Today is my birthday. I am 39. Or, perhaps I should say this is the first time I am turning 39…
Actually, I’m not really one of those people. Of course, I love it when someone thinks I am younger than I am, and if I get carded I do a little dance (even though I know I look closer to 41 than 21), but I don’t long to be any other number than what I am. Birthdays are easier when you are where you want to be, or at least close to where you want to be.
This year, from 39 to 40, is going to be a big one for me. For starters, I’ve decided that it’s going to be “The Year of Yoga”. I left my much-loved yoga practice behind after I had my first son. I was able to get back to it after he was a few months old, but I let it go again around the time he celebrated his first birthday. That was 3 1/2 years ago. I have missed yoga and I have missed teaching. There are people in the yoga community who celebrate birthdays by doing as many sun salutations as the year they are turning. When my good friend Rachel turned 40, I promised her we would do 40 Surynamaskara A’s together. If you practice yoga, you know that this is no easy task. I was at the peak of my yoga shape at that point and it was still hard. Next year, I would like to do 40 A’s and it will probably take me the whole year to get in good enough yoga shape to do so. Along the way, I will also reclaim my practice, and possibly get back on the road to teaching.
In addition to yoga, I plan to challenge myself with some cooking tasks. This will be the year of homemade pasta, croissants (maybe), Holly B’s cinnamon rolls and almond butterhorns, crèpes, sourdough starter and the breads that follow, perfecting layer cakes, making all kinds of ice cream, and other delicious things. I hope you will come along with me for the ride.
Before I hit “publish”, I need to tell you how sweet my husband is. I have been pining away for an iPhone for about a year now. The desire started slowly, then escalated to a full-blown need. I kept telling Randy that I wanted one for my birthday. Of course, I could have just walked in and bought one. We already use AT&T, it all would have been very easy. But for some reason, I just really wanted it for my birthday.
Randy works for Microsoft. He drinks the Kool-Aid there on a regular basis. Whenever anyone we know uses “google” as a verb, he will say, “You mean bing it?”. (Actually, I am thankful we now have bing. It is much easier to say than “Live Search it” or “MSN Search it”.) So whenever I told him how much I wanted an iPhone, he would start in on how we don’t allow Apple products into our home, how that would be like taking food out of our childrens’ mouths. He calls my father, who has always had Macs and has an iPhone, a traitor. Now, he is kidding. Kind of.
This morning, Randy brought me my birthday gift in a large Williams Sonoma bag. Inside was a new Cuisinart food processor. My old one is 16 years old and while it still works perfectly, I have really been wanting a new and bigger one. I was very touched. Then I opened the gift from my brother and sister-in-law which was a clock radio which you can plug (and re-charge) your iPhone into. He said, “Oh, what’s that? A clock radio for an iPhone? Well, then I guess you need one of these…” and out came my new phone. What did I do? I started bawling. This is unlike me. I am not a crier. I just couldn’t believe he caved and bought me something I so wanted and that he kept it a secret from me. Now I just need to figure out how to use it…and keep it away from that secretly-coveting-an-iPhone husband of mine.
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a) you look under 30!
b) I wanted an Iphone my 30th bday and got a Lenora mini computer… Not complaining
c) I miss yoga too….
So yes,I totally understand and connect with this post.
Wish you the best bday ever, you are an amazing person
Comment by frantic foodie — July 26, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
Happy Birthday Dana!
Comment by elra — July 27, 2009 @ 12:52 am
aww, happy birthday, Dana!
Comment by Amy B — July 27, 2009 @ 2:26 am
A very happy birthday to you–and I like your plans for the year. I need to start thinking about some plans of my own.
As a confirmed Mac girl, I’m delighted that your husband succumbed and got you a traitorous present. Those are the best kinds:-)
Comment by Tea — July 27, 2009 @ 2:26 am
Happy Birthday!
and I AM one of those people. I love when people tell me I look 35 when I am really 44, even if they are lying.
Glad you got what you really wanted for your bday!
It’s always nice to be surprised!
Enjoy!
Comment by Stacey Snacks — July 27, 2009 @ 3:26 am
Happy Birthday, Dana! I have no doubt you’ll reach all your goals and more. And I look forward to benefiting from your new Cuisinart and all your cooking ambitions. All the best–
Comment by The Leftoverist — July 27, 2009 @ 3:49 am
Happy birthday! You hit the jackpot with an I-phone AND a Cuisinart. I look forward to talking to you about yoga. I’ve been curious about it lately.
Oh, and you don’t look a day over 31, I’m serious. It’s all those veggies or something.
Comment by Julie — July 27, 2009 @ 5:27 am
Oh and tell Randy I now have a Bing bar instead of a Google bar for searching. Supporting the home team!
Comment by Julie — July 27, 2009 @ 5:30 am
Happy birthday, Dana! You look lovely, and I would have never guessed you were nearing 40! Your plans for this year sound perfect, and I hope you achieve everything you set your mind to.
Your husband is a sweetheart. You are blessed.
Comment by HappyTummy — July 27, 2009 @ 8:50 am
happy birthday!
what a sweet surprise.
Comment by sweetie — July 27, 2009 @ 10:43 am
Happy birthday Dana! I think the birthdays that end in 9 are always big ones – there’s all the stuff to do that you didn’t manage to fit into the rest of the decade…
The story of your gift nearly made me tear up!
Comment by Hilary — July 27, 2009 @ 12:12 pm
Happy Birthday Dana! What wonderful gifts you received!
Comment by fresh365 — July 27, 2009 @ 1:10 pm
Happy birthday Dana! Your iPhone story was just too sweet. I hope you enjoy your new toys and I will look forward to reading about your new adventures in cooking and yoga.
Comment by Yannik — July 27, 2009 @ 4:01 pm
Happy birthday & enjoy your iphone! I turned 39 this year as well and it’s kind of strange because I always thought 39 was getting up there, but here I am! I love your plans for the coming year too. Enjoy!
Comment by kickpleat — July 27, 2009 @ 4:50 pm
Happy birthday! I had a new iphone for my birthday last year and it actually came out on my birthday so we line up outside the apple store. You are gonna love it!
Comment by veron — July 27, 2009 @ 6:11 pm
I loved this story. Happy Birthday!
Comment by Pamela — July 27, 2009 @ 6:22 pm
Happy birthday, Dana. I hope today is a wonderfully fun day for you and the year ahead is filled with love and laughter.
Comment by Tammy — July 27, 2009 @ 6:25 pm
How sweet that you got the iphone! I know how difficult that can be for an MS person!! Happy Birthday!
Comment by veggiebelly — July 27, 2009 @ 7:35 pm
Happy, happy day to you! I agree that aging is not so bad when you are where you want to be in life. You are young at heart, beautiful, and have more energy that I did when I was 20, so enjoy all the wisdom that goes with that magical number:) Look forward to reading about all those ambitious cooking goals, and hearing about all that fabulous yoga. Thanks for sharing it all with us!
Comment by Mara — July 27, 2009 @ 7:58 pm
Happy birthday from a new reader. I am glad to know the food processor should last that long, I just got one for my wedding. I love how you’ve used your birthday to set goals and aspirations!
Comment by Kristen — July 27, 2009 @ 9:36 pm
Happy Birthday Dana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Ana — July 27, 2009 @ 10:20 pm
Happy Birthday! You look really young. I have to go back to yoga too. I can’t wait to see everything you’ll make this year. Your plan sounds great.
I have an award for you on my blog.
Comment by Hélène — July 27, 2009 @ 11:19 pm
I love hearing stories like this!!!! SO special, you deserve it!
Comment by Sprouted Kitchen — July 28, 2009 @ 8:18 pm
Happy birthday! I love your yoga goals. I am contemplating on getting back to it myself as well. Again, Happy birthday! I hope it was glorious.
Comment by Eralda — July 28, 2009 @ 9:04 pm
Aww how sweet of Randy. =) Happy birthday!! Making the next year the year of yoga sounds like an excellent idea. And definitely make croissants! They’re really not as difficult as they seem.
Comment by Ashley — July 31, 2009 @ 2:43 pm