44 Years Today...

 

44th birthday today.

I feels a bit surreal that I am 44.

For a pandemic birthday it was, overall, quite good.

I woke up early (I had an early zoom meeting a bit after 9 AM)

and put on a nice going-to-town outfit, did my makeup,

(I don't wear makeup everyday, more like for special occasions,

though going to NYC usually warrants that every time, LOL) 

and I had a nice cranberry muffin and a new Birthday tea that I had

picked out for myself at the Dutch store in Grand Rapids MI 

back in late summer when we were so BLESSED to visit family...

After the meeting, I went by cab to NYC.

There I went first to TJ Maxx (found some cute clearance priced

stationary and some useful cloth masks with wire by nose and beads to 

adjust the ear elastic, with a little case to keep them in) and then

I went to Marshalls and found not one but TWO very beautiful white 

pottery trays, made in Portugal! I was thrilled.  

I have been looking for some bigger all-white pottery trays for years,

esp for this time of year when my main table is white for Christmas... 

so that was super exciting!  

Then I went to Michael's to get (found made-in-USA!) paper plates for 

dinner (found both dinner and dessert sized!) ... it was my Husband's 

solution to my not doing the dishes...and it made it feel like a party

when we had dinner tonight!

I found two wool beret hats from a Street Vendor 

(I call these items New York Specials) which is great

as I had really wanted a cream one for Christmas time and the one I 

ordered was too small and I did not know that I could get one ordered before

January Christmas... 

Then I cabbed to Tea and Sympathy and had the

vegetarian breakfast and then went shopping at their store...

got some decaf PG Tips black tea, the cutest mug from/made for Whittards, 

a nice new Tea and Sympathy bag and their scone mix... and some other surprises...

Then to Trader Joe's (amazingly got 2 things, a bottle of Kombucha and a bottle

of olive oil as I had opened my last bottle this past week!)...

I then realized that the street vendor may have gloves, and I was hoping to get 

some more as I wanted a second pair for my jean jacket that I often wear 

while walking (I had a thin pair but not a thick pair and kept borrowing

my long wool red jacket's red warm/thick gloves and then not having them

when wearing the red jacket!) ... so that was super great!

Then the dentist... thank God it went really well and I have a nice good

filling in the back again.

It's sore now but was not then and I am so thankful! 

Then I cabbed home,

this time wearing not just a double mask but a face shield as well,

as the car did not have any sort of partition between the driver and myself.

Such is life in a pandemic. 

After this I quickly got the stickers off my two new white pottery trays

and washed them with very hot soapy water so I could use them!

I also washed my new mug so I could use that!

Mr Husband and I had already chosen various take out dishes for

my birthday, his name's day (tomorrow), and some, we hope,

for the day after as well!

So we had a real variety of fun foods to eat tonight and more to try tomorrow!

I video called my sister and niece and they watched me blow out 

my cinnamon roll 'cake' (since I never had time to bake myself one LOL)

and hung out with us while we ate our dinner.

It was super fun.

My newly four year old niece first asked if we lived near Oma and Opa

(my parents) and when she heard we did not, she asked if I could

mail her the rest of the cinnamon rolls in a box... she asked a few times LOL...

She is always very interested in everything I eat and about things in the kitchen... 

I've already gotten her 3 cookbooks :) (for kids)

I am so happy about the beautiful (perfectly creamed coloured) white tray

for my teapot and things... I have some wonderful plastic trays that I love

but they did not match my white Christmas table cloth... so I was thrilled

to finally find ones that did! 

I got surprise birthday gifts of tea, a super cool bookmark and a book,

plus cute poem cards from my Husband and

I got (I choose myself) the Romanian shirt that I hope to wear for Pascha

(or the day after) and also a lovely floral scented candle...and this morning

the tea I had for breakfast... 

Well, that was my day.

Boy am I tired now...and tomorrow I need to find a card for my 

Husband's name's day! I already wrapped a gift, thankfully :)

***

My Mom said it best, 

that it is really important to look for everything we are thankful for.

So while I was not home for my birthday, and my Husband could not join me for lunch,

like he would have if he was working in the City as he used to pre-pandemic, 

I had a really great day and was showered with blessings.

I am so greatful.

***

May God have mercy on us, protect us, help us and save us!