The lovely mornings continue. Today is bright, sunny. We have a breeze, a strong breeze. I can hear the chimes from my backyard. I can feel the breeze from the back door. According to the weather, we can expect light rain. That seems improbable given the sun and blue sky.
I was born in the wee hours of the morning. My father, never a patient man, left the hospital a few times before I was born to go to my grandparent’s house in the same town as the hospital to give updates. That infuriate my aunt. She was getting married that day and needed her sleep so she told my father not to come back. He did anyway. He was pacing in the hospital waiting room when the nurse came in to tell him I had been born. He said she ask for Mr. Ryan. Given that he was the only one in the waiting room, he got a bit exasperated. When he first saw me, my mother and I were just being wheeled out of the operating room. He kept asking her if it was a boy or girl. My mother remembers wearing her wedding corsage on her robe when she was still in the hospital. My aunt never liked we shared the day especially when I reminded her I was born before she got married so it was more my day than hers.
I used to wonder how it felt to be old. I can now attest I feel no different than I did when I was young. The surprise comes when I look in the mirror and see an old woman with a wrinkled face. I know. I know. Old is relative. I always hear that from old people. It is supposed to be comforting.
My sister sent money and said I was not to use it to pay bills so I’ll treat myself to Chinese food. It has been a long while since I last had it. I’m thinking jumbo shrimp for one appetizer and maybe crab Rangoon. Lo mein is always a good choice. I can almost taste it now. I always use the hot mustard. I remember my father used to put so much mustard on his Chinese food his eyes watered and his nose ran. Luckily he always had a handkerchief at hand. I don’t use as much, just enough for watery eyes!
Today I celebrate!


