Seasoning

A Sunday thought

Let me start with an apology: I sent you a column yesterday where I let occasional exchanges with my husband and either the Notre Dame-Stanford or Texas-Oklahoma games in the background override my spell-checking. You deserve better than that. I failed proof-reading (twice) while I excelled at more multi-tasking than I realized I was doing. I regret this.

So, I am up early this morning because we have a busy day of celebrating ahead, one for which I want to be fully engaged while I owe you my full attention as well. One of us has a birthday. It’s not one of them that ends in a 0 or a 5 which are BIG birthdays in our private lingo but at our ages, after the pandemic, and as we have both become more seasoned (it really does sound less drastic that way, doesn’t it?), we recognize every birthday merits real pause to appreciate while celebrating with at least the generations behind us.

Actually, every single day deserves celebrating but everyone has a busy life so let’s go with the possible rather than the perfect, eh?

For several years, bloody COVID years excepted, we have had a party out at a local establishment. Our condominium has a beautiful view but simply doesn’t accommodate a sit down meal for more too many. The celebrant announced immediately following a fabulous gathering last year that we would have cake and ice cream for kids and grans until the next big one so we are delivering that wish today.

A birthday event once a year allows us a guaranteed, dedicated moment to consider the luxury of life well-lived so far. Four amazing grandchildren, one who arrived only in May, continue as a source of amazement, joy, and headshaking at what these kids already know at their tender ages. Who expects to hear about “niches” and “being psyched” from a six or seven year old? How about one patiently, deliberately explaining how you could improve your fiction writing? What about the one who pulls out the chess set upon which he has obviously given a great deal of thought when you are the experienced player?

Other family members are equally remarkable for the shared experiences and range of interests and skills. Each retells memories of how unique you have been in each of their lives. These are conversations replete with love, gratitude, and aspirations. Of course there are other family members who can’t make it but they are attending in spirit, every time we mark these joyous occasions.

Our Annapolis life is remarkable for its simplicity and beauty every day but these specific events remind us of how important our actions have been in the lives of others and theirs for us. This sounds so obvious but in today’s hectic and distanced lives, these days recalibrate us for another year. They remind us who we are and where we have been—and where we are yet still going.

The simple act sharing of cake (chocolate by popular demand) and ice cream are more cherished in this house than winning the Nobel Prize because nothing more than what we have today is ever guaranteed. Nor is anything else really needed. Life is too short to squander by under appreciating the gift of time over shared sweets, creating a lifetime of memories.

Actions create consequences.

Thank you for reading Actions today. I welcome hearing your birthday traditions or anything else you care to share. Please share this if you find it of value.

Be well and be safe. FIN