Thanks to all who wished me a Happy Birthday here and on Twitter yesterday. Those of you who follow me there may have seen that I was having a bit of a rocky day, full of tears.

October is always a tight time of year, and we always say I’ll get something more for my birthday later, but it never seems to happen because at the end of this month is our youngest’s birthday and after that we have to start buying for Christmas. I always tell myself though, that it’s not about the gifts. It’s really not about the gifts or how much money there is to spend on them.

I have a beautiful family and we work hard to have what we have. It’s enough. I’d just like a bit of pampering on my day, you know? No dishes to do—and that doesn’t mean saving them for me to do the next day either. No scolding of children for things they know they shouldn’t do.

On top of all that I’ve been PMSing for over a week. Hormones suck. Gee thanks Mother Nature.

But each post of “Happy Birthday” lifted my spirits and brought a smile to my face. Money is tight around here—as it is everywhere these days. I had to use my birthday money from my mother to buy groceries earlier this week. Nobody tell her, though. It’ll make her mad.

My sister-in-law, Pascha, and her husband and kids came over last night and we all had dinner, cake and ice cream. I opened a couple of gifts. Then when they went home they took the kids with them for the night. They’ll be back later this afternoon in time to eat dinner together again and we’ll all watch our Oklahoma State Cowboys play Missouri.

I think the greatest gift I had yesterday was a comment from Raehan. She reminded me that I have accomplished a lot this year. Yes, I’m extending my research on my thesis into next semester. But I’m so close to being finished. I’ve returned to work in the Museum Profession. Even with all the wonkiness that goes with working under a Board of Trustees and for a non-profit—I effing love it.

And one other thing. I’ve lost a total of 40 lbs from where I was this time last year. I lost 30 over the summer and I’ve been yo-yoing within a single ten pound range for the last several months, but I have not given up. I have joined the YMCA and I go work out several times a week most weeks. I make more healthy choices than bad ones, and that’s keeping me from gaining that 40 lbs back.

You know what? When I turn 36, I will have doubled that lost, if not tripled it.

That’s the greatest gift I’ll ever get. And I will have given it to myself.

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