Birthday

Birthdays are a big deal in the Treloar clan. A lavish meal is prepared (depending on what the birthday person chooses, of course), the cake is carefully selected from the Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book (not just for children), and more often than not, the day itself is taken off from work and spent with family shopping or hanging out or doing something to just make it special. Which generally just meant being with each other.

This birthday is a funny one. I don't have the usual markers to indicate that the day is any different from others because all my days are different. I don't have work to take off. I don't have family to organise my day around. I don't know where my favourite coffee shop is (very important when it's cold lol). I don't have any clear plans on how I would like to spend my day.

When asked if I was getting excited, the answer was always yes - because we had Disneyland booked in for this weekend. Not because of the specific day my birthday fell on. Which isn't a bad thing by any stretch but it is different to what I'm used to.

But then it was Wednesday night (or Thursday morning Adelaide-time) and I started getting video calls. Messages. I opened the two birthday cards Mum & Dad and Brooke had express posted. And I woke up Thursday (this morning) to Facebook messages, posts, emails, and another video call and I was blown away. It feels like my birthday even from halfway across the world. Topping off the day so far was the loveliest surprise - I came out into the dining area and Sarah and Daniel had left a card with a pile of presents.

So this year of things that are different and new is also a year of things that are still a little bit the same. I am still surrounded by amazing and wonderful people, where 'surrounded' doesn't have to mean 5 minutes away. I am stupidly, ridiculously lucky to be where I am. And I am very excited that Cameron has booked us in for dinner at the Ubiquitous Chip before we travel to Edinburgh tonight. Because what a name. Also, I love chips.

**This isn't meant to be a 'oh how sad, I have to go to Disney to celebrate' or a 'how lucky am I' post - it's just an observation on the difference from one birthday to the next. I am fully aware of how lucky I am, both in my family and friends, and in the chance to spend it abroad and at Disneyland. Please don't think for one second that I am not grateful for this.