Celebrate!

So...birthdays.  In my world, where I make the rules, my birthday is an “un-day.”  That means anything I eat has no calories, anything I buy doesn’t impact my back account...and so on.  It’s pretty much a “I can do whatever the hell I want and damn the consequences” kind of day.

Today the first thing on my list was a doctor appointment that I was not looking forward to--there isn’t a woman who does--but I got out of that one due to restructured CDC screening guidelines.  Go me!!

Then it was on to deliver some paperwork downtown Rochester, which isn’t my stomping grounds anymore, so the traffic sort of threw me for a loop, but I survived.

I had enough time to zip back home to pic up my mother-in-law to keep me company on my travels to Amy’s salon via Cabin Coffee in Saint Charles where me met Captain’s cousin-in-law who is a Mary Kay consultant.  She helped me select new shades of eye shadow, considering that what I have is about five years old.  

I had a cup of coffee (a caramel mocha thing with a mound of whip cream on top that required a spoon to eat) that was amazing, and the soup/sandwich special was just as tasty.

We managed to cover conversation topics from college life and regrets thereof to stay-at-home parenting to antiques to sentimental holiday decorations.  We laughed our butts off a couple of times.

We were having so much fun talking to Angie that we sort of headed out of Saint Charles later than we meant to, so we asked Angie how to cut cross county from Saint Charles to Harmony.  She gave us good directions.

Problem?

I’m pretty sure we didn’t follow them correctly because we  ventured to Fountain via Lanesboro--which consisted of two stinking one-car-wide bridges with the metal canopy.  Captain’s mom was glad I kept my eyes open while crossing...something i don’t normally do on bridges.  Hate bridges.  

But I digress.

Anyway, we made it to Harmony only ten minutes late, which worked out well as Amy was just finishing up her client when we got there.  

The varied conversation topics continued while we were with Amy from what women go through to look and stay beautiful, dream jobs, mammograms, and so on.  

We even had the nicest conversation with another client who came in while my color was “cooking.”  I couldn’t place her accent, I just knew it wasn’t SE Minnesota.  Turns out she was a transplant from New Jersey who moved her after retiring to be close to her son...who eventually moved out-of-state, but she stayed because she had fallen in love with Harmony.  I say that is a fine testament to the community in Harmony...kudos!

Amy’s final touch was to apply the new makeup I bought from Angie so I was a styling granny when I walked out the door.  

The drive back from Amy’s shop was more familiar, as we stayed right on 52 all the way to the 75th Street exit.  No side trips on unknown two-lane back roads.  But, we did see some wonderful scenic vistas on our detour and had that much longer to chat.

Did I eat some stuff that had a ton of calories today?  You bet I did.  Do I regret it?  No one single tiny little bit.  Birthdays are a celebration of self...don’t let anyone tell you different.  

Whatever makes you happiest...I hope you do that on your birthday.  Better yet, I hope someone suggests that you indulge in that one thing for your birthday.  No judgment.  No censure.  No regrets.  

Happy birthday to you whenever that might be!