Today is my niece Bess's 5th birthday. So much in my life and in the world has changed in 5 years; it makes it seem like Bess has always been here. But at the same time, I think, wow, my baby niece is 5 ( Read more... )

This is the entire text of the birthday email I got from my dad last month. He is a man of few words. I keep going back and looking at this email because it cracks me up every time. Here it is:

Dear Meg,
Hope you had a happy 33rd. I remember sitting in the operating room during Nan's caesarian. They took you out and handed you to me.
Love,
Dad

Yesterday was quite a lovely birthday indeed. We hiked in a place I'd never been, called Sauvie Island. I love how Portland is this big city with big city things and then you can go just a few minutes outside of downtown and suddenly you're deep in the woods. It's one of my many favorite things about living here. The hike is along the Columbia ( Read more... )

I'm not to the point yet where getting older myself is a concern, but the indirect implications are what bother me. I'm a couple hours away from 30 now, and as the baby of my family, to turn over another decade feels like the whole family gets pushed older, you know? Mom and Dad are 40+ years older than me. If I'm 30, they're 70something. My ( Read more... )

I'm a couple weeks behind schedule here, and I'm very sorry about that, but since you probably won't read this until years down the road if ever at all, I'm going to give myself a pass on the lateness. Apologies, though ( Read more... )

It's so cliche to say this, but I'll say it anyway because it's true -- I can't believe how fast you are growing up! Francesca Leslie Massie, you are FIVE years old today! I was there when you were five HOURS old! And it doesn't seem like it was that long ago!

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I am full of ideas today.  Here's one I want all my friends in on ( Read more... )

If I were on the east coast, I'd be 28 by now.  A bunch of my friends in Virginia have already sent their wishes, which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.  I don't think birthdays are a big deal, really, and I certainly don't want anyone to bend over backwards or spend money on mine, but I do really love them.

Gail and I watched Swedish Auto ( Read more... )