Turning Older

In a couple of days, I will be another year older and hopefully wiser. Bro, who shares the same birthday, asked me what I planned to do on our day. Nothing special, really. The past year has been so full of blessings that I really do not feel I need to do anything special to celebrate. I feel that the entire year has been one big celebration in itself. Also in the past few days, we have been up and about entertaining guests. It is a lot of fun but also extremely exhausting. Now, I want nothing more than to just have a quiet and restful birthday.

Last week, a friend from the Philippines arrived to spend some time with us. In the middle of her stay, Hubby's 17-year-old twin nephews arrived to spend a whole week. We have been taking them around to see the sights and just hanging out to spend time with them. It took a lot out of me to keep up with teenage energy. It brings home the reality of how old I really am!

First night, after a sumptuous dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, we took them on a walking tour from the Christian Science Center to Trinity Church in Copley Square, through Newbury St., to the Boston Public Gardens and finally, the Boston Commons to watch "Hamlet". I walk an average of half an hour daily. But that was a much longer walk than I was used to. We got home before midnight.

On Saturday, along with Hubby's other 7-year-old nephew and 5-year-old niece (who live nearby), we took them sailing during the early afternoon in the Boston Harbor, then went to the North End (Boston's Little Italy) to grab something at the famous Pizzeria Regina (est. 1926). We then proceeded to the Esplanade along the Charles River to watch the concert of the Stylistics, where we were joined by the parents of the younger children, their youngest and my other SIL. The Stylistics sounded as good as ever despite their years. It brought us all back to our special memories of that decade, judging from the nostalgic demeanor on everyone's face that evening. Again, we had a very late night and turned in at around 2:30 am.

Yesterday, we took them to Chinatown after church to sample the fare at our favorite restaurant there after church. After we all had our yummy fill, we spent the rest of the day in the Boston Commons. The kids got silly and wet at the fountains at Frog Pond. We also played soccer, volleyball, and spent time running after a new airhog plane that we had bought for one of the nephews. It got stuck in trees five times. We were able to knock it off the trees four times before. The fifth time, it flew so high that it got stuck on a thick branch of this particularly tall tree. Hubby's nephew tried to knock it off with a soccer ball. Alas, after several attempts, the ball decided to keep the plane company on one of the branches. We tried to retrieve both with big rocks until dusk, to no avail.

So one windy day, a soccer ball and a toy plane will fall into someone's hands. Hopefully, those hands will be that of a little boy who has just asked God for some toys! Hmm, I think that's going to be my birthday wish...