March 15, 2020

White Dog kissed me and said, "Happy Birthday, momma! Our plans have taken a turn and the birthday feast has been altered to use what we have on hand since the grocery is out of most fresh foods. On the bright side, WE have been practicing social distancing so a while now since you have been sick. It will be a fine day."

And it was simply splendid. We stretched out on the new carpet and listened to music. We sang to our favorites; closed our eyes to the soaring sound of The Planets. We shared blueberry tea in our new cup and ate cheese and crackers for lunch.

We watched the sunlight move across the front windows and noticed how quiet our neighborhood was. Steve and I tried and failed to remember just what the carpet BEFORE our just replaced ancient Persian was. The Army laughed at our senior moment. "No, my loves, it is just that our measure of lfe started when White Dog joined us. Before is in the cloudy distant prehistory."

I cried at Steve's gift and his acknowledgement that ALL had helped choose the inscription that defined me.

Despite shortages at the grocery, Steve and his kitchen staff managed to put together an incredible meal of ground lamb curry, mushroom risotto, asparagus that we all shared.

And of course, there was cake. Dark amazing German chocolate to compensate for the lack of coconut cream pie...and fairy cakes for the WDA.

All day we opened cards and answered electronic birthday wishes as we basked in the love of our friends and dearest ones. As we settled in, later than planned, to watch The Art of Racing in the Rain and share popcorn, White Dog looked at me and asked. "Was it a good day, momma? Was it a birthday that made your heart sing?"

I looked around the room at all my precious miracles of love. "Little White Dog of My Heart, it could not have been more perfect."