Happy Half

I survived my birthday. Three times I survived it. Once at work. Again with teammates. One more time in a park with a good friend and the dogs.

I already talked about the work birthday in an earlier post. I worked to make it unique and it was.

The second birthday happened Memorial Day weekend at a flyball tournament. My teammates decorated our crating area with a Hawaiian theme, provided some fairly loaded jungle juice, and cake. They gave me wonderful gifts of T-shirts celebrating my dogs, a beautiful wrist watch, and wonderful humorous cards.

My dog finally received the awesome Grand Champion plaque that he earned last fall. When his name was announced he received the loudest applause for all the dogs in his category. As a bonus my teammate dragged me in front of everyone and had them sing the dreaded birthday song. While it was a bit embarrassing, I survived it without crying, getting angry, or feeling sorry for myself. I was thankful for the acknowledgement.

Running a team of dog handlers is never simple. I don't expect a ton of wins considering the dogs we have, but I do expect them to work together, support the dogs, and pay attention. Sometimes I can be pretty tough on them when it's all falling apart. In spite of those moments, I love them! I have been with other clubs and other players. It was fun, and they weren't MY team. While they certainly gave me a little bit of hard time, I was honored and it was awesome.

The bonus triple header was provided by very unique friend who couldn't make it to the tournament. (An "I'll make it up to you" opportunity. ) She's a very busy person with more irons in the fire than anyone I know. She wanted to take me on a picnic but of course lots of "stuff" got in the way. Finally, she agreed on a time and place and said she would bring me dessert. When she arrived with a bag of "picnic food" and her wonder dog, I was excited to see her. What she dumped on the picnic table made me chuckle. A pile of cookies of every flavor, cracker jacks, jerky, M &M's and two Cokes.  I asked her if she had just bought out the Arco Station.

I suppose I could have been disappointed to be served stuff from the am/pm, and I wasn't. I knew her intentions were to celebrate and acknowledge me. Time got away and she did what she had time to do. So I ate cookies! I enjoyed the park, and the dogs, and my wonderful friend's company.

Last year my birthday sucked. I had the customary embarrassment cake at work and then went home to drink beer all alone. It was stupid and lonely and meaningless and empty.  I promised myself I would not live that again. The key to it all was openness.  I shared with the people in my life what I wanted and let them create it around me. I won't ever forget it.

If you want to sit home alone on your birthday, don't tell anyone it's your day............I can guarantee that you won't get what you don't ask for.

peace!
lw