Birthday Wishes

A special shout out of thanks to Dad & Connie, Ele, Abby Fitz, Robin and Mom for my birthday cards and to Kathryn, Elizabeth, Debbie and Jon Tan for my facebook birthday greetings! I also had 2 cakes - which are most definitely NOT on my WW plan, but who am I to turn down BIRTHDAY CAKE. The first one was this adorable little number Gary picked up (note the candles):

The other was my FAVORITE birthday cake which is not a cake at all but a German Chocolate Pie with a meringue crust that Mom has made for me on numerous birthdays. Lucky me, she was here for my b-day and made one for the occasion. Delish!
Gary took me out on a date - we went to dinner at P.F. Chang’s and had all our old favorites: Chang’s Ribs, Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Mongolian Beef and Orange Chicken. I even indulged in 2 cocktails. Afterwards we went to see “Bolt” - the latest Disney animated film. Very cute! We happened to run into my old friend Cass and her family at the theater, and ended up sitting with them. SOOOOO good to go out - it’s been a really long time since we’ve actually been out on a real date.

Nevertheless, I am having a REALLY hard time coming to grips with being 37, although I’ve been thinking about the impending date for MONTHS. All 37 says to me is I’m three years from *gasp* 40. FORTY. As in “Lordy, Lordy - look who’s 40!“ I mean, I feel like I’m still 25. Well, OK, maybe 28. I guess that’s a good thing in the end, but it’s still BIZARRE. Back in the day I was always one of the youngest people on the management staff of the hotels where I worked, and I loved being the *little sister* to all those folks. Now I’m like one of the senior people (before I left anyway) and it’s a strange shift to get used to. I feel like I need to be doing SO MUCH MORE, and I feel like at this age I should be so much farther along in my career. It’s hanging over me like a 1,000 lb. weight on my shoulders.

I must admit that it’s acting as the catalyst for me to get back into the swing of things much sooner than I anticipated. I just don’t see how I can last another 6 months without “suiting up” and not going completely crazy. In fact, I was just thinking the other day, how I look darn good in a suit, and how I am starting to miss the glamorous hotel life in earnest, not just because I need the crutch, but because the reality is that‘s what I am through and through - a hotel girl. Besides, with the economy like it is, it’s probably going to take me 6 months to find the right position. My favorite astrologer Jon Cainer says it’s time for major life-change, so I guess my angst is right on time. I love how that works.