Last weekend Peter and I went to the Chinese Garden in downtown Portland. I wanted to post some pictures and I'm just now getting around to it. so here you go. Enjoy!

I was a really lovely day. Thank you Peter for going downtown with me and having afternoon tea.

Tonight I get to sleep in a show bed. You know when you go into a department store, and you see all the beds made up perfect and you just want to get in and fall asleep? Well, today Peter and I went into Ikea and bought the show bed. We bought the sheets, the duvet, the duvet cover, the coverlet, and the pillow shames, and I get to sleep in it tonight! I have never done that before, and I'm so excited to go to sleep in that bed tonight! It has to be the most excited that I've been in a long time. I know it might sound a little silly, but deep down I've always wanted to do that. I guess I can check that one off my bucket list.

It is my birthday next week, and I'm not sure why, but I'm not really looking forward to it very much. It's not that I'm feeling like I'm getting old. I'm just not into it this year. On the way home from work this past Friday I was thinking about birthdays in the past. One of them stood out in my mind. It was my 27th birthday. You might think why was that on so nice? It wasn't a birthday that you would think as  monumental like your 21st or your 18th. It was just what would normally be one that was run of the mill birthdays, fun but not over the top. In fact the day started as run of the mill in a way. Not that it was bad start. I got love eyes from Peter, and a very nice happy birthday wishes, but I wasn't expecting anything special. In fact, as I remember I was a little annoyed with the day in general. I new there was something up, but I didn't know what. As it turns out there was a surprise party planned. It was the regular Idea. The people involved tried to make me think that something else was going to happen, and when we got there I was surprised by people in my life that I deeply cared about. I think what touched me the most is two of the key people who helped plan the party had just had there house burn, and yet they found time to organize a gathering in there temporary housing situation. I will never forget that. The night was perfect being around the people who I cared so much about. There was much laughter, and carrying on, and the perfect cake. One of my favorite cakes is red velvet cake, and the perfect version of that cake was made for me. It instantly gave me the memory of my grandmother, and the times that she made me that cake. It was the perfect thing for that moment in time. There is something special when you are surprised by people who really want to be with you on your day. 

There are certain moments that you never forget, and that was one of them. It was fun to look back on it, and it made me remember some of the other great times in my life. Like the first time I met a very good friend in my life. The first time I saw him he was wearing a Batman costume in the middle of summer. He was so proud of the the outfit his mother had made for him for Halloween. That would have been 1980 and I was 5 year old. I can't believe I remember that date but I do. It also sparked the memory of sitting up in a friends cherry tree for half a day and just shooting the breeze. That would be in middle school. On the train and coming home I remember half my life I think. Some of the memories more vivid than others but still there.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that sometimes we get so busy in our live that we forget to sit back and daydream about old time and times to come. Even though I'm not to keen on my birthday this year it was fun to remember. Thanks to everyone for the memories I will never forget.