Did you do something special?

I had a birthday last week and the day after, everyone who knew I’d had one, asked me,

“Did you do anything special?”

Yes.  I did.

As soon as I got up, I grabbed my camera as well as my phone, bundled up, and set off for the park.  There’s nothing especially amazing there right now, except the beauty of nature’s changing seasons, the joy of being outside and away of “civilization” to some extent, the conversations of the birds, the sun shining through…  You get the idea.  I didn’t have a time frame and I spent quite a long time in quiet enjoyment and refreshment.

I got a free venti (the big size) mocha at Starbucks because I have a card with them (not a credit card) and that means a free drink every birthday.  I used to have the entire month of March in which to redeem it, but now it’s down to five days.  But it’s free, so I don’t mind.  I also have a free drink coming at Peet’s (sort of the same deal), but it’s good until the 29th, so I’m saving that for next week or so.

My husband and I went to a little Chinese restaurant in the town next door that used to do their own dim sum.  Did you catch the past tense there? Used to?  Dim sum, by the way, is somewhat like Chinese tapas or small plates, or brunch, even though you might get it most of the day.  Anyway, they no longer serve dim sum, but have become a “regular” Chinese restaurant that we’d love to have close enough to be our go-to inexpensive Chinese restaurant.  Alas, but I love Singapore mai fun, a curried dish with skinny rice noodles and other goodies, so I had no problem deciding on what else to get.  For some reason, they don’t serve pork (Jewish Chinese people?  :-), so I had tofu, which was lovely and crispy on the outside.  Delish and we once again experienced the mystery of how much leftover or takeout food can be put into one container!!  Must be a Chinese secret of some sort.

After praise team practice in the evening, we all went out to a local place we like for a drink.  Drinks or food shared with friends are at least twice as good and maybe more.  My husband bought a lovely bottle Chateauneuf-du-Pape which we shared.  Chateauneuf-du-Pape (“the new chateau/castle of the Pope”) is a town, a region, and wine produced in that region, one we visited some years ago.  SO good.  The history’s also interesting, so if you have a moment more, click on the link to read about it.

I’m channeling Dan in my head now, thinking that my post is too long, so I’m going to stop.  Did I do anything special?  You bet I did, at least by my standards even if not by those of the world. What do they know anyway?  I spent time with my husband, with friends, and in nature, enjoyed good food and drink.  But there was one more thing that made the day actually hit the “amazing” level.  More on that in another post.  🙂