Family, friends and lady balls... a birthday to be grateful for!

I turned 44 years old last Tuesday. I’m at that age that when I feel a little warm, I’m worried I’m having a hot flush. It’s the time when you realise you probably have no decent eggs left to conceive, even if you want to. It’s also an age when you realise all the crap you worried about in your 30s is just that, crap, and there are so many more significant issues to be concerned about in your 40s other than ‘does my bum looks big in this!’.

On the big scale of things I am lucky. I am healthy. I know where I will sleep each night, I wake up to a meal each day, and I am surrounded by people who love, respect and care for me. I have a purpose in my day and I get excited about the work I do, whether it’s paid or not. I am grateful most days for my lot, for my life and for those who share it with me. But birthdays for me are a time for greater reflection. It’s a time I consider the year just gone by and the one that’s staring me fair and square in the blue eyes.

This week, while I listened to numerous versions of happy birthday sung lovingly to me on my voicemail, I was also reminded of those I didn’t hear from. The friends and family I have lost contact with over the past 12 months, the past few years. The silence around this time of year is deafening, and sometimes it stings, and I did nurse a heavy heart as I thought about this fact. It’s a sad reminder sometimes of life’s hectic schedules, but also that life is a series of cycles, some end and new ones begin. As I get older, I appreciate more those who continue to share my journey, love me unconditionally and offer me their friendship. Some of them are below, and this blog is about showing them my gratitude.

MY FAMILY:  Birthdays are big in my family; they mean lots of food, laughter, numerous versions of the birthday song, some clapping experience my brother Mark has invented, and always cake, lots of cake. Thank you to my beautiful mother and sister who coordinated this year’s effort and to my brothers for their wishes, and to my handsome nephews – Matt and Ben pictured above – for sharing the day/night with me.

BANGARRA WITH A BESTIE: Leos are good at celebrating birthdays. I have a few close girlfriends who are Leos. My bestie Michelle pictured above, another Julie and my US-based tidda Dawn. We know what it means to ‘have a birthday’ and we do it in style. This year, I went with Michelle to see Bangarra’s latest offering, TERRAIN,  choreographed by the talented Frances Rings, and accompanied by the musical genius of David Page. Am loving my autographed copy of the soundtrack – another bonus to attending the performance at the Sydney Opera House.

TIME WITH THE GIRLS: I work most weekends, so I have no problem at all taking the day off when August 14 rolls around. And sometimes you just need some time out with the girls , so that’s what I did; with lunch at my old stomping ground – The Clovelly Hotel – accompanied by some of the best salt’n’pepper squid in the eastern suburbs, and a cup cake!

But because not everyone can take ‘Anita’s birthday off’ the celebration lunches continued five days later with my deadly sista Robynne and long-time friend and life-coach Geraldine (that’s us above). We went to Ventuno’s down at Walsh Bay, check it out. Sunday in the sun with beautiful friends was the perfect way to end a wonderful birthday week.

THE THREE AMIGOS: Without even trying we have a tradition of meeting on/near my birthday, even though Mark and Frané live in WA and Boori lives in Melbourne and Townsville and everywhere in between (he’s a true nomad). But I felt truly blessed this week to share another birthday with the ‘Three Amigos’ in our favourite spot (Pizza Birra in Surry Hills). Interestingly, one of my gifts was a dice (yes I know that's plural but it sounds wrong to say 'a die') with a series of words on it:   I keep throwing it, and I keep getting the same answer: CHANGE JOBS. I’m not sure what to make of it. Perhaps it is something to reflect upon on my 45^th!

THE HEADLESS MUSE: It was lovely to see my muse this week. He’s a Virgo so we celebrate together, and he loved his new Superman jammies; we must now refer to him as ‘Super Muse!’ For those who haven’t met my muse before (actually I have a couple, he’s just one), you can meet and read about him from last year here, here, and here!

LADY BALLS: I’ve always thought I’ve got more balls than some of the men that come into my life, but let’s face it, you can never have enough. So thank you Terri C for my gorgeous pink lady balls and being a fabulous golfing partner – I’ll see you on the golf course!

It's fair to say, that the old adage 'life begins at 40' is true, and it just gets better!