Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Nobody said 33 is glamorous.



And I sure did prove that point at the beach this past week. (Say what you will, but I will always prefer a cowboy hat over a baseball cap for beachwear attire. Better coverage, less sweaty.) I don't know how women do it — look so beachy. I just end up looking like a German tourist no matter what I wear.

And that being said, the beach is not particularly kind to me, since I'm 2 shades off from a translucent blue hue, plus I require an entire bottle of 55 spf to even step foot near the water. Nevertheless, the clan meets at the same place in St. Simon's every 4th of July for a little celebration, ahem, my birthday (and the State's, of course) for a little together time. It's a cherished tradition.

As always, we biked around the beautiful marshes...



... to the pier to see if anything was caught by the fishermen.



This wasn't caught but was washed up after a storm.



Here's the door to the same place that we stay every year.



The deserted pool after a storm...



...and the Greyhound station.



And why did I post a picture of the Greyhound station, you ask?



Because the best gift that I received arrived via bus. That's my cousin Meg. Yes, 4 months pregnant and she flew all the way from DC then hopped on the Greyhound to S.S. to see me. I just love that about her... she's unstoppable. And I'm loving this picture because it looks as if we we are famous people caught by paparazzi photo fire. Ridiculous, yes?

Also ridiculous is the a chocolate on chocolate cake with cherries in the middle — and sparklers on top — that gets devoured year after year. So yummy.



Yes, nobody said 33 was glamorous...



... but Mom knew how to make me feel very glamorous with a handmade dress. Uhuh, she made that and it fits me perfectly. The woman is damn talented.

Thank you all so much for the well-wishes, thoughts, cards and gifts. This birthday wasn't particularly easy for me (in fact the word dread comes to mind) but being surrounded with such warm fuzzies made it all good. My friend Moo said it best: many wishes for a lovely 34th year of life and congratulations on a very full and fascinating 33 completed years. What a great way to think of turning a year older — it's not about what you haven't accomplished, it's about congratulating yourself on what you have. So I'm putting away the mental checklist that I get out every year and instead focusing on all the amazing things I've been able to do that have gotten me to where I am today. And being surrounded by dear friends and family, my Witt and a spotted dog... what more can a girl ask for?

6 comments:

Harpy said...

Happy belated! You look happy and beautiful.

Here is one of my favorite quotes about birthdays (via O magazine):

"The greatest thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been." Madeline L'Engle quoted in the NYTimes 1985.

Dawn Gahan said...

You never cease to amaze me with all that you do and continue to do to be just you.

Dgirl

Marianne said...

Happy Birthday! This is a lovely birthday post, you look very glamorous- especially in your mum's handiwork- can't believe she made that! Here's to the next year. x M

Mary said...

Beautiful dress! I love the colors in the bus station photo of the chairs...would make a great bit of art on a wall.

Anonymous said...

Dawn Gahan Girls directed me to your blog. And I just want to say what a lovely dress your mother made. It looks absolutely beautiful on you - I recognize some of the fabric. Yay for mom!! --Vicki K

Leigh said...

I'm 33 and a cancer too! Closer to 34 now. Getting up there. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be 34 than 24 any day.