Apr 14, 2016

IT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DAY THAT LIMA OHIO HAD EVER SEEN...

Today I am 50.

Wow.

Time sure flies when you're having this much fun.

If I've told you these stories before, forgive me, but they've been rattling around in my brain since the wee hours of the morning, and I guess they must be in there for a reason...

When my mom went into labor with me, my dad happened to be in San Francisco giving a speech.  The urban legend/family story has it that he was addressing the audience at a podium and someone passed him a note that said "Mr. Rich, your wife has gone into labor" and Dad looked out at the crowd, and said "Excuse me, please.  My wife is having a baby" and walked off the stage to a standing ovation.  (I'd like to think that this was my first).  Then he found the nearest telephone, called my mom and said "Don't do anything until I get there" and hung up.

The second part of the urban legend/family story is that he made it back to Lima in time for my arrival, and after traveling all day and night, patiently waiting in the waiting room (as dads were wont to do in those days) and then kissing me on my tiny little head, he got in his Pontiac and drive to a plant nursery and bough a little flowering tree that he took home and planted in the front yard of 25 Beaumont Place.

I don't know if any of that is true or not, but when I finish this here blog post, I'm going to Google Earth 25 Beaumont Place in Lima, Ohio to see if my tree is still there.

The title of my post is courtesy of my Aunt JoAnn.  Every year (for as long as I can remember, anyway), my Aunt JoAnn calls and leaves a message on my answering machine that starts out with "It was the most beautiful day that Lima, Ohio had ever seen".  And then she tells me the story of how she was with my mom at the hospital and how she held her hand and told her to be brave, but not to embarrass anybody by crying.

I love those stories.

I guess, come to think about it, I love almost all of the stories of my life thus far.  Some have happier endings than others, true, and some have handsome princes and evil queens, but all in all I just don't have one darn thing to complain about.  I have been spectacularly blessed with incredible things and interesting challenges and wonderful opportunities and hilarious perspectives, and I don't think I would change one single solitary moment of one single solitary day.

Oh, what a ride it's been.  I can't wait to see what happens next!

So, my dear friends, I thank you from the bottom of my pitiful little heart for being such a huge part of this crazy life of mine and for making it so....lovely.  I'll leave you with the card that was attached to a beautiful vase of flowers that arrived as I was heading to the library.  They are from my dear dear friend, Lou, and I think it is the perfect example of why I walk around with a silly grin on my face....how did I get so lucky to have people like this in my life?

65 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Happy Birthday Coni! As my AARP magazine says, don't think of it as over the hill, think of it as being on top of the mountain... and planning which mountain you will climb next!

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  3. Happy Birthday Coni! I hit the big 50 in February...it's great. Have fun.

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  4. Happy Birthday Coni! Many, many more, along with many, many, many hours of stitching and having fun. And please keep writing, because I love reading about all you do, and your beautiful stitching.

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  5. Happy Birthday to the wittiest, most talented stitcher I know!

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  8. Feliz cumpleanos! Memories are wonderful things. Even on a not so good day a person can
    pull them out of the memory bank and enjoy them again!! Happy birthday to a great person and a marvelous stitches.
    P.S. Happy Birthday to Chrissy

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  9. Happy Birthday! Hope your day is special from beginning to end.

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  10. Happiest of birthday's Coni, the best is yet to come!

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  11. Have a wonderful birthday! I so enjoy reading your blog and following your life. Love to Stewie from George (collie who would love to play with him) and Nona (collie girl who is above playing with the boys).

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  12. Happy birthday, Coni! Hoping today is a beautiful day in Mishawaka, IN!

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  13. Happy Birthday Coni! Hope today is as wonderful as you are!

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  14. Happy Birthday Coni, I hope you have an amazing day and the little dog behaves himself as befits a gentleman companion.
    Love the story of your birth too. My Dad hitch-hiked all the way home to be in time for my birth, he was working oer 150 miles away.

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  15. Dear Coni, it is we who are blessed to be a part of your life. I hope your birthday is wonderful and that this next year will continue to be an adventure. Hugs from Arizona!

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  16. Happy Birthday and thank you for sharing your life with us. I am a devoted reader of every word on your blog and look forward .. with great anticipation .. to the next episode. You somehow manage to always put me in a better place. Thank you for that.

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  17. Happy Birthday Coni! You're one in a million!
    Don't change a thing :0)

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  18. Many Happy Returns, enjoy your special day.

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  19. Wishing you every happiness...your blog is such a gift to us!
    Liz

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  20. Happy birthday from a great fan from France. Love your blog...and turned 50 4 days ago !Chris

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  21. Happy birthday, Coni! Enjoy your day!

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  22. Happy Birthday, Coni!! You are half way there......50 more to go. I wish I could give to you all the laughs you have given to me by reading your blog....every word you have written. This blog is only 1 of your SuperPowers.

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  23. Happy Birthday Coni! Sending thoughts for a day filled with everything that is good and beautiful...and for 50 more wonderful years!
    Hugs

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  24. Happy Birthday!! Welcome to the Fabulous Fifties!! you have joined an ELITE Club!! (I myself will be 55 later this year)

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  25. Blessing to you on this special day.....there had better be CAKE! I am a bit "ahead" of you, turned the big 60 last June, and have added G'ma to my list of achievements - it is a story, that like yours, has many happy moments and continues to plug along. I wouldn't have it any other way, and neither should you!

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  26. Happy Birthday!! I hope you have a wonderful day!
    I'm sorry to be so behind on reading and commenting on your blog.

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  27. Happy Birthday! I surely hope it is the most beautiful day wherever you are has ever seen!

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  28. Happy B-Day!!
    And many more!!
    Mariyln

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  29. Happy birthday and many more! Thanks for letting us celebrate the "Most beautiful day that Lima Ohio had ever seen" with you.

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  30. Happy Birthday Coni! I hope your day is filled with happiness, laughter, and chocolate cake. :)

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  31. Very many happy returns of the day, Coni! You had me so excited there for a minute - I thought you were Peruvian!! Being an ignorant Englishwoman, the only Lima I had ever heard of was in Peru. How exotic you must be, I thought! Perhaps you are but I guess you weren't born on Peru!

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  32. Happy birthday! There is indeed great freedom in being 50+.

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  33. Wishing you a Very Happy Birthday ! Hope your JDM fairy tale comes true ;-D

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  34. Happiest of birthdays! Hope it is a great day

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  35. Hope your birthday is as beautiful and wonderful as you. Here's to many more!!

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  36. Happy Birthday, Coni! I hope that the coming year will be one of your happiest ever! Now you can add that today is the most beautiful day in blog-land! You're very loved by so many of us!
    Hugs!!

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  37. Cannot let the day pass without wishing you
    a very blessed Birthday and a year filled with good health, well being and supreme
    Stewie moments... You are a wise soul
    beyond your years and younger than should be allowed in wit and tenacity at your age.
    Keep foolin' them......

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  38. Happy birthday and may your year be filled with health and happiness.

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  39. Happy Birthday! I wish you joy and health for the rest of the year. Your posts brighten my days.

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  40. Much health and happiness to you from the northeast! The 50's are not too bad at all. It's true you stop worrying about what others may think. Enjoy the ride and thanks so much for your delightful posts!

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  41. Happy Birthday Coni,
    Wishing you a year filled with good health, happiness, joy and wet doggie kisses.
    Thank you for your wonderful blog posts!

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  42. You are such a Blessing to us who read your Blog..... It fills my heart and I hope you have the Happiest of Birthdays! Remember - Fifty is Nifty.....

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  43. Happy Belated Birthday wishes!!! I am sorry I missed it, but I was ill. I am so happy that you are spectacularly blessed! :) Cathryn

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  44. Sorry to be late with 'happy birthday!' but I wanted to say it anyway. Very best wishes from England. Lynda xx

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  45. Happy Birthday Coni! I hope you enjoyed your day and that you plan to celebrate well into next week!

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  46. Happy Birthday!! I hope you had the most wonderful day!

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  47. Happy Birthday, Coni, even though this is a day late. I started reading stitching blogs just a year ago. At first I read each one with enthusiasm. However, a year later I find that I scroll quickly through my blogfeed looking for a word or two from you. Your blogs never disappoint. Your writing voice shows your vulnerability as well as your great wit. I love every syllable! If you ever decide to forego the stitching business (which is beautifully done by the way), please consider a career in writing. A fan from the Motor City with her little cairn, Tessie Grace.

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  48. Very happy belated birthday! I know there will be many, many more.

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  49. You bring so many smiles to others! Happy Happy New Year Coni... Hope this is your best year ever!
    Ruth in Oxnard

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  50. A very happy belated birthday, Coni! Best wishes from Canton, GA!

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  51. Happy belated birthday! Have we discussed that you are EXACTLY six months older than me before? (I think those bastards cut your tree down!)

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  52. Happy Belated Birthday!! Hope it was wonderful.

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