Celebrating a Birthday!

where I'm sitting to blog

We sit out here on the lanai many afternoons to read, enjoy the view of the back yard, and I compose these blog posts. During the depths of summer's heat or in our short winter months, time spent here is brief, if at all. Twelve large windows help to regulate the amount of heat or cold.

Today is perfect. The overcast sky emits fleeting rain showers that are gone before they really get started, and a brisk breeze is fluttering softly through my hair. We're wearing shorts and short-sleeved T-shirts. One of us is wearing sandals and the other is barefoot.

Gary is in a nearby chair, talking on the phone with his son while I type on my laptop and inject an occasional comment into their conversation. 

It's birthday weekend here, for Gary. If you're asking if it is a Big One, my response is that at our age, every birthday is the big one. 

To celebrate another trip around the sun we prefer to go low-key. On Thursday we had lunch at one of our local favorites that sits absolutely on the very edge of the Rainbow River. I took the snapshot you see here (below) to give you an idea of how casual this place is: corrugated metal decor, lots of beer advertisements, and most of the dining area is open-air with huge picnic tables and metal patio furniture. The serving staff all wear blue jean cut-off shorts.

The hostess always asks us where we prefer to sit. Our usual response is on the outer deck within a few feet of the river. 

our first table

We had driven through a blustery rain storm to get there, so we brought our jackets and the umbrella with us to the table. It's good that we did!

That same storm caught up with us, so we grabbed the menus and found a drier place to sit. This time we stationed ourselves on bar stools that had us sitting side-by-side, which I usually avoid, preferring face-to-face conversation with my dining companion.

However, our view of the river from the countertop and stools was excellent. When it's just the two of us, we may ask to sit there all the time in future visits!

We have kayaked and canoed this river together in the past. It's a "lazy river" kinda thing with slow-boat traffic, inner tubes, paddle boards. Be sure to note the gray Spanish Moss draped from the huge oak trees above the canvas awnings. "Swampy's" is aptly named!

As for what we ate, the Birthday Boy had sausage and shrimp over grits with a spicy cheesy cream sauce. He said it was sooo good!

I had the grilled chicken sandwich with all the available vegetables and a side of cole slaw. Sweet tea, too. (Always sweet tea when we eat out.) Very good; we enjoyed it all.

So that was on Thursday. Since the actual birthday was on Saturday, and we generally try to avoid weekend traffic, we did the eat-out-lunch celebration on a weekday. (Friday was my Bible study and a pedicure appointment.)

On Saturday morning I gave Gary this card when he brought my first-of-the-morning coffee. By mutual agreement early in our relationship, we decided to not usually exchange gifts, preferring shared experiences instead. At our age, we have: 

had it all

have it all

have either worn it out, sold it, or donated it

just don't need it

My son from Out West texted this snapshot of his family (minus the 2 cats) with his greeting for Gary's birthday:

This is their mule, the one who jumped the ranch fence twice a couple of weeks ago. They tell me she's not done that any more, so hopefully that escapade won't be repeated.

Gary also received emails and text messages from his family, some of his former co-workers and even a couple of high school classmates!

Although we stayed home (Gary rode his bike after breakfast; I'm still grounded from that for a few more days), we maintained a festive feel throughout the day. I wore my ice cream shirt that was purchased at Jekyll Island last year. Gary wore his souvenir shirt from Billy Bob's in Fort Worth (acquired before we met).

Gary cooked hamburgers on his indoor grill and put together a French Fry - Tater Tot combo in the air fryer. Yes, I caught him in this picture with his mouth-full! 

We watched the Air Force vs. Navy football game. Our favor leans toward Air Force, since Gary and members of my family are veterans. But Gary has also spent a fair amount of time at the Naval Academy with his investigative career after USAF retirement. 

Late in the day we had German chocolate birthday cupcakes with a candle and Klondike ice cream bars. As you can see we are big party animals and we like it this way.

Returning to the topic of giving each other shared experiences instead of gift-wrapped presents, I spent some time reminiscing about the fun places/trips we've taken since his last birthday. Here are just some of the snapshots taken:

Gary's Birthday lunch at Flagler Beach 2024

Christmas 2024 model train
and miniatures show

Valentine's Day 2025 @ Tarpon Springs
(sponge diving excursion)

Barbara's birthday lunch 2025
Crackers on Crystal River

Everglades, Florida 2025

Key West, southern-most tip 
of Continental USA
April 2025

spring 2025 
Dudley Historic Farm, Newberry, FL

Mermaids @ Weeki Watchee
April 2025

49th Avenue biking trail
Summer 2025

National Corvette Museum, Bowling Green, Kentucky
September 2025

It's been a good birthday celebration. Every year, every day, every breath -- all are gifts of mercy from our Lord who has blessed us more than we can possibly know this side of Heaven.

Teach us to number our days, 

that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 

Psalm 90:12 

Until next time, grace and peace.

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Hurricane(s) and a Birthday

source

I cannot add anything new to what has already been said regarding the tragedies of Hurricane Helene; but I do thank the Lord for the good that has been done and continues to progress toward recovery. While the government's response has been questionable, it's refreshing to see how the compassion of individuals and church-related groups has really addressed the problems.

Samaritan's Purse photo

There are reputable organizations we can trust to help where we physically cannot. I'm giving a plug for Samaritan's Purse, which is my favorite "go-to" when I want to help people in disastrous circumstances. Samaritan's Purse shows up all over the world when devastating things happen. 

Regarding Hurricane Milton, we are preparing for him with some sandbags. We've not had flooding in the past, but the threshold of our back door has no significant drop to the patio, so we decided this extra precaution would be a good idea. In another day or two, closer to the storm's arrival, we will bring inside those outdoor things that could become dangerous flying projectiles in the wind. 

metal birds in our back yard

In our prep for Hurricane Helene, we brought in the decorative metal birds from our back yard. Sometime after their arrival inside our house, we realized two Gecko lizards had hitched a ride 🤭, presumably clinging to the underside of the metal birds. 

Gary disposed of one of them quickly but the other one escaped into a dark closet. Unfortunately for the unwelcome creature, I found him a couple of days later. He was successfully relocated to the back yard with the help of a fly swatter and a tissue. I cannot tell you if he was alive or deceased.

Moving to a more cheery line of thinking, we celebrated a birthday  this past week. 

I'll let you figure out who it was...

card sent from Sister and brother-in-law

The celebration began a couple of days early when Jersey Girl brought over wonderful cookies from a new specialty shop here in town: Crumbl.

On the heels of that early celebration, one of Gary's friends from his teen years sent a clever card she had made, using a photo from his early days in the Air Force:

card from Corky and Pete

The day before his birthday, we drove over to the Atlantic to see views along the coastal highway between St. Augustine and Ormond Beach. 

Sea Oats, Yucca, and wild grasses

After we (finally) got past all the beach houses and condos, the views got better. There was Marineland and Fort Matanzas, although we stopped only briefly.

In spite of the beautiful day with deep blue skies, puffy white clouds, and a strong surf crashing on the sandy shore, we had decided we didn't want sand between our toes, so we just walked to the edge of the beach.

Continuing to drive south, we eventually came to Flagler Beach, which was in perfect timing with our hunger pangs. 

We saw at least two restaurants right alongside the highway that had upper level dining. Gary chose The Golden Lion Cafe, so after parking the car, we were seated under a bright yellow umbrella and given menus.

We opted for the Fish 'N' Chips. After placing our order, the waiter quipped, "Oh, so you're going to leave here hungry!" ???

When he brought our plates, I realized he had been joking. It was great, and afterward we waddled back to the car.

We passed a realtor's office that provides a water bowl for dogs. The sign says, "Water for your dog or short people with low standards. We don't judge."

We had both packed a small overnight bag in case we would decide to spend a night on the road, but as it turned out, just heading back to the familiarity of home was more appealing..... and that's where the birthday presents were waiting!

Gary's favorite cake is German Chocolate. Sister and her husband sent the cake mix and frosting. He got some gift cards and a framed clock with a nice photo of us.

Personalization Mall

Above the photo is a pewter plate engraved with "Gary and Barbara," and below the picture it says, "Loving our life together." The picture was taken a couple of years ago when we were dressed up for a grandson's wedding. Gary loved the gift and I was so pleased.

Of course I baked his birthday cake. One of us has some dietary restrictions with regard to coconut and nuts, so I frosted the cake with half milk chocolate frosting and half with the traditional German Chocolate frosting. It was a good birthday and my man looks younger than his years.

The other big thing that happened this past week was my purchase of a new iPhone 16 Pro. I took advantage of the ad Verizon is currently running on TV. 

I've been planning for months to replace my iPhone SE, the phone I inherited from my late husband. I've been okay with that, but once again, this proved to be one of those "triggers" I learned about in GriefShare. 

Tom was a patient in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit for three weeks with COVID prior to his death. Since his face was covered with that uncomfortable BiPap oxygen mask, we could not talk on the phone, and with it being deep into the pandemic, I was not allowed to be at his bedside. So for the last 3 weeks of his life, he held this cell phone to communicate with me and our children. 

my new phone

I was glad to surrender the old phone because it was showing its age. I chose a feminine cover to replace Tom's Denver Bronco cover. But even with this beautiful new phone with all its attributes and the pretty cover, I cried bawled most of the way home in the car from the Verizon store. The release of the old phone was another part of letting go of Tom and the 50 years I had with him. 

Gary waits for me at the Verizon store

Gary drove us home with one hand on the wheel and the other holding onto my shoulder as I sobbed. He's such a good man. He understands. He lost his Edith to COVID just a couple of months after Tom passed.

 

We are both grateful to have each other. The Lord has used us to minister to each other's wounds of grief, and beyond that, we love each other so much.

I'll post again after Hurricane Milton has passed us by. Until next time, grace and peace.