As of yesterday, August 9th, I am yet another
year older. I have caught up with my
husband, Tom who celebrated his birthday this past June. We are both now 68. I am quite sure that when I was younger I
never thought I would ever be so old! My
age has never actually bothered me though and I’ll gladly tell it to
anyone. It is some of the things that
go along with age that sometimes bothers me!
This year for the first time I didn’t really want to celebrate my birthday. The past month has been a hectic one with Tom being in the hospital and us handling his health problems. Then on top of that I have been having some increased trouble with my blood pressure. I’ve taken medication for it for years but suddenly it has been running entirely too high. I am betting it is stress related but I did see my doctor to be safe. He increased my medication and will see me again in a couple of weeks. So much has been going on recently, not to mention me being behind on a lot of the regular things that demand my attention, I decided I’d just skip the birthday this year.
However, my son Chris and his wife Kristi invited us over to their house this past Saturday night to have dinner and celebrate my birthday. Kristi is an excellent cook and baker of cakes and she made me a Hummingbird cake for my birthday! A Hummingbird cake is a traditional southern spice cake with bananas and pineapple and a delicious cream cheese icing.
Hummingbird Cake
It was a wonderful evening spent with family and a perfect way to enjoy my birthday. It is a gift to me these days just to see my grandchildren and grown children!
Last night (on my actual birthday) Tom and I went out to eat, which is something we never do anymore thanks to the pandemic. The restaurants are open at a reduced capacity and following the local Covid requirements. We had a nice and relaxed dinner and I especially appreciated not having to cook!
Happy Birthday! I am 68 also but only for another month...then I move on! What a yummy looking cake! Sounds like you had a good day...as good as it can be in pandemic times:(
ReplyDeleteThank you Connie! Yes, I did have an unexpected good day. These days just seeing family is a treat!
DeleteHappy belated birthday! Hummingbird cake is one of my favorites, in fact we had one made as our "wedding cake" (we actually eloped and had the cake when we got home from our honeymoon, and we had sunflowers made of icing on the top). Great choice!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a good day, and I wish you the very best in the upcoming year. 🎂🎈🎊🎁
Most people I know are not familiar with Hummingbird cakes. It is traditionally a southern cake and you are in South Carolina so that must be it! Your wedding cake sounds wonderful! Thank you for the birthday wishes!
DeleteSo then, happy birthday. It was well celebrated.
ReplyDeleteYes it was Joanne. A visit with family is always my favorite thing! Thank you!
DeleteHappy birthday a bit late, Bonnie, and may you celebrate many more! That cake is gorgeous and sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right, it's the people in our lives that really make our celebrations complete. I'm glad you got to see yours. After all, everyone deserves some extra attention on their special day :)
Thank you Jenny! These days it is especially difficult to get together with family so this visit will have to last me for a while.
DeleteHappy birthday. I hope you had a great day.
ReplyDeleteThank you Red, I did have a nice day. I appreciate your kind wishes!
DeleteHappy birthday, day after my son's birthday. Good company! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Family parties are the best.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your son! Another Leo! It's always good to see family. Thank you for your good wishes!
DeleteWhat a cake!
ReplyDeleteBelated happy birthday to you
Thank you Sue! The cake was delicious but rich, so only a small piece!
DeleteHappy Birthday Bonnie. You celebrated it after all and isn't this often the best way to do it! I am four months older than you. I try not to think of age as I don't feel that I am that age at all. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Rachel. Mentally I do not feel my age at all and I try not to feel it physically but that is sometimes more of a challenge! xx
DeleteBelated Happy Birthday wishes from me, too, dear Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteIt will not come as a surprise that I have never had hummingbird cake, but it sounds and looks delicious. So nice to know you had the chance to celebrate at least a little bit!
As for being bothered (or not) about one's age, I have never understood why some folks make such a big deal of their age, even keeping it secret. I would like to tell all those who feel bad about getting older: Youth is not a merit, but getting older - and gracefully so - is!
I am 52, and like many women that age, I have a few of the typical issues surrounding menopause. Other than that, I am well and healthy and mostly happy with my body and how it still largely does what I want it to do :-)
Thank you Meike! I agree with you, getting older is a merit. I feel like I have earned every year in my age! You have a wonderful attitude about age and I should tell you that I believe you have found a fountain of youth. Your daily walking is indeed a fountain of youth and much more!
DeleteHappy Birthday! I am like you..have never minded telling my age. I am betting the higher blood pressure is stress too. Hope it comes down..I have been and will continue to pray for you and Tom
ReplyDeleteThank you Rose! Yes, I think the stress is a big part of my current problem. We've had a lot going on lately added to the whole situation of the world now! It seems like everything you do is a bit more of a challenge these days. Thank you for your kindness Rose!
DeleteSince I got my home b.p. monitor (which you commented on) I've realised just how much stress affects things. I suspect it can easily be as much as 30 mm. Caz.P. also commented after you about this very issue, and hers is a revealing and worrying tale. It won't apply to everyone, though, of course.
ReplyDeleteHi Tasker, I've been meaning to ask you how you are doing? I hope your blood pressure has improved and I'm glad you are checking it at home. Yes, stress can cause a rise in blood pressure and I think we sometimes don't realize how much stress we are under these days. Everything you do away from home is different now due to Covid and I think that affects us more than we know. I hope you are doing better!
DeleteThanks. I'm sure you're right. Mine is normal now when I read it at home.
DeleteHappy you were able to enjoy your birthday with some family and have that delicious cake. So good that you and Tom had your own dinner celebration, too, after all the two of you have gone through this past month. May you have many more times to celebrate life together. Stay well and stay safe.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary! Yes, it was nice to go out to eat for a change. We used to do that once a week and I loved it but Covid has changed all that. We went to a restaurant for his birthday and for mine and that has been all. You stay safe too Mary!
DeleteHappy Birthday! I'm glad it was a good day.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sharon! I hope you have a good week!
DeleteHappy belated birthday. The cake looks delicious and was a thoughtful and sweet gesture. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I tried to email you but I understand. I do hope you are doing okay. You have all my prayers and positive thoughts!
DeleteHappy belated birthday. The hummingbird cake looks amazing. Glad to hear you had a nice time with your family.
ReplyDeleteThank you and welcome home from your vacation!
DeleteThank you.
DeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed your birthday...twice...Bonnie. :)
ReplyDeleteA long-standing friend of mine's birthday was on the 7th August...and we both said similar...we never could imagine we'd be the age we both are now! We talked at length on the phone...and it was wonderful to reminisce.
I'm also very pleased that Tom is feeling so much better. It is little wonder your blood pressure has been misbehaving itself....after the hectic, stressful time you've both been going through...take good care..both of you. :)
Thank you Lee. The years sure do pass quickly, don't they!
DeleteI am two days late... but even so - belated birthday greetings Bonnie! I will be 67 in October and like you I never imagined I would ever get to be this old. Nowadays, I struggle to get up from the floor but with grunting I manage to do it. Lovely cake and how thoughtful of Kristi.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words! The years add up quickly for sure. It seems like just yesterday I was thinking how old I was at 50! You know, even 67 or 68 won't seem so old to us in another ten or more years!
DeleteI had never heard of hummingbird cake until I was 39 years old and changed jobs in 1980. One of the women in the office brought inis heavenly delight and it has been my favorite ever since, knocking German chocolate out of first place in my memory banks. Unfortunately, I haven't tasted one in years. Thank you for reminding me of it toay!
ReplyDeleteOh, and a belated happy birthday to you!
You are only the second person I've talked to that has heard of this cake and the other one is from South Carolina. This is definitely a Southern delight! Thank you for the birthday wishes!
ReplyDeleteI have lived in Georgia since 1975. The woman who brought in the hummingbird cake was from North Carolina.
DeleteHappy birthday. I want some cake.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes, I love cake anytime!
DeleteBelated best wishes Bonnie! That cake looks delicious. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Simone!
Delete