Happy birthday to meeeeeeee!

“Congratulations!
Today is your day
You’re off to great places
You’re off and away

You’ve got brains in your head
You’ve got feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself any
Direction you choose

You’re on your own
And you know what you know
And you are the guy
Who’ll decide where you go

Out there things can happen
And frequently do
To people as brainy
And footsy as you

And will you succeed?
Yes you will indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed)

You’re off to great places
Today is your day
Your mountain is waiting
Go, get on your way!”

― Dr. Suess

Today is my day.

I was born at the Mater Hospital in Newcastle on March 17, 1968.

I’ve officially been on this earth 19,710 days. Let’s not mention how much that is in years.

I’m a St Patrick’s Day girl who grew up obsessed with the colour green.

I wore lucky green undies on my birthday every year until I was a teenager. My parents would take me to a St Paddy’s buffet at a local seaside motel to celebrate, where I’d pile my plate high with green desserts. I dreamed about one day owning my very own green Datsun with tartan seat covers.

I’d love to go to lush, green Ireland one day, but who knows when that will be with bloody COVID. It’s too hard to even get to Western Australia to see Crowded House (who postponed their three Perth gigs yesterday due to restrictions on live music).

My Nan dreamed about Ireland too, so my mum took her there before she died to kiss the Blarney Stone. Someone asked me the other day why you kiss it (though I don’t imagine you do these days) and I didn’t know. But Google tells me it bestows the gift of gab on whoever kisses it.

I can probably get by without that blessing …

Yesterday was filled with wild panic and little celebratory moments. I’ll start with the fun bits. I had a quick pub lunch – with bonus hugs – with my friend Nathan. My boss gave me a Madeira slab from Woolies because I told her it was the favourite cake of my childhood. The kids took me out to the local Mexican restaurant for dinner and a Margarita, while DD did a Bushmills Irish Whiskey tasting for me (read about it here).

The wild panic was due to waking up way too early with a racing heart from everything on my work to-do list. I literally had to take long, deep breaths as I walked from the bus stop to the office.

It doesn’t feel like there is enough time for a birthday this week and I almost cancelled my lunch yesterday, but it was very soothing to stop and have a laugh.

Today I will eat lunch at my desk – the dining table – as I work frenetically before having dinner with DD. Details to follow tomorrow.

Life at 54 … ooops I said I wouldn’t mention that … doesn’t seem as sorted as I imagined it would be when I was wearing those green undies as a kid.

But, like Dr Seuss said … I’m brainy and footsy – I’ll work it out.

Song of the day: The Beatles “Birthday”