I write on May 30, 2023 which is a day after May 29, 2023. I am most happy to report that it was the best birthday I have EVER had my whole life, and that is saying a great deal as I have had many of them. I could want for nothing more, an outpouring of love, affection, cards, gifts, good wishes. You name it, I got it. The last gift of the day was a prayer rug which shall be “enshrined in my prayer room” (a quote from a thank you note, written by me).
Enshrine is a verb which means to place (a revered or precious object) in an appropriate receptacle. A photo of the precious, revered object shall be placed at the end of the blog for your perusal.
Upon searching for the meaning of the word enshrine, came across the definition of shrine which included a mention of Islamic shrine.
‘Islam’s holiest structure, the Kaaba (within the Al-Haram Mosque) in the city of Mecca, though an ancient temple (in the sense of a “house of God”), may be seen as a shrine[11][12][13] due to it housing a respected relic called the Hajar al-Aswad and also being the partial focus of the world’s largest pilgrimage practice, the Hajj. A few yards away, the mosque also houses the Maqam Ibrahim (“Abraham’s station”) shrine containing a petrosomatoglyph (of feet) associated with the patriarch and his son Ishmael’s building of the Kaaba in Islamic tradition.[14][15] The Green Dome sepulcher of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (where his burial chamber also contains the tombs of his friend Abu Bakr and close companion Umar) in Medina, housed in the Masjid an-Nabawi (“The Mosque of the Prophet”),[16][17][18] occurs as a greatly venerated place and important as a site of pilgrimage among Muslims.”
But back to my 80th. It was an embarrassment of riches which means it is an overabundance of something. Another way of saying this: one is faced with more options or resources than one knows what to do with. This term originated in 1738 as John Ozell’s translation of a French play, L’Embarras des richesses (1726). A synonym is a bottomless purse.
Have to admit that I did know what to do with the gifts, the greetings, the infectious fun of that blessed day. I relished and enjoyed every second of that day. It will live in my mind forever. Well forever might not be very far away – as I am eighty after all.
LOL was the first to wish me Happy Birthday.
He: Happy 80th birthday. Sounds good
Me: Thank you my dear!! You were my first happy birthday. I will add them up. Hahahaha
Later that evening texted him.
Me: I got 115 Happy Birthdays. But you were the first.
After my early morning text with Lucky, it was off to the Legislative Cafeteria for breakfast where a video was recorded and placed on Instagram. Go see it there if you wish. (alexis_dryburgh).
Back to apartment for a surprise visit from my Nepal family – a visit with benefits, a cake, a beautiful purple blouse, a card and clever birthday hat which brought many Happy Birthdays at the IKEA store. CCC (new nickname for Chauffeur, Confident Companion) and I shopped there on the way to the home of my Muslim family. The greatest of gatherings, the greatest of food, much conviviality, laughter and hugs. At the end of the evening CCC came to pick me up and take me back to my apartment. His sweet tooth was satisfied, my face left intact. I am talking about the cake of course, a photo of Mecca Me in my Palestinian hijab, bought in Edmonton, placed upon my head by a Saudi man. Most international.
A picture is worth a thousand words. So look at the photos of the day, one taken in IKEA, me and my second cake. Wearing my fabulous hat. The Happy Birthday Wonder Woman came from a new supportive and funny friend with the following conversation.
Me: I LOVE it. Where did you ever find it?
She: I googled ur name and it came up. Hahaha
Me: Of course! Hahaha
I offer all these treasures with the caveat: Eat your heart out!! “The meaning of the phrase “eat your heart out” is to be jealous over someone else’s accomplishments or good luck.”
Jealous women can be so destructive! One was unfortunately encountered on my joyous day, she was insulting and hurtful. But I merely, laughingly, told her that I did not want her advice about my life and I was perfectly happy, thank you very much. She did not succeed in her attempt to rain on my parade. Rain on my parade is an idiom describing the act of being cruel and unkind to someone. “Don’t Rain on My Parade” is a popular song from the 1964 musical Funny Girl. It was also featured in the 1968 movie version of the musical. The song was written by Bob Merrill and Jule Styne. Both the movie and stage versions feature Barbra Streisand performing the song.
