When the clock reads 5:36pm tomorrow it will mark the moment when I made my entrance into the world this time around (since I believe in reincarnation) with a grand ‘ta-da!’  Likely there was also a wail of dismay that I was no longer immersed in womb-warmth and on some level my soul knew I had major work to do. Blessed to have been planned and wanted by my parents who adored each other, I never doubted that I was loved. It occurred to me recently that if I was on time, I might have been conceived as they celebrated my dad’s birthday on February 13th. I used to tell people, quite innocently that I was born the day before they were married, since their anniversary was October 14th. They would be quick to add, that it was two years AFTER their wedding day. My mom shared the story of my birth many times. She and my dad had gone out to dinner the night before (that would be tonight) and she had lobster something or other and a chocolate dessert. No wonder chocolate has remained my drug of choice.  She woke up with what she at first thought was a bout of indigestion. It turned out to be me ready to make my debut. She arrived at what was then called Pennsylvania Lying-in Hospital (a.k.a. the maternity ward) in Philadelphia, PA as the labor began. Pacing the halls, she stood in front of the nursery and looked in the window to watch the newborns. Almost all of them were singing a kid-chorus except one little boy. A doctor walked over to the still infant and took off his diaper. As soon as he did that, the wah-ing began. My mother laughed, her water broke and soon after, I showed up. I like to consider that laughter ushered me in. I was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around my ankles, 5 lbs. 4 oz. and a few days after had lost a pound since I kept falling asleep during feeding. The nurses advised my mother to ping me on my feet to wake me up to eat. I think  that foot and ankle thing contributed on an unconscious level to three broken ankles, and podiatric problems that led to wearing clunky ‘corrective’ shoes to rectify being pigeon toed and flat footed. My mom would teasingly say that I should be grateful that the cord was around my ankles and not my throat. For that reason, I think I have had this push-pull, conflictual relationship with moving forward. I have often dashed at light speed and then screechingly thrown on the brakes out of uh-oh fear of both success and failure. I have had life lessons about standing my ground as well.

Throughout my life, I would remind them that I was an alien baby left on their doorstep and sometimes they believed me, since I was quite out of the box with my mental meanderings and interests. As a child, I would sit for hours in a park up the street (if my mom couldn’t find me around the house, that would be the first place she would look), gazing at trees, making faerie villages. I would write other worldly stories in my head. In my pre-teens, I read The Search for Bridey Murphy which is a classic about past life exploration. I made astute observations about life, the Universe and everything that would have friends wondering what the heck I was talking about. Even now ‘normal people’, social conversation is nowhere near as interesting as exploring spirituality music, mysticism, multi-cultures and what makes people tick.

I am the consummate Libra; seeking balance in the midst of dis-equilibrium, conflict avoidant at a huge cost at times. No surprise that my radio show is called It’s All About Relationships since that is my directive and daily marching orders. My relationships are my treasures.

I am spending today cleaning, food shopping and prepping for a gathering of friends and family tomorrow to celebrate my 55th. The quirky kid that I was had no idea my life would be as it is now; filled with delights of creative flow, surrounded by immense love and infinite possibility. I am asking those who attend to come up with 55 things for which they are grateful and/or 55 things they want to call into their lives in the next year. I encourage you to do that as well. Counting our blessings create more blessings and the world can sure use more blessings. As I blow out the candles, I will thank my lucky stars for all of them and for the gift of  love and life that I unwrap with great joy each day!