Quietness.

This morning I sit here, in my parents' home. It's quiet. I do not get quiet moments like this very often. In fact, I get quite lonely when it's too quiet. But right now, I am really enjoying it.

We woke up this morning looking into the backyard and witnessing a fox stealing the woodpecker's sewit that had fallen down from the perch a squirrel had torn open. For 20 minutes we watched as the fox hid the sewit all around the yard to prevent other scavanger from finding it. Stepping outside this morning onto the deck brought back so many memories of my childhood. The trees in the backyard, the smell of wet wood, the birds, misty/foggy air, not any sounds of busy vehicles rushing to get to work.

Peace.

Today we are celebrating my birthday as well as my mother's birthday. We haven't done this for years. I'm thankful to be so loved. We are celebrating with a brunch make especially for us by my sisters and a GIRLS ONLY tea. Later tonight my sisters are again cooking Chinese and Thai cuisine.

Birthdays were always a big deal in our family-we'd each get to choose the design of our cake when our birthday came and mom would cook us our favorite dinner. I have found myself carrying on the same tradition for my boys on their birthday.

As I get older and realize that our lives could soon be changing and these treks to celebrate siblings' and parents' birthdays could become fewer and far between, I try to not take these opportunities and weekends for granted.