Flowers on the Porch

I have had the most amazing day. Despite feeling like crap yesterday, I woke up fine, ready to head to the post office to turn in my passport application. What I discovered is that, even with the proper paperwork, it isn't just a matter of turning it in. I got there just after 8:30; I finally left around 11:15. The post office doesn't take appointments, and a mere fifteen minutes after the office opened there were already many people ahead of me. Usually I carry a book or at least a notepad, but since I had recently changed purses (and wasn't anticipating such a long wait) I had nothing to occupy myself. But a very nice thing happened: The lady behind the counter had been dealing with less than pleasant people all morning, and I'm nothing if not pleasant. She appreciated my niceness so much that she waived the photo fee and wished me an early happy birthday. Oh, and when I left I had a message from my youngest son saying that he and his girlfriend had gotten me a gift certificate at my favorite mani-pedi place at the beach! The perfect gift.

By the time I finished at the post office, I had one of those weird windows of time before my spa appointment, too much time to go straight there and too little time to go anywhere else. Because I am neurotically punctual and wasn't sure exactly where I was going, I opted for being early to my appointment. Just as I was parking in the big garage, the spa attendant called to tell me there had been something of a mix-up with my services. She asked if I could still come in at 1:00 for the body wrap and do the hot stone massage after. I told her I was already there, and didn't know what I would do for the hour-plus until my body wrap appointment. So she said the office would give me a certificate for lunch that I could use in the cafe in the building, and kill time there. As it turned out, the massage therapist was at the front desk when I came in, after I had received the gift certificate, and said she could do a different kind of massage before the body wrap, which time-wise was my preference. So it all worked out according to the original plan (more or less) and I have a food certificate I can use the next time I'm in that part of town.

When I left the spa, I decided to pop in on my son at work. I walked in on him and his colleagues talking about his plans for my birthday, which was funny because one of them yelled, "Happy birthday, Mom!" so he would be quiet. (My son didn't see me right away.) I hadn't eaten all day, so I ordered a coffee and a scone -- a little gluten won't kill me -- and when I started to get my money out, the cafe owner told me she was treating in honor of my birthday. I visited for a few minutes with my son until while the shop wasn't busy, and then headed home. I had one last errand to complete -- my car tag renewal, which took all of five minutes at the drive-through and is now paid through 2016.

I was mulling over my day as I drove home and thinking about how fortunate I had been to encounter so many nice people and to have been the recipient of so much thoughtfulness and kindness. As I pulled into my driveway, I saw flowers at my front door. I had no idea who would have sent me flowers. It was my wonderful aunt and uncle. They are beautiful -- pink, of course, with a nice vase hugged by a white bear. I'm not usually a sentimental sap, but it was so sweet it brought tears to my eyes. Today I am feeling like a very lucky and blessed woman, and I still have tomorrow to look forward to, a day of I-don't-know-what, I-don't-know-where (although I have a suspicion) with my middle son and his girlfriend. This is shaping up to be a terrific birthday.