Another Birthday, Another Year to Just Keep Growing!

Posted 08-14-23 

Birthdays are cool because we can celebrate however we want, wherever we want, for as long as we want. We can celebrate with friends and family. On our own. With our cat. Birthdays are our very own Personal Holiday. A chance to celebrate ourselves and to be celebrated. A chance to Just Keep Growing.

As a kid, my folks would always tell the story of my birth as part of my celebration. Like it was the best thing that ever happened. They would recall who came to see mom and me in the hospital. Who said what about me. Who brought what gift. What Dad said when he first saw me. Mom and I would pour through my baby book as a reminder of those facts. I got the impression that mom and dad were very pleased to be my parents. I was sure pleased to be their kid.

Decades flew by. And, I created a new birthday tradition. I chose a multi-day KATY Trail cycling adventure with the Biker Babes. The Biker Babes were an “elite” group of cyclists comprised of nieces, cousins, and friends. We were especially accomplished at
shopping for gear, staying hydrated and maintaining our electrolytes in extreme heat. Birthday week we would hit the KATY Trail, peddling alongside the meandering
Missouri River through Missouri’s wine country and agricultural belt… where everything just keeps growing.

Mid-August. Mid-Missouri. 90+ degrees. 100% humidity. Occasional bike wrecks.
Scraped limbs. Flat tires. Sudden downpours. A few tornadoes. Mud caked bikes.
All part of the fun. The more miserable the conditions, the more we jollied on.

Discouraging words were discouraged. Janis Joplin and Jimmy Buffett sing-alongs
were encouraged. Laughing was good. We would literally LOL for miles and miles.
Such Fun.

This year I am celebrating with my amazing Great Niece, Mara Elaine Belle who turns 7. We share a birthday and a love of bicycling on the KATY Trail.

I sure hope Mara knows how thrilled we are that she came along and that she always feels loved, special and is super celebrated. That goes for my other 2 dozen nieces, nephews. and greats, as well. I hope they always feel the kind of love that helps them to just keep growing.

-Jeanne