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

[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!