The birthday that keeps on giving

I’m not one for big birthday celebrations. I don’t do big parties or lots of presents. I DO eat chocolate and for the last few years incorporate some fun birthday training.

Bill and I have a general policy that we don’t have to get presents for each other. Occasionally we’ll get something for each other or buy something for ourselves and say that counts as a birthday present. This year I got the best present surprise…race wheels! I LOVE them!! Ever since New Zealand, he’d been secretly saving money to buy me wheels he picked with the help of Katie. It was an amazing surprise and every time I pass by them I smile. Can’t wait to test these bad boys out!

After spending literally all day debating between going to a healthy restaurant or my usual Melting Pot, I broke down and went with the later. After all, I had to celebrate getting race wheels! As always, it was so worth it!

I asked for a birthday swim again which I did Saturday. This year wasn’t as crazy, 29x150. In included a good chunk of swimming with only a band which I have to say I finally am 100% ok doing. It included all the strokes including fly which I am NOT 100% ok doing. I am admittedly not very good at fly. Ok I’m horrible at it. I do it maybe half a dozen times a year and I’m happy to make it to the other wall while wearing fins. Although it wasn’t a very long swim it had enough variety to keep it challenging at times.

I decided since it was 29 sets for my 29^th birthday, that I would spend each set reflecting on that year of my life. How often do you really think about those random years of your life where nothing significant happened? I have no memories for the first several years so it was mostly thinking of my family in general and acknowledging that I was fortunate for the family I was born into. There were many good childhood years. Teenage years of laughing at how it felt like the end of the world but it was only high school drama. Years of making stupid decisions. Years of making good and sometimes challenging decisions. Years of marriage where I swear all we did was renovate our house. Lots of happy memories. That was my biggest take away. When I look back I primarily see the happy memories. No matter how down in the ditch I felt during phases of my life, I always pulled myself out and stood a little taller. In general, my life has been good. 

I decided last minute to throw an informal birthday party/pool party/BBQ with some friends at my in-law’s house/pool. It was a good time with lots of yummy food and naturally cake where I was forced into being sung happy birthday to.

Sunday I got to do my birthday ride in the mountains. I haven’t ridden in the mountains since January when it was in the 20s. This time it was perfect weather in the 60s. I felt free climbing steady to Saluda and the bakery. Bill and a friend took his car out for a joy ride and met me at the bakery for a yummy treat before heading back down. My head has been a work in progress with not freaking out while descending, especially on bumpy roads. I’ve improved significantly but I’m not as fearless as I once was. Maybe I’ll never get back there. Still, I loved every minute of it, even white-knuckled-tensing-up minutes. I was so happy that my riding has progressed enough to allow me to do a climbing ride. It was short compared to what I’m used to doing but I’ll take what I can get!

That night we celebrated one last time at my in-law’s which naturally, included more chocolate cake. Overall, it was a fantastic birthday. Hopefully that’s the theme for my last year in my 20s!