My birthday is in three days. When it suddenly occurred to me a few days ago, my first reaction was panic: my driver’s license expires on that very day and I hadn’t renewed it. A quick trip to town and a $75 fee later, that little urgency was handled yesterday.
Reflecting on past birthdays led my mind straight to gifts. I don’t want my life to revolve around acquiring things, but I’ll admit that receiving thoughtful gifts can make you feel special. As I unpacked my suitcase recently, I realized I’d already been showered with small, meaningful presents. It’s rarely the price that matters; it’s the way the giver knows you so well that they pick something you truly love.
One friend, Kerry-Lea, mailed me two lovely kitchen tea towels in what she called my “signature color.” I hadn’t realized I had one until she declared it aqua blue — and I’m happily embracing it. We had talked when I visited her about how we both hung on to the towels we received as wedding gifts, keeping them long after they became worn and tattered. I had planned to send her new towels, but she beat me to it.
I also found a little bundle of my mother’s things among the gifts, and those items brought back many warm memories. My mom used to travel up to see us every year with a suitcase full of small treats for each of us: a favorite candle, a bag of special coffee beans, little tokens she knew would delight. I miss her more than any object, but those gifts were part of the joy of her visits. Pulling her favorite cookbook, the lace tablecloth she reserved for special meals, and the songbooks she sang from felt like receiving a piece of her presence.
Anyone who spends time with me quickly learns that I have a somewhat obsessive reaction to public restroom germs, especially in restaurants. I always carry a purse-size bottle of hand sanitizer, and my sister Becky found the cutest travel-sized ones that smell pleasant. Little practical gifts like that say “I know you” in the best way.
When I admired my sister-in-law Lorrie’s charming cupcake display, she promptly tied some up with baker’s twine and sent some home with me. I’m looking forward to recreating a few faux cupcakes of my own for decorating and crafting.
One of the most memorable gifts from the Sisters’ Birthday Brunch organized by Susan was an evening at the Medora Musical in Medora, North Dakota. I don’t think I’ve been since before I got married, more than two decades ago. If you haven’t been, picture an outdoor amphitheater set right in the middle of the North Dakota badlands with a sky and landscape that look like they belong on a stage backdrop — except they’re completely real.
The performance was full of singing, dancing, cowboys, and stirring patriotic songs that bring tears to my eyes. It was a heartfelt, uplifting evening — one of those experiences that becomes a treasured memory rather than just another item on a shelf.
As I put my suitcases away and found places for all these small treasures, I felt deeply grateful. The gifts themselves are lovely, but what I cherish most is the thought behind them — the knowledge that people cared enough to choose something that fits me, to share an experience, or to pass on a family keepsake.
It’s not about the objects; it’s about the givers. Thank you for every kindness, every thought, and every shared moment. xxoo