem, a linked poetry form of one-, two-, and three-line stanzas that tells a story.  So with hopes that today is one of those days in which a new corner is turned on the road to life, I wish Derek a very happy birthday and

a life of reaching for the stars.

☪

Sending my slice of life into the universe of writing at Two Writing Teachers...

Autumn's Glow

The countryside was awake with the glow of late autumn. Stillness surrounded except for the intermittent chatter of children playing in the gardens. The landscape was regal in its color of golden-brownish hues and fresh air was plentiful. Inhaling the scent of autumn mixed with the hint of chocolate from Hotel Hershey provided a euphoric sense of contentment. 

With autumn in the air, my 2-year-old granddaughter and the family made memories at the sweetest place on the East Coast. Wide-eyed and energized with excitement for each new experience she saw, Sierra strolled Hershey Gardens overlooking the town of Hershey, Pennsylvania. There she found a hall of trees exquisitely decorated for the holidays, a tropical butterfly room filled with brilliantly-colored butterflies and exotic moths, a children's garden, winding paths, and huge trees, one named Sierra Redwoods which delighted her.

Sierra Kathryn standing next to Sierra Redwood

All of this countryside beauty, the warmth of family, and so much more provided the perfect setting for my birthday and Thanksgiving celebration of life. What more could I ask for? Plenty of chocolate surrounded me, a massage therapist at the spa awaited my arrival, and interesting delicacies were plenty. It was a picture-postcard holiday with family. 

Sierra, summed up her feeling with a hilarious statement, "I'm going to party all night!" (...and that she did until the adults were more tired than she.)

🍁🍂🍃

While we visited Hershey when my adult children were young, we never experienced the full Hotel Hershey experience. During this trip, I found Hotel Hershey to be a true historic treasure, rightfully named 2018 "Best Historic Resort" by Historic Hotel of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. Lovely accommodations, beautiful views, gourmet food, an amazing museum of historic facts, memorabilia, and story, and plentiful activities allowed me to make delightful memories that I will cherish for years to come. Will my granddaughter remember this holiday? Perhaps, not every part but her digital photo album will provide a look back at a wonderful family memory. 

🍁🍂🍃

#TravelTuesday is approaching so I am moving over to Two Writing Teachers for the Slice of Life Tuesday. Join me in celebrating a slice of my life. Then, look for my Abundant Autumn Gallery of Artistic Expressions to arrive on social media. 

Scrumptious! Taste NYC

Today is the day "when summer gathers up her robes of glory, and, like a dream, glides away" (Sarah Helen Whitman). It is also the day to savor summer memories, especially the most recent and memorable Labor Day weekend when we celebrated my son' birthday multiple times. 

This year we filled our memory bank with the tastes of New York City. From street fairs and food kiosks to Little Italy, my husband, son, and I found multi-layered gastronomical delights. The day started with a delightful street fair close to the New York City theater district. It was the first stop on our theater-going adventure that would celebrate my son's birthday. We had a quick appetizer,  empanada of spinach and cheese, at one of the stops before attending the Broadway musical, The Book of Morman, at the Eugene O'Neill theater. 

Next, we traveled to Little Italy that is always a happening-type of place. We found the usual throng of tourists and diners, sightseeing and looking for the just-right restaurant, on Mulberry Street, the main walk-through.  The weather was magnificent and the street was filled with singing, chatting, and people taking photographs. We strolled past many restaurants, checking out menus for a birthday celebration. While we have been going to Little Italy for at least forty years, there are always new places to visit and we found one that appealed to us, Sofia's. 

Steve, a gregarious greeter wearing sunglasses, lured us in with thoughts of homemade pasta, great tastes, and a wonderful birthday surprise. He led us to a linen-lined table in front of the restaurant where we met our fun waiter, Tony, who introduced us to the delights Sofia's had to offer.

Selections of the day were provided by Tony who made the dishes sound wonderful. We decided on wine, prosecco, and Peroni to start the meal with a delicious arugula salad, Arugala al Limone. The salad had fennel, shaved pecorino, and a delicious lemon dressing. The mountain-like presentation was a picture worth taking.  We were delighted with the freshly-baked and tasty bread that accompanied the salad.

Portions were plentiful. Entree selections were chosen with great care and had great flavor. Scrumptious!

Vitello Saltimbocca

Vitello alla Parmigiana

Francese

How do you end a meal so that your taste buds remember all the flavors of a great meal?

With delicious Cappucino 

Italian desserts: warm chocolate souffle

Tiramisu gelato with expresso

Ricotta cheescake

We ended the appetizing dining experience with a round of happy birthday and wishes on returning with friends for a fall meal.

A Slice of Life!

Special Day - SJ1stT

My recollection of special days dates back to my early childhood when family gathered around my Nonnie's table. The fragrant smell of basil simmering in sauce, fried meatball delicacies, and Italian cookies with lemon frosting floated in from the kitchen. A birthday cake with a shining candle waited for a little birthday girl to blow out. There was laughter, happiness and always a prayer to be thankful for the parade of food and the family gathered together. 

"You observe days and months and seasons and years!

Galatians 4:10

Each year, birthdays are celebrated with great festivity, honoring a long-standing family tradition. We often hear the story of my husband's father who was awarded an extra meatball on his birthday. We think how grateful we are for the years we have spent together, and we delight in the birthdays yet to come. Last year, I was able to celebrate my birthday and blow out the candle with my grandbaby. This year, we celebrate her first birthday as a new member of the family's traditional special day celebration. 

🎂
Each family member's special day is a great blessing that I am thankful for so I shall remember to "Take delight in the Lord, for He will give you the desires of your heart."
-Psalm 37:2-14

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Violet Nesdoly, an amazing Bible journalist and host of Spiritual Journey first Thursday, chose "Special Day" as her topic this month. 

Please join me at Violet's blog for our celebration.

March Musings #25: Birthday Traditions

What's a birthday without a wish and a cake?

This morning, I greeted my husband with "Happy Birthday" and then, fell back asleep while he took my son to work. I finally woke at 10 a.m. and realized that I did not order the cake. Oops, what shall I do? 

Our family tradition is that the birthday person decides on how the day is to be spent, gets a delicious meal of his/her choosing, and has a delicious birthday cake to blow out to the tune of a family chorus of Happy Birthday. 

My mother always made each of us a beautifully decorated, tasty cake for each birthday but now I have to rely on my own baking skills to create a cake to my husband's liking. The clock is ticking.

As my husband comes in the house, I wish him Happy Birthday.  Then, I start thinking what can we do. A walk on the beach, dinner out, a cake? The cake is first on the list but I don't have time to bake. Cassata cake, an Italian cake soaked in rum with a layer of cannoli cream and whipped cream on the outside, is decided upon. I call the bakery and am grateful that they are still open. 

As we are ready to leave, my husband hears the phone buzzing. It is my daughter and our grandbaby in her jumping chair ringing us on Google Hangout. Once we connect we see Sierra who is more interested in the phone flashing in front of her than watching us on a little phone screen. She quickly beomes disenchanted with the call which is not like her at all. She usually is so happy when we have our long-distant talks so we agree to talk later. 

Off we go to the bakery. There is one cassata cake on the shelf. I stop to look at all of the choices and by the time, I decided to take the cassata cake, someone else picks it up. Off we to the Italian bakery nearby. There are two choices of cassata cake there. The traditional yellow cake and one that we never had before, chocolate with chocolate pudding and cannolli cream. We take the chocolate one and start traveling home thinking about where we should go for dinner. 

It's the evening now. The house is quiet and I have time to write. Dinner was wonderful. It was in one of our favorite restaurateur's recently opened restaurants. We did get to go the ocean for a few minutes (brr, it was cold), and we had the birthday party with cake. (The baby missed the singing of happy birthday because she was asleep by the time we called.) 

Birthdays are whole day affairs in my home. By the end of the day, my husband was so tired from a full day of birthday fun that he went off to sleep early. Part two of my husband's birthday tradition comes next week when the whole family gathers for Easter at my sister's house in Syracuse. 

↓

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Day 25 of Two Writing Teachers' March Slice of Life Story Challenge

March Musings 25: Celebration Countdown

Weekends are meant for celebrating.

Since my husband's background is mathematical (finance and accounting)and it's his milestone birthday, I created an algebraic formula to celebrate the good life.

x + y= z 
family + grandchild on the way = happiness for years to come

Happy Moment Countdown

1st Night
Traveling to Reston, Virginia

2nd Day  Afternoon
Shopping (thinking pink) and having lunch at Mexican Restaurant 
(Tysons Corner Center Mall)
2nd Day Evening
Relaxing at my daughter and son-in-law's new house over salmon dinner
 
3rd Day Morning
Best Breakfast Around

3rd Day Afternoon
Cherry Blossom Sightings

Choosing the Right Cake
 for 3rd Celebration

Listening to the Woodpecker, watching the chipmunk, and enjoying nature
(all sights not seen on Long Island)

3rd Day Evening

Birthday Dinner at Dante's Italian Restaurant in Great Falls, Virginia

Cake Reveal

4th Day and 5th Day

More to Come...

Here's to a full weekend of Celebrations!

Today I am celebrating with Ruth Ayres at Celebrate This Week and the March Slice of Life Story Challenge with Two Writing Teachers. This is my twenty-fifth posting in a series titled March Musings .

News: My Winter Wonder Gallery is still under construction.