What's a birthday without a little tree (and germs?)

This past December I turned sixty-one. It was the week of Christmas and we had rented a cabin in the hills of West Virginia for an old fashioned Christmas. Well, the week before I came down with a bad cold. I made up my mind this vacation cost too much money and I had looked forward to it for too long ... so germs and all, along I came. Of course I shared those germs. Not that those individuals had not shared many germs with me over the years of motherhood; but you see when the shoe is on the other foot, it definitely fits a little different!

In the beginning of the week when I was feeling pretty lousy, we went out for a Christmas tree. There were millions of trees on that lot but we just had to go to the very top of a cold, windy hill (I think it was about minus 20 that day) LOL - and get the best tree. It was beautiful and we had a great time decorating it, but I think that day was the icing on the cake for my cold.

Regardless, by end the of the week when my birthday came, everyone was disgruntled with me --except the dog. I had shared the one homemade gift no one had counted on. I did enjoy a wonderful spa day on my birthday and I'm sure the treatment was an ice breaker for my congestion. However, by the evening everyone was in a foul mood, either from the germs or from the fact that a week together was getting on everyone's nerves. We did end up having a very nice dinner, even though it took some teeth-pulling to get there.

I finally had made 61 around 7:10 that evening and knew it had been a good day and a good year. It was the best vacation ever for me but I don't think the rest agreed. When you are sixty-one, spending time with your family can be the best time of all. Even with the germs!!!