The day after
Yesterday I turned 60. I guess if I had wanted the surprise party I should have organized it myself. What can I say? With the covidiocy and the masks, it is hard for a true introvert to make and hold friends. My family have their own families. So like last year, I had a solo celebration.
My plans for the day, a walk in the park with Foxy, failed because the skies were a dark gray from the smoke from the wildfires. When I went out the lobby doors and tasted the ash in the air, it made me cough. Thankfully since I started my elimination diet (terrible timing by the way) I have lost the mucus problem.
Other people I've talked to recently have also had severe allergies from the dust and smoke in the air. I guess the added intolerance of dairy added to the smoke was the reason that I would wake up filled with mucus.
The day wasn't a total loss. I did a home spa day. First soaking my feet and second taking a very long shower. By the time I finished, I had used every towel in my apartment. I listened to spa type music from Youtube and meditated.
After checking my mail in the lobby, one of the residents here (it does feel like an insane asylum sometimes) sang Happy Birthday to me. Since I couldn't eat ice cream and cake didn't hit the spot, I had butter cookies and almond ice cream from Trader Joes.
I did get a card from a friend and several birthday greetings on Facebook. No candles. I'm pretty sure I didn't want to start a fire in my apartment.
So all the birthday traditions were followed except for presents. It's hard to surprise myself.
Being adaptable is important at any age. So maybe this year I'll make a goal to have more contact with physical friends. I do love my long distance, digital friends but it doesn't make up for face-to-face conversation. Maybe I'll be less introverted next year.