This is 37. [+ 1 day]
So my birthday ritual 🎂 is to write in my journal for my birthday…
😊what and who makes me happy now,
😳what has surprised me,
🤔what I want to change, improve and keep,
🙏🏾what I think/hope today will look like next year…
I don’t have my journal with me – somehow forgot to pack it, so blog it is…
Quick birthday collage! 
It’s been a really good birthday 🤗, haven’t had a good one since Fred [aka dad] passed in 2013 – it’s not fun sharing the same birthday as your father once he’s not around anymore. But as we know the motto is forward ever, so at some point I know I had to make sure it was a good one. So it’s about reminding myself to move forward with my grief, not ignoring it, not sitting in it, but simply holding it dear and moving forward with it. [change, improve, keep ✅]
Why did I choose to be in NYC for my birthday with some random ass snowfall ☃️ on my birthday? My boo, Court, made the ridiculous request of me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding – don’t know what she is thinking, but hey this life is all about accepting challenges [surprised me ✅😮] The date is perfect timing so let’s make it a thing, head to NYC and see my people and make an effort for a happy birthday and be the supportive friend the following weekend. #WeddingWeekendBonanza 🎉💃🏾
Sunday #BirthdayBrunch 🍗 🥞🍳 🍾 was amazing! I forgot how many beautiful neverending friendships I made in this city, people made such an effort and I will forever love them for it. I know they don’t know how much that meant to me but it’s one I’ll never forget. Tasha rocked up from DC, Tejan from Philly, Rah from New Rochelle, Court from jersey city, folks from all 5 boroughs with brilliant kids in tow made the effort to spend a couple hours with me on their Sunday. And the crazy cousins… Robin and Nicky, the best older cousins a woman could want – Treat me like the adult I am but spoil me like I’m still in single digits. Most love always. 💕
Amazing birthdays songs, videos, messages, calls on the day – the effort that people make is not lost on me. The call from the big sis talking about tings [makes me happy ✅]
Organising for this trip, doing the typical travel insurance business and there I was declaring #sarcoidosis, I kept thinking what sort of random business is my life but also super happy it is what it is and I’m not sitting in a lazy-boy having poison pumped into my arm. So I’ll take the sarcoid declaration on my travel insurance + a doubled premium. And I know I’ll probably pay for all this alcohol 🥃🍷🍹🍸 pretty soon and my cough has worsened this morning [improve ✅] but all in balance. I can’t breathe well enough to have sex without gasping for air and not in a – I’m about to have the most mind-blowing orgasm kinda way. So I’m going to enjoy my people + my drinks and deal with the fallout when I return home and to being the responsible adult managing an auto-immune diagnosis.
Waking up a 37 + 1 day old, I hope that 38 + 1 day looks kinda like this, waking up in my dad’s old nightshirts, super amazed and grateful for the people who are on this life journey with me, a slightly warmer climate🏖; less obvious sarcoid symptoms 😷 and steroid puffy face enjoying great food + drink. [what I think/hope this day will look like a year on ✅]
Here’s to 37, bring on 38. [cause I know that shit is gonna be gone in the blink of an eye]
Walk good. xoxo
