I’ve had a really nice weekend, full of family and birthday surprises. It, like most weekends, has gone by way too quickly! My 28th birthday was this past Friday.
For lunch Mom met me in Oshawa and took me for lunch at Teddy’s (their Greek salad is incredible). She got me a pretty green flower pot, some mittens with the “strings” so, like a 5-year-old, I won’t lose them, a book (Shopaholic Ties the Knot), and a beautiful purple crocus in bloom.
Friday evening Graham greeted me at the door, all excited. He led me into the dining room, where he had a goody bag full of pretty flower pots and a vase for me. Upstairs he had hidden some flowers, and had also bought the grow-light fixture and bulbs for me to start my seeds under. He took me out to Brother’s in Whitby for dinner. I had made a reservation, but when we got there the table they seated us at was practically the coat-check. There were coats hanging over my head, a pile of booster seats/high chairs behind me and the door to the bathroom facing Graham. Before we were served, a group of people vacated the corner booth in front, and Graham jumped up to speak to the hostess and we were able to move to the roomier, more pleasant seat. The food was awesome, and we had a really nice time. Graham wants to go back for Valentine’s Day.
On Saturday we did some things around the house, and then went over to Graham’s mom’s for dinner. His sister Elaine, her husband Jamie, and their two daughters, Saffron and Rielly were there, too, along with the two friends of Graham’s who rent out the basement, Andy & Kelly. Dinner was really good…we had a steak pie with mashed potatoes. We played Trivial Pursuit later on and Graham and I have become the undefeated champs (insert evil grin here). I was even treated to some birthday surprises, including some seed packages (salsa garden, edible flowers, climbing vines), Pro-mix and flower pots from Graham’s mom and some Elizabeth Arden “Sunflowers” perfume and body wash from Elaine.
Today we met up with Dad & Heather at Bobby C’s here in Bowmanville, out at the marina, for brunch, and they came back over to the house after that for the grand tour. Heather got me some new jammies and Dad bought me the new Leonard Cohen CD I wanted to add to my collection (plus a few bucks for fun money). They seemed to like the house quite a bit, and I think they feel confident now about where I live and who with (wink).
This afternoon we drove to Toronto and managed to pack up Graham’s car with another load of my stuff, mostly from the kitchen. We got a lot of books, too. I couldn’t help feel a little bit sad, but mostly I just couldn’t shake the feeling that I was doing something wrong by taking my things out of the house while Tamara is still living there. But it is the logical next step, and it will be much easier to move only my few big pieces of furniture, rather than dealing with a big “moving day”. I’m pretty sure she would agree.
All in all, I feel very thankful about the direction my life is headed. I have a beautiful home and a loving partner to share it with, and friends and family who care about me a great deal. The year is off to a terrific start.
