A new gal was getting her hair done down to Hair Affair a couple weeks ago. Merry just moved to Mahoosuc Mills, and was lucky enough to get an appointment with Pasty. (She must know someone.) So we’re gabbing like you do at the hair dressers. At one point, Merry was talking about how she lost someone dear to her (she didn’t share who). “I feel sad every once and awhile, sure,” Merry says. “But I made a decision to honor her by packing as much joy as possible into my life.”
Wow, I’m thinking. What a great way to look at things! I’m taking that and running with it. It’s 
my birthday month. I like stretching the celebration out as long as I can, so that’ll get me off to a good start.
My actual birthday was yesterday. Every once and awhile my special day falls directly on Mother’s Day, like this year. Mother’s Day used to be wonderful when I was a kid. My sister Irene’s birthday is two weeks after mine. So, we’d celebrate the two birthdays and Mother’s Day all at once, with two cakes and presents. We’d buy my Dad presents, too, so he wouldn’t feel left out. Mother’s Day was like a mini-Christmas in our family.
Now having a Mother’s Day birthday is not quite so much fun. My mom’s been gone for over fifteen years now, but it seems like she left us just yesterday and a million years ago. When I start missing my mom, I think about how lucky I was to have to have such a wonderful mother.
So following Merry’s lead, I had a joy filled weekend. Saturday, me and the Women Who Run With the Moose went to the New You Spa. Get this: they chipped in and got me a hot stone massage. OMG! It was so good, I felt like having a cigarette after, and I don’t even smoke!
Then, we had lunch at the Olive Garden and did a little shopping. I got a couple of cute dresses at the Fashion Barn. After, we had to stop at the DQ, you know, to keep up our strength! I had a Peanut Buster Parfait, but you probably already guessed that. Me and Peanut Buster can’t seem to get enough of each other!
That night, Charlie and me went to the Bean Supper down to the Congo Church. It’s the best one around. And, I was lucky enough to score a piece of peanut butter pie. Those are always the first to go, so I was a happy birthday girl.
Why stop there? So, yesterday, we went down to the Busy Bee for breakfast: Babe’s homemade cinnamon rolls with Maple icing and a side of bacon, of course. I spent the rest of the day in the Barkalounger with Scamp, popcorn, and a movie sized box of Junior Mints watching a couple of ROM-COM’s on Netflix. Last night, Charlie and me got all gussied up and went to the Sky Lodge for dinner. It’s more expensive than our usual haunts, but heck, I’m worth it.
This morning, I have a joy hangover and am feeling stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey. Too much sugar and, yes, I probably shouldn’t have had that S’mores Pudding Shot for dessert, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.
So Merry, if you’re out there, just know that you were the one to get all this “merriment” going. And there are still two more weeks left in my birthday month. I’m up for the challenge and ready to go the distance. My plan is to cram as much joy in as possible into this month. And I may not stop at the end of May!
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: Birthday Bliss
Summer Preview
June 2: Ida Comic Relief and MC for National Cancer Survivor Day, Living Well Center, 2:00pm, York, ME
June 17: The Moose in Me, the Moose in You!, Sable Lodge Retirement Community, 7:00pm, South Portland, ME
July 12: Makin’ Whoopie, Deertrees Theatre, 7:30pm, Harrison, ME
July 25: Book Reading, North Gorham Library, 7:00pm, Gorham, ME
August 22: The Best of Ida, ACT ONE Summer Festival, 2:00 & 7:30pm, Portsmouth, NH
August 24: The Best of Ida, Celebration Barn Theatre, 7:30pm, South Paris, ME
August 29: The Best of Ida, ACT ONE Summer Festival, 2:00 & 7:30pm, Portsmouth, NH
Check out my full schedule here.
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