Loving Reflections

My heart is overflowing with gratitude.  I spent my 50^th birthday with very dear friends (four couples who have become family to me and my husband, Steve).  One of the couples, Karl and Marilyn, hosted us all.

I asked everyone not to fuss . . . including no presents . . .  I just wanted us to visit and laugh.  So, Marilyn came up with the idea of a “Joke Off.”  Everyone was asked to bring four jokes.   After enjoying a delicious meal, we moved to her family room and the fun began.  My jokes were old-fashioned jokes that dropped like a lead weight.  I must say everyone else brought very funny ones!

Ultimately, we ended up with two finalists.  There were an even number of us voting, and we kept ending up with a tie.  After four rounds of ties, we declared them both winners just before midnight.

Then Steve said, “Oh, Marilyn!  There is a present we forgot to give Kathie.”  She handed me a gift bag, and I could tell by the look on everyone’s  faces that it was a nice not nasty gift.  I reached in the bag and felt a book type item.  In that nanosecond, I thought maybe they had pulled together photos of special times we’ve shared together.

As I pulled the item out of the bag, I saw a beautifully bound book with a picture of me when I was a baby on the cover along with the words “Happy Birthday Kathie!  Loving reflections on your first 50 years.”  I burst out crying.  I had no idea what was in it or exactly who it was from.  I did know, however, that it was a labor of love and I was about to be deeply moved.

I soon found out it was a book Steve and my sister, Joanie, compiled.  It contained memories and birthday wishes from family and friends spanning my entire life.  I handed it to my friends and, with a voice full of emotion, said there was no way I could read it now.

My friend, Edie, mercifully took it from me and read their entries.  I, of course, cried.  Then, Steve began telling me all the people who were contained within it.  Every time he mentioned someone, I would repeat it with disbelief.  “Mom?”  Boo hoo . . . “My Jan?”  Waaa . . . “The Walshes?”, “Betsey?”  “Mosey?”, “Auntie El?”,  “Auntie Dot?”, “Tamara?”, “Burt?”, “Ashley?”, “Amy?” and on it went.   The mention of each name made me cry like a baby!!

When Steve and I got home around 1 AM, we decided to sit up and read it.  While he had initially contacted everyone to request their participation, my sister Joanie compiled the book.  He had not read any of the entries, so he was just as excited.  We sat side by side reading it until 2:30 AM.  I then lay in bed wide awake until 4 AM trying to digest everything.

After a few hours of sleep, I awoke with a huge emotional hangover.  It was truly too much to take in.  I have never felt so loved and appreciated.  I was also overwhelmed by the time and effort Steve and Joanie put into honoring me.

I began thinking about two dear people Steve and I recently lost.  One was Steve’s Uncle Bill and another was a mentor of Steve’s.  Both were kind and decent men.  While I am sad they are no longer with us, I am at peace knowing that each of them knew how much I respected and appreciated them.  You see, I had taken the time along the way to tell each of them specifically how much they meant to me.

On my birthday, I came to understand the significance of this act.  I was now receiving appreciation from special people in my life.  I was also told again and again in their entries how I have a gift for making others feel special.  I guess that day I was reaping what I sow?  Either way, I’m a lucky and very grateful gal!

Take the time today to tell someone how much they mean to you.  Be specific.  Let them know how they have impacted your life.  Also, create awareness around what seeds you are planting on a daily basis and what will sprout in your life in return.

Are you ready to thrive?

Kathie Nitz