joy: week 19

birthdays and gifts

I love birthdays. I love celebrating my friends and family making it another year. I love celebrating their lives, making them feel special on their day. And despite my trepidation about aging, I do love my birthday. It’s a good time to reflect and take stock of what you have and what you’ve lost and what you’ve gained.

This year felt very subdued, though. I wasn’t that excited about my birthday for various reasons, mostly because I’ve been in sort of a funk I haven’t been able to shake. I spent Friday at home, doing nothing, which was exactly what I wanted. I read, I listened to music, I got high, I worked on my jigsaw puzzle. It was a pleasant, if low key, kind of day. Saturday I went to my parents’ house for dinner, where my mom had made eggplant parm (my favorite) and spaghetti, and we had cake, and I got presents. Again, low key, but very nice.

Speaking of gifts, look what my kids got me.

I’d been eyeing this for a while - it’s an original pressing - but I didn’t pull the trigger on it because I felt guilty spending that much money on one record. But Natalie and Daniel came through and when I opened it up, I played it immediately. It sounded so good, and I was so appreciative of this gift. I can’t wait until next week when I get to play it on my [Don Pardo voice] MY NEW TURNTABLE.

I did something very unlike me and totally splurged on myself as a birthday/retirement present for me. I figure if I’m going to be home a lot listening to music, it should sound great. So I got this U-Turn Orbit turntable, and a new set of nice speakers and I’m all set. I so very rarely treat myself to big things and this might be my last opportunity to do so for a long time, so here we go. I’m very excited to get this all hooked up. Shout out to my friend John for walking me through the buying process.

Sometimes you bring your own joy. I bought four notebooks this week to help me in my efforts to get organized and get stuff done when I’m retired. I have started using them already and it’s really helping! Marking things off the to-do list, adding things the Big Ideas book, jotting down fun things I want to do and then actually doing them - it’s all a form of joy.

So that was my week in joy. I turned 61 and while that number may not spark the joy I am always looking for, the fact that people went out of my way to make my day special, that friends and family took the time to wish me a happy day and made me feel loved and cherished, that all helps me overlook the fact that I just turned old.

I hope you had a wonderful week and the week ahead - the last of true summer - is joyful for you.