Best. Birthday. Evah!

| Melia Alexander

Birthdays are kind of like family holiday gatherings: you either love it and look forward to baking your specially created pumpkin cheesecake, or you call in at the last minute (’cause Mom would never believe you otherwise) to cancel.  (That stomach flu thing’s going around, you know. . . . Ummm. . . Not that I’ve ever done anything like that, of course. . .. )

Me?  I love birthdays!  Cake and presents?  Oh, yeah.  I’m all for that.  But there was something about this year that was different.  Not that the usual cake and presents is a bad thing, but I had this urge to run away from home as well.  Seriously.  So I developed my own special recipe for a great birthday weekend:  IMAG0690

1.  Start with one fantastic dinner shared with a very special man.  🙂

2.  Pack a bag.

3.  Drive a couple of hours away from home.

4.  Meet friends to plot next book.  (Thanks Lily Santana and Linda Mercury!)

5.  Get back in car and drive further away from home.

6.  Meet littlest sister (who I haven’t seen in YEARS).

7.  Take photos at a local park.  DSC_1224

8.  Talk littlest sister into spending $8 on an “alligator on a stick” (Note: It doesn’t taste like chicken.  At.  All.)

9. Try to capture the breathtaking majesty of Mt. Rainier while blasting  photography skills – or lack of it, really. DSC_1283

10.  Laugh nervously at a mean-looking raccoon.  Might even be the same one seen chasing a grown man earlier.  Seriously.

11.  Spend the night at the Ritz Carlton.  (Hey, I’m a writer.  I can pretend, can’t I?)  Try desperately not to stay up all night ’cause sister’s got to go to work the next day.

10.  Drive home at 7:00 AM the following morning.  (Did you know the roads are basically empty at that time on a Sunday?)

11.  Arrive safely home to have another fabulous dinner with that special someone.  🙂DSC_1302

12.  Feel like the most blessed person on the face of the planet.

13.  While reflecting on the last year, look forward to the next one.  🙂

So.  How’d you spend your last birthday?  What plans do you have for your next one?  Please share!

-Melia

17 thoughts on “Best. Birthday. Evah!”

  4. Thanks so much, Barbara! Next year, I’m seriously thinking about the Cadbury tea party. . .. Only with wine in the teacups. 😉

    Hugs,
    Melia

  5. Sounds like you crafted a wonderful birthday! Were you a plotter or pantser when it came to the setting up the B’day activities? Muwah. That raccoon looks like it’s saying, “It’s all slander. I wasn’t chasing that man, and I would never chase this beautiful woman!”. I’m so glad you had a great birthday. You’ll have to start plotting next years! ~Viola

  6. Happy Birthday, Melia! Your special day sounds absolutely marvelous.

    This year my birthday was spent in Lincoln City at an amazing week long Writer’s Workshop. My husband came down the day after my birthday (toward the end of the workshop) and took me to dinner and spent the night before spiriting me home.

    Personally, I think that after 50, birthdays should be month long celebrations. Haven’t figured out a way to make that happen yet, but eventually I will.

  8. Thank you, Miss Viola!

    I tend to be a plotter, which is partly why the Universe loves to throw me curve balls, thus forcing me into pantser mode. 🙂 Since you’re on the invite list for my 80th birthday, this means that you’ll probably be dragged into helping me plan the activities to go with beer pong. Male stripper, maybe? (I plan to embarrass the heck out of my nieces!)

    Happy writing,
    Melia

  9. Thanks, Maggie! Your birthday sounds pretty rocking, too! And I love that you stretched it out to a week. Hmmm. . .. I couldn’t do a month, but a week sounds like a great idea. That’s it. It’s on the list for next year!

    Hugs and happy writing,
    Melia

  10. I make a big deal out of birthdays at my house. Birthdays should be a celebration. I love that someone else embraces having fun on their birthday 🙂 Oh, happy belated birthday!

  13. Thank you! I truly love birthdays! And each one makes me smile with the knowledge that I am blessed.

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

    -Melia

  14. Seeing my sister really made it so special. She’s such a gem! Don’t tell her I said that, though. We’ll just keep it our secret, okay? 😉

    -Melia

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