A Milestone Moment

aging, nonfiction, photography, 34 Comments

“You need to rest, because tomorrow is your birthday.”

There is talk of baking a cake and maybe preparing food for visitors. My birthday fell on a weekday, so I told our new guests I will likely not have visitors – everyone will be working.

They shrugged: “Maybe…”

Ric and I have accepted a new Ukrainian family. Mom, Grandma, and son bring the number of families we have embraced in our home to five. With all the health setbacks I’ve been experiencing lately, I was not anticipating any celebration for my 65th. I imagined it quietly slipping by.

The doorbell rang the morning of my ‘big’ day before I was even out of bed. Alina, with baby Andrée, was the first to bring birthday wishes.

“Gluten free!” Alina said proudly thrusting the bouquet of chocolates and strawberries into my arms. She’d made it all herself. Alina, her husband, and young son, were our fourth family. They just moved into their new apartment at the beginning of July. I was wowed by her thoughtfulness.

Next came Natasha and family, with flowers, and gift bags, and her hairdressing equipment – to make me look beautiful for my big day.

Iryna, our current guest, started cooking bacon and eggs and toast with avocado. She also made me a bouquet of chocolates and art supplies, and showered me with other presents. I was beginning to feel overwhelmed.

By the end of the day, I had received 11 bouquets, many chocolates, and several gifts. All from our Ukrainian community.

From our Canadian family – a few phone calls and text messages – exactly what I had expected.

Moral of the story: If I Ukrainian thinks we need to bake a cake, let them bake the cake.


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Permission to write, paint, and imagine are the gifts I gave myself when chronic illness hit - a fair exchange: being for doing. Relevance is an attitude. Humour essential.

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