My COVID Birthday

My C💝VID Birthday

A Blog for me so I'll never forget

Yesterday was my birthday.  I guess that birthdays have become less exciting as the years have stacked up on me, but especially with the current COVID-19 quarantine, I didn't have any expectations for this birthday.  As a matter of fact, I fully anticipated that I would have a few verbal wishes - and maybe a few video messages - but that would be about it.  As it turned out, it was one of my all time most favorite birthdays.  I am so very thankful for my amazing children and grandchildren, my kind siblings, and my dear friends who made my day perfect.   I wish I would have been able to record April 29, 2020 from start to finish.  I wanted to hang on to every minute and I want to remember every detail.  Hence, this blog.

It started with a knock on the door and a visit from my sweet friend, Brenda Blau.  I loved visiting with her in our outdoor, socially distant, living room (our porch), and the pumpkin cookie that she brought was delish.  The rest of the morning was seriously a string of happy phone calls, video calls, texts and email messages from kids, grandkids, brothers and sisters.  Somewhere in there, we had breakfast from Wendy's provided by Tom because we couldn't find a minute  to get a free grand slam curbside from Denny's.   I truly felt the love.

I had decided earlier that I would treat myself for my birthday by  throwing social distancing out the window for a short time, and cuddling with our two little COVID babies; Sammy who was born 6 weeks ago, and Eric who was born last week.  Because of the quarantine, I haven't been able to hold either of them much.  I went to Adam's to visit our little Sammy.  It felt so good to hold him in my arms.  He looked at me with big eyes and listened intently as I told him how much I love him.  He even gave me a little smile.  I hope he understood how precious he is to me and how much I want to be with him.  I cried on the drive home, just thinking about how wonderful it had been to hold  Sammy.

For lunch, two of my favorite people brought two of my favorite foods.  Becky and Tiffany picked up cilantro jalapeno hummus from pita jungle, and beef shwarma and hummus from Green Corner.  YUMMY.  When they walked in the door, I just couldn't help myself.  I threw my arms around them and hugged them tight.  It had been so long - so long since they had sat at our table, and so, so long since I've felt them in my arms.  For a person like me who loves the people in her life so deeply and who thrives on hugging those she loves, the hardest part of quarantine is my empty arms.  I sobbed as I hugged my girls.  I didn't want to let them go knowing that my  birthday break from quarantine would end with the day.

The afternoon flew by with  more calls and texts from loved ones and a very happy nap.  Even though Jan had already sent over cabbage salad and applesauce bread the day before, she came again to hand off a gift bag of toilet paper - the perfect gift for a COVID birthday.   Around 5:30, we heard honking and little voices yelling, "Happy Birthday, Grandma".  I grabbed a big bag of suckers and went outside to see a parade of decorated cars and vans driving slowly by with more of my favorite people hanging out the windows and even sitting on the car hoods and roofs.  They brought with them happy smiles, enthusiastic cheers, and oh so much joy for me.  The parade circled twice and then stopped in front of our house.  One carload at a time, each family came to the porch where Tom and I were sitting.  There wasn't a lot of hugging, although there were a few who came running into my arms and I just couldn't - and didn't even want to try to resist them.  Each family had chosen something that I do that they like, and  they presented that thing in their own creative way.  The parade began from my youngest child and went up in age order.  Since Josh, Lexie and Isaac are in Pinetop for the summer, they weren't here so Alex's and Natalja's family went first.

Joseph, Levi and Ellie were dressed in their Sunday best; white shirts, ties,  a vest and a pretty little dress.  The boys hair was slicked back just right.  Ellie's hair was in little blonde piggy tails with bows that matched her dress.  They came to me and handed me a bouquet of red flowers, and told me  what they liked about me was that I made up words to songs.  While Benni slept peacefully in his carseat, the other three (With Natalja's help) sang the song  "A You're Adorable".  It was complete with actions, which they did with so much enthusiasm.  They were the adorable ones! Watching them made me want to start up Cousin's Chorus again.  Besides the singing, Natalja had used my Mom's strawberry cake recipe from Mom's cookbook to make a delicious cake.  It looked, smelled and tasted just like what Mom made it.  It was fun to have a bit of Mom there.

Tiffany's and John's family was next up.  They said they liked  the books I make,  and they brought me a beautiful homemade book made by the little boys, along with some other pictures they had drawn.

Adam's and Melanie's family said they like it that I let them have animals at our house.  They decorated hearts and drew pictures of  birds and guinea pigs.  Autumn had even done an original painting on a canvas of a little blue parakeet.  Those little girls are such talented artists just like their Mom. 

Becky's and Trevor's family were all dressed up with different outfits and props.  They came plodding to the porch chanting, "Uh, Uh (pat knees) Who do we love - Grandma, What do we like - Cookies,  What does she make - Cookies, What's our favorite day - Uh, Uh Cookie Day".  The thing they liked about me was that I make cookies for them.  They left notes and hearts and Evie had baked a batch of absolutely delicious cookies that she shared with me.

I first saw Jake get out of their car.  He was in pajama pants, and I thought, "Wow, this quarantine is really allowing him to dress casual".  Then I noticed that Holly and all the kids also had pajama pants on.  The thing they said they liked about me was all the traditions that we have (including pajama pants).  They each told me something they loved about me, left cut out hearts, and gave Tom and I chimichangas and avocado salsa to eat for dinner.  Mmm, Mmm good!

Last was Thomas's and Carrie's family.  They said they liked it that I cut out letters and put them on the wall for birthday's etc.  Makenzie had cut out "HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA" and put it on their van window.  She had also made amazing sugar cookies and left me one. 

When everyone was done, they all gathered out by the cars and sang to me one more time.  Looking at that group across the yard almost overwhelmed me.  There just really aren't words . . .  There just really are not!

Tom and I enjoyed together our dinner of chimichangas and avocado salsa and before long, our kids starting to drop in.  For 6 weeks now, we've only visited at a distance while sitting on the front porch.  No one has been coming into the house.  But just for that day, we carefully celebrated at the kitchen table.  Tiffany brought a beautiful 3 layer chocolate peanut butter cake that she made.  It looked professional and tasted even better than it looked.  Jake and Holly came bringing Eric.  I loved him and hugged him and tried to fill full to the top with cuddles so it would last me until I get to do it again.  Carrie came, Adam came, Becky and Trevor came, and Natalja came and we all talked and laughed and celebrated until my birthday hours were almost all used up.  I watched each of them leave feeling sad to say good-bye, but filled with happiness and gratitude.

Who knew that this COVID Birthday would turn out to be one of the best birthdays of my life?  I had been in heaven from the moment I woke up to the moment I climbed into bed.  And all these people that made my day great?  Yep, they're angels!