My Menopause Blog

Today is the official beginning of Birthday Week. The pre-Birthday week activities started last Thursday when my yoga instructor gave me flowers…well, flower actually, a really snappy looking daffodil that I waltzed through the streets with.

Seemed like a perfect start to the warm up to me…simply because it’s not everyday that I’m given a flower. Perhaps this does not resonate as significant. But here’s what I figure. I’d rather be delighted by something everyday than spend my life holding out for the lottery.

So one yellow as they come daffodil on a grey February day, was enough to spread smiles on strangers faces like butter on toast and set the tone for the warm up.
I’ve celebrated Birthday week for years. It all started when, I decided to honour my dearly departed mother, the maker of my birthday, who birthed me, while in her mid forties, in the dark of night, depth of winter, in the boonies of Canada. Mom’s first born, my sister, was 25 years old and a mother herself as I squawked my way into the world.

Just think, a twenty five year spread in child bearing. Roll that one around in your mind for a moment. Then imagine yourself on the cusp of menopause, with an infant.
As you must agree, there’s no way a one day birth day celebration can begin to touch on the experience my mom faced.

Second. February weather is unpredictable. Putting all my birthday eggs in one basket is a recipe for heartbreak. Best to spread the options for celebration liberally over several days. Besides, folks do get house bound up here in the north. It’s not always easy to pry them out of their flannel lined nests.

Third, and like, duh, more days equals more fun.

Now that Monday has arrived, so full of blustery winters wrath that I’m wearing my scarf in the house, I’m warmed up for the full on, action packed week ahead.

Okay. That was a complete exaggeration. I’m not into action packed anything. Rather, I’m in the mood for lots of good cheer, a bit of cake, and of course a full day of crown wearing.

Sue Richards

Tags: My Menopause Blog, Sue Richards, birthday, mother, February