Happy Birthday …
To me.

And Oprah.
If Today Is Your Birthday
While it’s true that you have your pulse on the most visionary of concepts, you also have the reputation for being offbeat — even weird — in your approach to life. The good news is that you’re an incredibly strong-willed individual. But at the same time, you might be uncompromising and rebellious — especially when you sense any threat to your personal freedom. When you need breathing room and ask someone to give you space, you tend to mean it … even if it’s on your birthday!
Some may accuse you of being cold or detached … and at times this might be the case. If this happens, however, it’s usually because you prefer not to reveal yourself until you’ve decided someone is worthy of something more than a superficial alliance. You may not wear your heart on your sleeve, but you certainly have feelings that run deep. True, you might be a little strange sometimes, but you’re also authentic.
Every year on this day my father would tell me the story about the moment he knew he was going to have a daughter, after three boys (and one more who followed me).
Neither of parents knew my gender until I was born. They said based on my size and my Mum’s previous births, they all believed I was another strapping lad.
As he told it, he was sitting in the waiting room reading a Time magazine. And as he sat there alone he said an all knowing feeling waved over him like never before, and he knew right there and then that I was going to be a girl. And with that, he put the magazine down and looked towards the door.
About ten minutes later, he said, a nurse walked into the room and asked: Sir? Would you like to meet your daughter?
That has been my 29 January birthday present since I was old enough to listen, the story of me before they met me. My darling Papa told the tale better. No matter, he is the voice inside my head today … sharing.
Not to be left out is the Lady who did all the heavy lifting (no pun intended). Thank you Momare. I hope you are feeling better!
It’s a lovely gift, to be a part of an instance when the Universe makes you a warm and moving feeling for another human being. And I open this parcel once a year.
To continue the fuzzy trend, I wish to add my rather serene English morning view: A gentleman strolling with his large dog under a clear blue sky around the neighbourhood in Bristol.

And my listen is Yo-Yo Ma’s Gabriel’s Oboe by Ennio Morricone:
I know, right?
Now … back to work.
Happy Wednesday.