Saturday, January 12, 2008

"Well, it's my birthday too -- yeah"

Hidden behind all those trees are the houses I grew up in. On the left is the house where my dad was born, where my grandparents lived when I was growing up. On the right is the house where my family lived. A dad & mom & 4 girls - a very "50's" type of family. It was a good place to grow up.

My grandma kept a daily diary - (I suppose you could call her an "early blogger") Every year, she would get a date book from her insurance company - it would have from six lines to 1/2 page for each day. And each day, she would write - about the weather, how many eggs they got that day, and short bits of "personal" info - "ordered seeds for next summer's garden" - "Wallace & Viola (my uncle and aunt) were by for supper" or "Went to Garden Club at Ida's today"

When we cleaned out her attic after she and my parents had all passed away, we found boxes of these yearly date books. I was most interested in finding the 1952 book. What would she have said about my birth?

Well, there it was - January 12, -(a RED LETTER day, you know) and there I was - sandwiched in between the weather and a Pamona Grange meeting. "Reid took Glennie to the hospital today. She had a baby girl. They are going to call her Tina" What? That's all? Yup. My grandma was not one to "wax poetically".

And here I am 56 years later. I got flowers from The Shepherd at work today. I brought them home so I could enjoy them over the weekend - and this afternoon, our good friend Diane brought me a lovely piece of Tiramisu cake with a candle in it. Since neither my office mate or The Shepherd like coffee flavored things, I had to eat it all myself. Ha, Ha. The Shepherd and I always take the other out to dinner for our birthday - we're going to The Black Angus this year. (Actually, if we had an Outback Steakhouse in town, that might be where I'd pick, but the closest one is 30 miles away in Burlington - so the Black Angus will do just fine.)

What? You forgot to get me a gift - well check out our On-Line Auction to benefit the Black Sheep Creamery. You are sure to find just the right special item - (OK, I was just kidding - it was simply a shameless plug for our auction)



"You say it's your birthday
Well it's my birthday too--yeah
You say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you"



(The Family Shrine, as we call it - my picture is the girl in the green dress

And we are ever indebted to John Lennon & Paul McCartney (yes, the one who was in the other band before he was in WINGS) for one of the most rockin' birthday songs around.

10 comments:

vlb5757 said...

Happy Birthday Tina! That was a really sweet story about your grandmother. I know you will cherish that book forever. How's the spinning going?

Nancy K. said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Kathy said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Dear Friend, Tina!!!!! YAY!!!!

(And I am grateful for you, my friend, testing that 56-year-old-water first!!! ROFLMAO!!!!!! (I know, I know...my turn is coming up fast!)

And tell The Shepherd I said he's got to be extra good to you today! :)

Crosswinds Farm said...

Happy Birthday Tina! Have a wonderful day!

Leigh said...

That is so interesting about your grandmother's diary. Happy Birthday!

Catzee said...

Haf a purry happy Birfday!

Rascal said...

Happy Birthday Tina! Purrs and tail hugs!

Michelle said...

And many, many more!

MISS PEACH ~(^.^)~ said...

Dearest Tina! I have spent the past four hours reading the Black Sheep Cremery Musings....i am just speechless...totally. I will have to sleep on this before I can think clear but I wanted to wish you a happy day tomorrow brcause today is over and so is your birthday. I hope the dinner out was devine. Thank you for popping in to the baby shower. I was proud that you said you were my friend! I have a bracelet design in mind for the auction I will hold on my blog for the Black Sheep Shepards. Kitties care very much for sheep! God first sent his angels to the shepards in their fields as the lay...
I sit here tonight in my cozy little candle lit parlor and count my many blessing, with Miss Peach by my side. I hope to hide my weaknesses from myself and charge onward into each new day...thinking of others makes them go away for the moment.
Your Grandmother kept a journal like I did as a child. Each year I would get one from the bank just like hers:) when I lived in Germany. Ahhhh the memories..
Happy Sunday and I will let you know when the auction is posted.
Love from pasco...

I need orange said...

Happy Birthday from someone who shares your birth year!

You are way older than me, though -- my birthday isn't until March!

lol