35

Yesterday I was the birthday girl.
35.
Weird.

You see...ever since I turned 15 -
I haven't stopped feeling (or acting) like I was 15.

I am blessed with a husband who not only understands this...but takes great pleasure in helping me feel young.

On the morning of my birthday, I slept in and was awakened by Tommy T and the little bear cubs....bringing me breakfast in bed.


I loved it.
Tommy T is a gifted egg cooker.

There was a lot of love in that breakfast.

He then told me to throw on a bra and some flip flops.
I was concerned where he was taking me - fresh out of bed.

He covered my eyes and took me outside to the driveway.
He uncovered them and I was shocked to find two of these:

One in black...one in red.

The average 35 year old woman would think, "What in the hell?"
Not I.

My mind instantly flashed to the conversation I had with Tom - where I told him that I would LOVE to have scooters to take to Eureka Springs....to ride around the neighborhood together...just to have fun on.
You know... typical thought process of a 35 year old going on 16.

Well- he made my dream come true.


We are now the proud owners of 2009 Honda Ruckus scooters.
Words canNOT express how thrilled I am to have a scooter that is named "Ruckus".
That quite possibly is the BEST word in the English language.
"Ruckus".

We were racing them around the hood when Maren showed up with fresh whole wheat bread and homemade strawberry jam.
I love this woman.
She could not resist the beckoning call of the Ruckus and she succumbed.


Her inhibitions were tossed to the wind. She felt unruly and free. For a moment I was afraid she was going to take her bra off...but she conquered the impulse.

Tommy T had arranged for Uncle John to come babysit the kids while we took our scooters to lunch on the square. The ruckus also beckoned to John....and before he knew it - he was zipping around the neighborhood. The Ruckus drew perfect posture out of him. He was a masterpiece.


Anyway, Tom and I drove to the square. Yes....I drove this thing in real traffic...laughing my butt off the entire time.

We enjoyed lunch outdoors at the Table Mesa.
Our lunch conversation was dominated by the debate of whether of not we were officially members of the motorcycle club - and whether or not they would wave at US...like they do each other.

Tom was QUICK to tell me how Pete (a "real" biker from work) was humiliated by the thought of a scooter and that we shouldn't wave at the real bikers...we would only be rejected.

Well, as fate would have it....on the way home...I came to a stop sign where a Honda Goldwing was parked. A "real" motorcycle. The female owner looked at me and I quickly threw down a biker wave at her. Not just the flash of a hand...this was an intentional, forceful, borderline jazz hands wave.

She stared at me with disgust and did NOT wave back.
Tom was about 15 feet behind me and I could hear him wailing with laughter. We laughed the entire way home...almost to the point of it being a safety hazard.

Courtney came by that afternoon with a gorgeous photo album completely filled with pictures I had taken. She had "stolen" them off my computer during babysitting visits. It was precious to me - the time she took to do that for me. I love her.

My mom stopped by with a gift card to Bed Bath and Beyond (my fav!)...and one of the sweetest birthday cards I have ever received. Josie and Bart came over to hang a bit later...when we all decided to head to the pool.

In rebellion of turning 35 - I went down the water slide and did fancy dives off the diving boards...with all of the other children. Not only did I do a dive....I prefaced it with gymnastic hands that are commonly seen at the beginning of an Olympic floor routine. The crowd of 8 year olds was mesmerized by my skillz.

I came home to find my bicycle...not to be confuse with my Ruckus...sitting in the driveway with bows on it. He had new tires put on it....after an unfortunate blow out the other day. Word on the street is you shouldn't mount a bike that has been hanging in your garage for 5 years. Apparently the rubber erodes. You fill tires...mount bike...and then the neighbors come running outside when they hear a shotgun blast. They scream, "What happened?" and you get the pleasure of explaining that you just sat on your bike and exploded a tire.
Great for the self esteem.

I also found these:
My sweet friend Katie had brought them by when I was gone.
I love her, too.

Tom grilled burgers for dinner and then presneted me wtih my cake from my favorite cake shop. It was chocolate - strawberry filled.

I love that he even makes birthday cake meaningful.

I opened my cards.....best I had ever received.

We tucked the kids in - sitter arrived- and we headed to the movies with friends (Anne, Katie and Norman, Courtney and Todd, Kasey and Jimmie, Josie and Bart)

Land of the Lost.
An artistic masterpiece. Okay, not really.

It couldn't have been a better birthday.
Who knew turning 35 could be so fun?

Thank you Tom...for knowing me...and loving me...so perfectly.