Nearly 40 But Not Quite

Sometimes there are no words for things. Usually these are either extremely bad or extremely good, this particular day was the latter. It was a day of so many surprises it felt like my brain couldn’t register them all. First my sister arrived on the Friday (squeal!) and then took me off to the hairdressers on Saturday morning for a much needed haircut. She really should be a stylist or something, I don’t know how I’ve managed up until now.

Then, in the afternoon, there was another knock on the door. My dearest friend was standing on the drive smiling at me, I haven’t seen her in 3 1/2 years (I’ve been counting). There was squeezing and tears and, of course, cake. I couldn’t have been happier. But that wasn’t all. As the afternoon wore on the doorbell rang several times and my aunts, uncles, cousins and their children arrived, here to celebrate my nearly 40th birthday.

Food magically arrived (courtesy of the magic elves in the kitchen who looked a lot like my sister and Dad), years slipped away as we all caught up with the turning of our lives and loves. I talked until I was hoarse and laughed until I was sore. I moved from one person to the next never really able to believe that they were all there. But really that was just the tip of the iceberg, for the rest I am at a loss to describe.

I don’t have words for how I felt when so many of my loved ones travelled across the country just to spend time and celebrate with me. I don’t have words for how I felt about how hard my sister had worked to organise it all. I don’t have words for how lovely it was to be surrounded by those I love and miss so much.