Reflections on my birthday
Today is my birthday. I am a real birthday person. I love to celebrate each year, not in any big way though; I much prefer the quieter simpler celebrations in life. Some birthdays are more memorable than others and the most memorable of all was the one I spent in 2004 in hospital just after my breast cancer surgery.
My post-surgery drains were still attached, but I was allowed out for the day to celebrate. Billy, my now husband took me to Roly’s Bistro close to the hospital for a birthday lunch. I felt a bit strange with my drains hooked up and hidden under a loose top and I was all swathed and bandaged, but I was back out in the world for the first time, and it felt good. The sun shone and everything looked as if it had been imbued with added colour and life. I really was looking at everything through fresh eyes and with deep gratitude.
In the six years since that day, I have had many ups and downs. I haven’t always felt grateful for them all, but one thing I have never ceased to be grateful for is friendship. Indeed my gratitude like my friendships have grown and deepened since that time, as new friendships made online (you know who you are!) have added to my stock of joy and happiness. Your friendship, support and love are the best gift I could ever have, not just on my birthday, but always.
Happy, happy birthday and many birthday blessings to you!! Although it saddens me that you had to experience the cancer journy–I am so thankful and blessed (like many others) to share the journey of life with you! I am so looking forward to the day when we can meet in person. May all your birthday dreams come true!
Blessings, k.
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Aw Kim – thank you! You just made my day..see THAT is what I’m talking about 😉
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Happy Birthday, Mary, and may you see the “added colour” every day! You are a wonderful person and it’s a blessing for all of us to be able to read your thoughts here – you’re an inspiration for so many!
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Gabriela thank you so much for your kind words – they really touched my heart today x
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Happy Birthday beautiful, brave and inspiring Marie, I totally can relate to your story…only I came home from my breast surgery a week before my 29th Birthday…I think what this illness teaches most of us is that life is precious, fragile and short and has to be lived to the fullest. God bless you always and thank you so much for sharing these blogs with us! xx
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Happy Birthday Marie, I am glad you are a birthday person, and that you will find a lovely way of celebrating today – of celebrating you, for it is worth celebrating. And thanks for your posts, they are always inspirational.
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On your birthday, I am thankful for the gifts you have given to me….words and thoughts when they were desperately needed. Very happy birthday to you and many, many more. ❤
nancy
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Thank you all for your kind birthday wishes – they may so much to me x
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Happy birthday Marie. Though the day is nearly over, continue to enjoy it. May the next year bring you lots of happiness. You deserve lots and lots. Lily x
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Marie..happy belated birthday!!!! I am just being hooked up to wireless in Charlotte. I want to say that you have ment so much to me as I walked through my first years being diagnosed with Breast Cancer. You are so smart, caring and I appreciate all that you do for your followers! Billie you are a lucky guy!
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Happy birthday, Marie. I hope you had a splendid day. You have certainly come a long way since that birthday six years ago. I remember my first outing with my tubes still in and how good it felt to just get out again, even though it was hard too. Hope the next year brings you much happiness.
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Thank you so much Nancy 🙂
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Happy Birthday to my Libra Friend!
I loved reading your post. Our cancer journey taught so many survivors the great lesson of graditude. We are each blessed to have another opportunity to share our birthday’s with those we love. This gift reminds us to seek out the joy in life every day.
I am sending love your way and lots of wishes for many more birthdays to come,
Tamara
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I hope you had a wonderful celebration of you Birthday. It is a very important day, for it is the day you were given to the rest of the world and look how many people you have touched with your gifts! I feel so lucky to know you! Love, Debbie
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Oh Debbie! What can I say?? Your comment touched me deeply xxx
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