Oct
2022

Happy Birthday Danielle!!!

I got to have a spa day with my mom on her birthday – we had a great day!

He said

What a week! There were a lot of moving parts to this week, but the biggest was a significant milestone for Danielle this weekend in her 50th birthday on Saturday. Any of you that know her, know well enough that she doesn’t like to be the topic of attention and doesn’t like to have a big deal made over her birthday. She and I are very much alike in this respect, with one caveat that my will-talk-to-anyway approach to life might convince you otherwise. But, the idea was we do something relatively low-key, and impromptu that didn’t feel like a big ordeal. Danielle’s biggest goals were that we went out as opposed to being at the house, and that the people she loved that could be there, were there.

With that in mind, and keeping in mind that I work in retail and my schedule can be a challenge, that Emelia is a very busy girl with lots of activity in her life it was a challenge was organizing this with much advance notice. Also keep in mind that I am, also by nature a person that flies by the seat of his pants. But, what I was blown away very quickly was that how loved Danielle is because regardless of how little notice people got, they were willing to drop everything to come celebrate this special day with her. And within an hour there was a group of people excited to join us at the Rec Room last night. And the group was the perfect mix of people from all facets of Danielle’s life. Sure, not everyone could make that I reached out to, but those that couldn’t have plans to make her special on her own.

With the organizing of that out of way all that was left was to wait for the special day. In the meantime this week we got a real sense that winter is coming. We had three straight days of cold, wet and miserable weather—so much so—that my daily bike rides unfortunately had to turn inside to the basement. And while that wasn’t my favourite, I certainly was happy to have the ability to do so as the reality is we’re a lot close to winter. But the flip side of that was that weather in the latter part of this week turned an unseasonably warm and through Friday to Sunday I was once again able to get in some outside rides on the TVP that filled my lungs with fresh air while riding through gloriously, beautiful fall colours.

So, we finally arrived at the big day for Danielle and Emelia had something big up her sleeve—she organized a spa day for she and Danielle to go get mani-pedi’s at the salon in our neighbourhood. I didn’t think they have done this together since our last Disney Cruise so I know it was something the both of them were looking forward to. And we spent the rest of the day and evening making sure Danielle felt as special as she makes everyone else feel. And from what I can tell, that happened and then some as she spent pretty much the entire evening laughing, smiling and just enjoying the company. But, don’t just let me tell you how it went, let’s hear from her:

She said

I would say that this week was all about me but let’s be honest I don’t like things being ‘all about me’. I have never been a person who likes to be the center of attention or to have a fuss made. So when we were getting closer to my milestone birthday this week John asked me how I really wanted to celebrate. I wanted it simple, no big gifts just some time with close friends and family and that would just about perfection.

Well that is exactly what I got. I woke Saturday morning to a quiet start with just Emelia and I as John got in his morning ride. Once he was back he made a big breakfast for us and we spent the rest of the morning taking things easy. By noon Emelia and I were off the spa for a mani/pedi treatment which was her present to me. It was perfect. She and I chatted about everything going on in her life and what she was excited about. Spending a couple hours with your teenager was just about perfection.

After we wrapped up at the spa Emelia and I headed to the mall so I could get a shirt for our dinner out. She patiently went shopping with her mother who hates to shop but we found exactly what I was looking for. We headed up so she could veg out and chat with some friends while John and I got some time just us. The weather this weekend was perfection so we decided we would go for a hike together. I brought him to the second of the TVP that Emelia and I walked often during the pandemic. It is a section that he does not ride so I was happy to share with him my favourite little pocket of the path.

Once we got home we got ready and had a quick visit with Helen and Doug before heading out to dinner. John had planned dinner with as many friends and family that we able to come. We chose the Rec Room because we knew the kids would have a blast and the adults would have time to catch up. The dinner was perfect! I was able to connect with lots of friends and family and even got a chance to see my best friend face to face for the first time since the early pandemic.

I wanted to thank everyone for making my 50th so special. I can say I do not feel 50, John and I are active and very healthy and that is all we could ask for. Thank you to my friends and family for all the texts, messages and for being there for me. I love you all so much!

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