The daffodils Jack sent me :)

 I just celebrated a most wonderful birthday on Tuesday, thanks to my amazing family, friends, co-workers, and Jack.  Birthdays are still sad for me, and it’s those days that I miss my Gram the most. Every year she would call me at an ungodly, early hour and before I could say anything she would start singing Happy Birthday and then proceed to tell me how I was catching up to her in age (she was perpetually 29) and how she never expected to see me graduate high school (she was around to see me graduate college and graduate school, thankfully).  I know that birthdays are supposed to be happy times, but these past few years have been tough for me.

That’s why I am so thankful to have such amazing people in my life.  I got to work and found a giant sign attached to my desk and was promptly made to wear a tiara for the day.  Silly, perhaps, but it was nice to be remembered.  And throughout the day friends and family called, texted, emailed, and sent funny (and wonderfully irreverent) happy wishes for my birthday, keeping me smiling and lifting my mood. 

Folger Theatre

Jack has been a true sweetheart this past week, too.  He sent me Daffodils at work for my birthday with a beautiful note (see above), and got us tickets to see Hamlet at the Folger Elizabethan Theatre in May.  Hamlet is one of my two favorite Early Modern plays, and we’re seeing it at the Folger.  I’m aware that that means pretty much nothing to those of you who aren’t Early Modern scholars or enthusiasts, but to me that’s outstanding.  It’s the best I could ask for outside of seeing it at the Globe performed by the RSC. And Daffodils (not roses) are my absolute favorite flower.  I’ve mentioned before that just having them around lifts my mood and spirits.  They’re nature’s highlighter.

Hamlet, Daffodils, and Jack… three of my favorite things.  I’m a very lucky girl. 

So I’m 33.

I remember when my parents were 33.  I was 10.

I was going to post a list of all of the meanings of the number 33, and the significance of that age, and the numerology, and the strangeness that surrounds it, but I think I’ll save that for another post.  Right now I’m just going to enjoy what I have around me. 

Thank you, everyone, for making my birthday something very special…

Tags: 33, Daffodils, Hamlet, love, Shakespeare, theatre