Wednesday, July 08, 2009

happy birthday to me


Happy birthday to me...I don't know what I thought 41 would be like...I don't feel 41. I don't look 41. Though I do notice a bit more gray, a few more 'cracks' (as Will called them) around my forehead where I scrunch it. Midlife is not at all what I imagined way back when I thought 41 was OLD. I guess two kids under six will keep you young.

I look back at my teen years: always being the good girl, getting good grades, making it into OU. In my twenties, I was still the people pleaser. Now I was just pleasing my principal and fellow teachers. It took me a year or two to learn to say "NO" to various things I was volunteered to do.

I got married when I was 30. We moved from Oklahoma to Alaska, leaving everything I had ever known. Thank goodness for the good friends we made there. I also had two babies in two years. Now that will make life interesting. It was then that I finally learned to stop trying to please everybody.

I also figured out I might not ever fit back into those pre-baby clothes. My body is definitely curvier in places it didn't used to be curvy. But I can find and wear clothes that fit my body and look good. Clinton and Stacy (from What Not to Wear) are fountains of info! A good under garment (as Stacy and Clinton would say) is not something to skimp.

So, slowly, over the past years I have learned to realize while I might not be perfect, I am alright and I have some great bras!

Here’s what I want you to do for my birthday. Send someone an e-mail and tell them how much you appreciate them, or love them. Do it right now. Then tell me about it in the comments. That’s what I want. It’s my birthday so you have to do it.




PS, these cupcakes are definitely in my future. Here is the recipe

13 comments:

IamDerby said...

Have a very happy birthday Tommie! I sent my hubby an email telling him he rocks. He just finished laying floor in our house and appreciate it so much!

Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander said...

Happy Birthday Tommie! I emailed Tucker's mother Karen and gave her praise for doing so well in such a hard time.

We all deserve a little appreciation. :)

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAY WISHES MY FRIEND!

*raises glass*

J said...

have a very happy birthday!!!

Mary Alice said...

Happy Birthday. I'm sending my friend Corry an e-mail right now!

Dea Felis said...

Thanks for the push Tommie. :) I have been meaning to send a card to an older friend "just because" for a couple of weeks now and just hadn't written it out. It's written and ready to be mailed now. :)

Brandt! said...

Happy birthday tommie!!

Joanna said...

Happy Birthday!! You certainly don't look 41 you hot thing.

gina said...

Happy Birthday!!!

Unknown said...

I hope you had a great one! You look mah-vel-ous! LOL

I am so with you on What Not to Wear. I want to go on the show if only to have them dress me. ;-)


I emailed an old friend and caught up with her, telling her how much I appreciated her friendship when I needed it the most. :-)

Corey~living and loving said...

Happy late birthday.

I really enjoyed this post. well written.

I just texted my cousin and told her I love her. I have never done that before. :) thanks for the inspiration.

tavolini said...

Happy Birthday Tommie!! Hope you had an excellent one :)

Janet said...

Happy VERY belated birthday! And I did what you asked, and told someone I both loved AND appreciated them...but you know, I appreciate you, too, even though I haven't been around lately. Hope you had a fantastic day :)