A Birthday in Paradise

I put this picture of one of the ancient arches in Rome into the blog to remind me that I am not just getting older but, rather I am aging like a bootle of fine, and very expensive I might add, wine. And we all know how much I love the fruit of the vine.
Our society does not value the elders like many societies do. We have also had to redefine what older is. My great aunt, the maiden one, was the one who lived with her parents, taking care of them, until their death and then, in turn, took care of each of her brothers' families. She helped raise me as well until she died when I was five. We would drop her off on Sundays at the Catholic Church and procede to the Methodist one every Sunday. And, after church, we would visit relatives I did not know, actually chatting with them, in the two cemetaries. Maybe that is why I still chat with my Mother, Aunt and Uncle when my sis and I change the decorations at the cemetary here.

We have a tradition in our family, it's origin lost in time, of calling a member on their birthday and singing the Birthday Song as off key (not hard for any of us) on one's birthday. The phone will ring today and it will be my sister. She and I are the only two left of our family besides our kids and she and I carry on this odd tradition. My kids will sing to me tonight when they get here. And E started my day off right with a kiss and a Good Morning Honey, which is how we start each day.

I'm off to enjoy my morning at a cyber crop and then out to lunch at one of my favorite places. More pics to follow. Watch this spot! Enjoy your day all.