Saturday, May 3, 2014

Birthday!


Breakfast of ackee and festival, made by my lovely husband, who tracked down the national dish of Jamaica at a new gourmet market in Harlem. Ackee is outlawed in this country because until it ripens and opens it is poisonous, and I suppose the government doesn't want to take chances with people not knowing how to prepare it safely. My man knows how to cook it up, though, and as we ate we joked about our morning illegal activities. He also rustled up a plate of festival, another Jamaican favorite that is best explained as an island version of cornmeal biscuits or Johnny cakes.

Lazed most of the day, taking phone calls like a woman of leisure or reading, then showering and dressing up sometime in the afternoon. Dinner, also made by my husband, then cake and a shot each of good tequila, our new birthday tradition. A walk to the mailbox and then to the store. Now, we're back in the house, watching the basketball playoffs. A good slow day, no pressure to do anything at all other than what I felt like doing. Warm messages on Facebook and in my email and texts and Whatsapps made me feel remembered and cared about.

My children are both upstate, at school or visiting friends in Ithaca, but they checked in too, my daughter sending texts throughout the day. I colored my hair a different shade. Not sure what I think about it yet, but not really that concerned. I don't feel any older, especially after I realized last night that I have spent the last year thinking I am the age that I am turning today, so I basically missed an entire year. The number sounds so much older than I feel. I think, after age 25 or so, it is always thus. Happy birthday to me.


19 comments:

  1. You're just gorgeous for any age. That's all there is to it.
    Gosh. I've been thinking about you all day long and every time my mind goes to you, my heart is happy.
    Your day. Happy Your Day.
    Love and kisses...M

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  2. Happy Birthday Angella! You had the kind of day I like...a nice slow easy paced day. Sending you hugs.

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  3. Happy, happy birthday you gorgeous you!

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  4. •°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆ ★ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆
    ╔╗╔╦══╦═╦═╦╗╔╗ ★ ★ ★
    ║╚╝║══║═║═║╚╝║ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆
    ║╔╗║╔╗║╔╣╔╩╗╔╝ ★ BIRTHDAY ★
    ╚╝╚╩╝╚╩╝╚╝═╚╝ ¥☆★☆★☆¥ ★☆

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  5. Happy Birfshizzle, Beautiful Woman!

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  6. Happy birthday dear, sweet woman that I admire from afar for so many things. We are now the same age. I too colored my hair today. I am sure it was in honor of your birthday even though I didn't know it was your birthday. It sounds like a perfect way to spend a day. You look beautiful! Sweet Jo

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  7. Happy happy happy birthday!!

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  8. Your comment about thinking that you were 57 all year made me Laugh Out Loud. Haha! I love your recounting of your day — so restful, deserved, easy.

    Happiest of days to you!

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  9. Happy birthday!! I am so glad you are here. That about sums it up.

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  10. Sorry I wasn't here to say it yesterday, but Happy Birthday! I am so intrigued by this poisonous-until-ripe fruit. What a metaphor. If only women could do the same things with our bodies. I love the new shade. Xo.

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  11. Happy Birthday Beautiful! I've done the same thing, miscalculating my age and missing out on being a whole year younger. Ah well. It sounds like a perfect way to spend a birthday.
    Sending you BEST BIRTHDAY WISHES! And so much love.

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  12. missed this post yesterday...but happy belated birthday, dear angella! your celebration sound perfect: as you like it, as it shoudl be.

    i did read your post about your son, the deer, the roads upstate...and havent been able to get it out of my mind all day. so glad he was okay. so scary. (my son spends time on those same roads, and in fact was upstate yesterday, too. it's birthing season; i think the deer get a bit crazed in the springtime. just like us, worrying about their young'uns.)

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  13. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Sounds like you had a great one! I love ackee! Didn't realize it was illegal...now I know...:)

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  14. Oh, happy birthday! It sounds delightful. I love hair color!

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  15. Happy Birthday! You celebrated the same way I always prefer to celebrate, with love, good food and a relaxed vibe.

    My niece also celebrated her birthday yesterday. It is hard to believe she is 23. And hard to believe I am old enough to have a niece who is that old (my oldest nephew is 30!).

    Now to google ackee to learn more...

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  16. Happy Belated Birthday, gorgeous and talented lady!

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  17. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Crap how did I not know this. One thing I've noticed is you are growing more beautiful and I don't mean that in a smarmy birthday way I mean your face is thinning and your gorgeous cheekbones are completely amazing and your eyes and everything.
    xo

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  18. ps. I'm making polenta which is somewhat like grits and somewhat like johnny cakes in between I guess.

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  19. I'm glad you had a happy birthday! I remember spending the year I was 29 thinking about turning 30, now I can't even remember what exactly age I am much of the time.

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