Threescore and Ten

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.    Psalm 90:10

Well waddayano? I achieved the biblical milestone, and I am pleased to have done it. Seventy seems to stand out as a rather prominent birthday, and although I am hoping to celebrate a few additional birthdays, and perhaps reach fourscore years or more, to some extent I see additional years as gravy.

As has become our wont over the years, we attempt to make the whole birthday week somewhat special. By this, I don't mean that we do particularly outstanding or opulent things, but we do try create a somewhat celebratory mood and to do more than would be the norm in a typical week.

As things unfolded, we visited a rural museum and a rural antique establishment on separate days, and I reserve the right to say little now but more later.

There were both a restaurant breakfast and a lunch in town as well as a lunch at East Side Marios in the city.

One wonderful morning, I went for a walk to the neighbourhood park. I knew the kids would be there and thought it would be fun to see them. Before I knew it, they were running across the park shouting my name and bestowing great hugs upon me. While JJ returned to playing with 2 friends, Danica stayed with me on the park bench. When it seemed time to leave, she didn't want me to go, so I said if it was okay with her babysitter, she could come home with me for awhile. So she did, holding my hand all along the walk. Priceless and certainly a hilite of the week.

Also, as tennis fans there was the US Open, the first week of which is not always terribly riveting, but with the Canadian kid, Denis Shapovalov, making such a splash, we really enjoyed watching him play. As an 18 year old, as I write this, he has advanced to the fourth round, the youngest to achieve such a result in a very long time. Edit: He lost in the 4th round in three straight sets, but it was close, each going to a tiebreak. Quite commendable.

So, it was a very satisfying week, but now I propose to record more of the actual birthday, which was September 2nd. After enduring cold and wind on the previous days and close to an overnight frost, the day was filled with sunshine and warmth. This is made all the more special because as I sit here and type (on Sunday), it is raining with more slated for tomorrow and later in the week.

When I went downstairs for breakfast, I thought I spotted something out of the corner of my eye. I went outside to check it out and sure enough, this was on the door.

They had also done the garage door. This is a pic from later on with the kids. They had done this by stealth on the previous evening.

On that gorgeous afternoon we went for a walk by the river in Almonte and enjoyed what could be the seasons last ice cream cones, with a milkshake for JJ.

Of course there were gifts and dinner (out in this case) and cake.

And a game after cake.




It was a great day to end a great week. I am blessed.