With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come. ~ William Shakespeare

My mother groaned, my father wept, into the dangerous world I leapt;
helpless, naked, piping loud, like a fiend hid in a cloud. ~ William Blake

It would not be my birthday without a wake up call from my dog at 4:40 this morning to tell me there is a cat outside he wants to chase and to please let him out. I threatened to wake up Anjin if he persisted and so he curled back into his bed and settled down. It was about an hour later when my cat decided it was time I get up. After all, it must be work day right? I explained to him that I had no where to go and could he please stop pulling the covers off and let me sleep? It's my birthday after all. No such luck. The mewing got louder, the dog stirred again and up I got. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Birthday Meme

1. What is your favorite birthday cake?

It has been a long time since I have indulged in my favorite birthday cake. Not since I was a child really. My mother would often ask me what type of cake I wanted for my birthday, and it was not a difficult choice. Angel food, of course! And so it would be. I remember one year my mother made this gorgeous doll cake, the dark haired doll standing tall, with her skirt ballooning out over the angel food cake. The best tasting cake though was the one I had later in my childhood, an angel food cake with fudge frosting dribbled all over the top. Mmmm.

My husband and I, early in our marriage, went through an ice cream cake phase, where each year we would get each other ice cream cakes for our birthdays. His was easy because his favorite ice cream never changed. Mine was a bit tougher because I always seem to have trouble settling on favorite anythings, be it an ice cream flavor, color, song or time of day.

2. What has been the best gift you have ever received?

In the early years of my relationship with my husband, before we were married, he presented me with a box, much the kind you might find a piece of clothing in. Nestled inside were several books--his own books. It was about that time that Anjin had introduced me to one of his favorite genres, and I had taken a special interest in a particular series he had read. His gift was especially meaningful to me because of what it represented. As many of you know, my husband does not part easily with his books and for him to give me several of his own . . . Well, that meant more to me than any other gift he could have given me. He not only gave me the gift of books, which as we all know is a booklover's dream, but he gave me a part of himself.

3. How did you spend your favorite birthday?

Oh dear! I am not very good at remembering details like this. The ones that stand out are the traveling birthdays. One year my husband and I spent a week in Las Vegas, Nevada, touring the city and surrounding area. Neither one of us cares for gambling, but I do enjoy a show now and then. We went to see Celine Dion perform that week and Mama Mia, which I fell in love with. That was also the vacation when I found my cross. Growing up, I had a cross which I wore almost faithfully, a gift from my maternal grandparents. Somehow, I lost that cross and had been searching for a replacement for years. I finally found one in a store in Las Vegas. I do not ask for much in the way of jewelry--it's not my thing--but this cross was exactly what I had been looking for. It was expensive, but Anjin and I talked it over and it came home with us.

Another of my favorite birthdays was our road trip through the Southwestern United States. We hit the road beginning at home in California, drove through Nevada, into Utah, through Colorado, coming home by way of New Mexico and Arizona. We had so much fun! Even the stop at the emergency room in Albuquerque was not enough to ruin our trip.

4. Do you make birthday wishes?

When I have candles to blow out, absolutely! It's been a while since I had that opportunity though.

5. Has a wish ever come true?

For many years I wished for one thing in particular, over and over again. It's yet to come true, and I doubt it ever well. The wish is a little bigger than I think human kind can manage.

Then there were my wishes for a kiss from my husband, the kind I knew would come true.

Any others, I am afraid I do not remember.

Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. ~ Jack Benny