I’ve felt so much already . . . and it’s not even 8 o’clock in the morn’.

Eyes wide awake at midnight, I smile.

It’s my birthday!

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday dear Sj,

Happy Birthday to me.

Giggles in my warm bed.

Giggles of joy to be alive.

Happy Birthday me again, Sj!

And I do.

I sing yet again to myself.

I feel my Dad watching and laughing.

I hear my five year old self call out, “Happy Birthday me again, Daddy!”

And he did.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Until his last time seven years ago.

Awake.

Quietly awake.

Peacefully awake.

And as I lay in my warm bed covered in quilts that my sister made for me,

I gave thanks

To be alive

To be alive

To be alive!

And then the pull of sleep called me to her breast,

until once again I awoke . . .

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me,

Happy Birthday dear Sj, Happy Birthday to me.

And then fb called my name.

Yes, fb, lol.

I heeded the call.

Read the many loving messages.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mahalo.

I love YOU!

Happy face.

Hearts galore.

I love you.

I LOVE you.

Again I lay in silence,

Until once again, I awoke.

It’s my Birthday, my Birth

Day.

And as I rose, I saw another message.

One of concern

not for me

but for

another

Worry

Worry

Worry

and what called me instead was

Love

Love

Love

All there is is love.

All there is is love.

On this day when I rise with double-nickles in my eyes . . .

I’ve felt so much already . . . and it’s not even 8 o’clock in the morn’.

. . .

Faith

Hope

and

Love

And the greatest of these

is

Love.

–Sj