Tis a better season than even my birthday.

I'm forty. And I'm exhausted.
Last you heard from me I was counting down the days til my 40th birthday.
And then I WAS forty.
Now I AM forty.
And the party that continues to this day in December? It's just a rockin' good time.
The MOST fun part. The part that was even better than getting to sleep in on the actual DAY OF my birthday and NOT making lunch box lunches or preparing water bottles. The part that was better than all that? It the was the part where mention of ME kept turning up in unexpected places. Friends blogs. Emails from family to family on topics unrelated to my birthday ... but which included a p.s. happy birthday cool boots lady. ssshh. happy birthday. in little bitty letters.
Things turned up in my mailbox. On my porch. FACEBOOK!! A birthday on Facebook is just about the best thing!
And, all this to say. Talking about oneself has its advantages! Talking about oneself ad nauseum ... the whole "T minus ..." thing ... well, hell, it just touches my heart. What you know about me. What you remember about me. What I don't let you forget!
Because you listen. And you love me.
Thank you.

***

I was at St. Louise House today. And y'all it smelled like laundry. A place where mothers who are overcoming homelessness live w/ their children, smelled just like one of my favorite things in the world. Laundry. Dryer sheets. Clean clothes. Home. My home or yours.
This season ... this season that is NOT my birthday ... I've seen friends loading their cars full of donated Christmas presents for families like these. Friends delivering food bank donations. Friends offering complete meals with ham and veggies and BACON. BACON, y'all!!
All this to say, this column in yesterday's paper touched me. Like similar words have touched me before.
I have a friend who is this woman. This smart, smart woman who is proud and accountable and so hard-working. And who has overcome homelessness.
Her face is our face.
Those of us w/ homes.
Homes that smell like laundry.