Simply The Best

I have just come off of simply the best weekend ever! It was my birthday, my big 6-0 day and I couldn't possibly have had a better one with one exception....my dad wasn't feeling well and missed going out to dinner with us. But let me give you a rundown of events.

It really started Friday when we went over to Newport News to pick up Missy from the airport. The ride over on Friday afternoon traffic takes about 1½ hours one way. And boy was the traffic out in force! My gal had to wait for us because her plane got in early, but she was all smiles as we pulled up. It got dark on us before we got back on our side (of the water). We ended up stopping off at a KFC for take-home supper.

We stopped by to check on Daddy when we got in and seeing his girl did a lot to bring his spirits up. He was chattering away like a squirrel and we were all ears to hear his stories! (Dad's a great story-teller)!

After a good night's rest we awoke early and left early. I'm sure little Abby was bewildered because we'd let her out of her kennel and then put her back, let her out, put her back...all day long, as we traveled around doing stuff. She usually gets to "go" but that wasn't an option because it was really warm outside and the car would have been too hot for her to wait in.

Anyway, Dan took us out for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. It was awesome, of course. I got a pork chop for a change (a more tender one I can't imagine). I was the last one finished and when the waitress stopped by Dan let slip that it was my birthday and I could be the cow's tail if I wanted. I got done and we decided to wrap up the leftover biscuits in a couple of napkins rather than wait for the waitress to recheck on us for a box. OMG! In that time the waitress was indeed busy! Next thing we know, here they all come with a candle in a bowl of Ice Cream, singing the Happy Birthday song!! Five seconds quicker on those biscuits and it would have been a different story. Well, everyone in the place was beaming and we thanked them all and the three of us devoured the treat. As we left our table people wished me Happy Birthday!

We came back home and Danny said he had errands to run. I got a call from my father-in-law sending me their love and to tell me Happy Birthday from the blizzard in Colorado. Then Melissa and I jumped in a car and headed out for a little shopping. I rarely ever get to shop for clothes anymore and thought I'd buy myself a gift or two. Sometimes with arthritis you need a helper and Missy is a great one!  We called Lindsey and she met us over at Kohl's. We three always have a lot of fun on these rare occasions. This was no exception! I'm sure the employees were glad to see us gone. We tend to get a little louder than those quiet, reserved customers, but hey, as long as they don't throw us out, we're all good!

While she was thinking of it, we went to find a 7-11 so Missy could cash in her Lotto tickets Lindsey gave her for Christmas. (Hard to do in FL). That done we drove back to get Lindsey's car, but got side-lined with a quick visit to The Skinny Dip yogurt bar. I'd never been to one before. All those choices!!! I finished first and told the cashier what we were doing with my birthday and all. Dang if she didn't take the cost of my dessert off, saying "oh, it's your birthday? Yours is free!" Who knew?

We parted ways until the evening when we would meet up for dinner. In the meantime, Dan had gotten home ahead of us and there on the table was a beautiful bouquet of red roses and a 'wife' card! That little devil!!! Errands? Sure!!

It was raining by 6pm when we picked up Mom, said good-bye to Dad and went over to the Anchor Inn for supper. Bro and wife met us there. After ordering I opened my gifts while we awaited our food. We had been seated next to the Spanish guitar player (awesome) who would make the evening very special when he stopped mid-song to start playing Happy Birthday! OMG! The entire place sang to me! All the customers, the staff, everyone! We had all ordered the "date night" specials that included dessert. But my dessert included a candle in the sherbet next to the slice of Key Lime pie!

I got a beautiful bracelet and matching necklace from Bro and wife, some $$ from my folks (the perfect gift, always), a $25 gift card for, where else? Cracker Barrel! I also got a beautiful Wild Flowers candle with 3 wicks, which smells divine! I had a few cards sent from the Happy Hour gang. A neighbor had given me some Lotto tickets, alas no winner, just the joy and anticipation. Lindsey had even brought me a pack of birthday hats, but when she saw how fancy the place was decided just to give me the package instead of having us wear them (good choice, my dear)!

Sunday morning we left at 9am to take Missy back to the airport. We'd had a wonderful time together, but Monday would be a work day for her. We headed back home with a stop-over at Lindsey's house. She had made a birthday cake for me the day before, but like all good cooks on bad weather days, sometimes things don't go as planned. Her very first Red Velvet cake had split into about 3 pieces when she'd iced it; she opted not to take it to the restaurant, feeling it would be in crumbs if it rode more than 5 minutes. I'd told her not to worry about it and reminded her that Big Mama, our grandmother, always said that the uglier the cake, the better it tasted.

She'd picked up some tacos to appease my hankering while we headed her way and after lunch we dove into the cake. OMG! Big Mama was right! It was a great cake! A little less than Food Network worthy if you looked, but taste - Ah! They would be so lucky! We brought back some for the folks and Bro.

Oh, and through out the day I would check my Facebook page and see incredible love shown on there too! And here, I'd been thinking that I didn't have very many friends anymore because we were homebodies so much these days! MY BAD!!! See? It was an awesome birthday! I was surrounded the whole time with people who care about me. I am so blessed and want to thank everyone for giving me such a great gift of your love and support! Now, I'm going to keep it going and have the best year ever!