They say it's your birthday...

[shiredancer]

And a very happy, wonderful, Billeh-full birthday to dear magickalmolly!!! It seems there are several LJ-ers with a birthday today, according to my flist -- Crapicorns rule! Even though we're at the very cusp of it all... it makes for a better Crapicorn, you know?

And of course, it is my birthday too. Did the universe put me in my place today? It did, indeed. I worked very hard to have everything ready for the graduate committee's meeting today. I stayed late (normally this is my leave-at-2:30 early day, but I left at almost 4) and with Kidlet at a call-back audition for her school's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (*not* one of my favorite musicals, BTW), I thought that I would escape to the beach for the Reading of the Birthday Poem. I had forgotten all about it, as I nearly forgot all about the birthday, until linaelyn reminded me of it.

So I sat in my car and took off my boots and wriggled out of my pantyhose (discreetly), and prepared to walk barefoot to the beach on the far side of campus. Oh, better turn on the cell in case Kidlet gets out early... *rinnngggg* (Or, more accurately, *skirrrrlllll* -- for my cell plays bagpipes.) Peter: "Kidlet's been out for half an hour and trying to reach you... you need to pick her up." Oh, damn and blast. So much for beachside poetry readings. And so the duties of motherhood overtook the aesthetics of birthdaygirlhood, and I was off and running.

I did get a piece of chocolate cake for dessert. And Peter did present me with a gift of some CDs, soundtracks from the TV show Alias (which has some very cool music). And just now, with the family asleep and the fire and some candles lit, I read my poem alone and in near darkness, at last. I looked out at the stars and thought about walking outside to read it, but dark, you know? And firelight is good and mysterious and has its own rewards.

"It was my fifty-second year to heaven... O may my heart's truth
Still be sung
On this high hill in a year's turning."

Comments

[linaelyn.livejournal.com]

This post brought tears to my eyes.

OUr daughters will only be calling us to pick them up for a few more years. But we've taught them well. When we're the ones calling to be picked up, they'll each remember to turn on their cell phones.

And your Holiday card arrived today. :-) Sweeter for the out-of-time-ness of its arrival, and also for its arrival on the first day of your fifty-second year to heaven...

Firelight is good.

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

*Hugs* Yes, firelight is verrah good.

I too sense the fleetingness of time, and though I may sometimes grumble, I am mostly grateful for the momminess of things right now. I'm really enjoying the first months of Claire's teenhood -- it's a joy. I know it will be so with your girls, too.

Ah, it's tomorrow -- the birthday's over! Today is Inkling's day.

*grin*

[linaelyn.livejournal.com]

The Birthday goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began
Now far ahead the Birthday has gone,
And we must follow, if we can.

Pursuing it with eager feet
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet
And whither then?

I cannot say.
~~~~~~

inkling's been terribly quiet of late. I've been trying to give her her peace, but it's been almost a week, so now I'm worriting, just on principle. Though her last post is a likely explanation.

Re: *grin*

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

LOL -- re the poem!

And when we send our good wishes today, perhaps it will draw our Inkling out.

[maaaaa.livejournal.com]

Happy Belated Birthday to you, m'dear! I love how Life, the Universe and Everything always decides to have Its own way with us, no matter the day. *g*

I smiled when I read that your daughter auditioned for Joseph..., as it's one of *my* favorite musicals, and then laughed when you noted it's not one of *your* favorites. LOL

Your cellphone plays bagpipes?!? How cool!...I love bagpipes.

Ahhhh...chocolate cake. *g*

What a lovely post. I wish you another year of happiness and good health.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, thank you, sweetie! One of my gifts was reading that *very* nice story of yours at Sentinel Thursday (you may have seen the comment I left).

Yeah, my cellphone has "Scotland the Brave" on bagpipes as its ringer -- I love it! I think it's downloadable somewhere. And hee, I know verrah well how much you love Scotland, and Scottish settings for stories!

*Hugs*

[maaaaa.livejournal.com]

And hee, I know verrah well how much you love Scotland, and Scottish settings for stories!

Oh my yes...and I know how much you love that I love the Highlands as a setting.

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

D'oh! That was me replying of course -- thought I was logged in *looks cross-eyed at LJ* Hey, didn't you do this same thing yesterday, or was that somebody else?

[maaaaa.livejournal.com]

Yup...that was me...I responded to 3 comments at Sentinel Thursday before I realized I wasn't logged in under my username. But, I'm older than *you*, so that's my excuse. LOL

Which reminds me...I haven't responded to your comment over there; I'll have to trot back over. *g*

[magickalmolly.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday, Sally! I love sharing my special day with such an amazing lady. I want to be like you when I grow up. :D

♥!

[(Anonymous)]

*Smooch* Thanks, honey! Awwww, youse guys have got it all wrong -- you should want to be like *Lin* when you grow up! She's got a much better grasp on it all.

Hope you had a great day!

*Hugs*

[(Anonymous)]

*facepalms* That was me replying anonymously -- thought I was logged in... *dork*

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

*really hard headdesk* And so I just did it *again*! Have I got it right this time? *looks fearfully at LJ*

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday, well, a day late but still! If I'd known it was your birthday, I would have posted a card to you. Well, I'll know for next year.

::hugs:: I hope you had a wonderful time reading by firelight, and that you enjoyed your day despite not getting to read by the beach. Here's to a wonderful 363 days to come (I am a day late!).

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you, m'dear! Considering how late I was with holiday cards, I think a day late with a birthday greeting is *quite* forgivable. I'm lousy at keeping up with birthdays, myself *hangs head in shame*. Perhaps this is the year I'll do better...

Yes, it was a nice day after all. The poem is "Poem in October" by Dylan Thomas (you can google it online and get a nice printable version), and it's really wonderful. *Big hugs*

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

Erm, that was me replying above -- thought I was logged in *blush*.

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

Hee! I guessed! :oD I'm going to go Google that poem now to read it.

Btw, in case you're interested, I posted two LotR stories on my LJ yesterday. I wrote them a while ago but they were only posted on a LotR forum that's now defunct. Anyway, if you'd like to read them, they went up on my LJ on your birthday. :oD

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I saw that! I haven't had a chance to read them yet, but I intend to. I've not read any LOTR in a looooong time. I'll comment when I read... thanks!

[eve-took.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday, dear. *hugs*

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you, sweetie! *Blushes* I'm afraid I forgot your birthday, so... A Very Happy Belated Birthday to you, too! *throws confetti*

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

D'oh, thought I was logged in... that was me, in case you couldn't tell...

[nonniemous.livejournal.com]

Many, many happy returns of your special day! I love that poem; it was so special when you read it out to us two years ago. {{{{shiredancer}}} Wish I was there to hand out your hugs in person this year, too!

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

*Smooch* Thanks, sweetie. And today is *your* day! I shall post thusly, anon. ((((klostes))))