Today is My Day !

The new year started last month, but my personal new year starts today on my 🎂.

The older I get, the less a need for celebrations and presents have become to me. There’s no need for things that seemed important in (much) younger days.

Now, birthdays are celebrated because of the day and all year long. When sending them a card, I always advise others to do the same. After all, it only happens once a year, thankfully.

For myself, this annual occurrence has become more of an experience the few years. Last year, we took the SnowCoach part way up Mt Washington for a unique experience. 

This year, we’re on a short 3-hour road trip to N. Conway, NH, for a meet-up with long-time friends, Jill and Art, who live in our home state of NJ.

We enjoyed breakfast with friends at Peach's in N Conway, NH

Yesterday, went to breakfast at a favorite local restaurant, Peach’s. Today, we’re playing candlepin bowling at a sports center in Fryeburg, ME. (Candlepin bowling is a variation of bowling played mostly in New England and the Canadian Maritime provinces. It’s played using a handheld-size ball and tall, narrow pins that look like candles.) 

We "met" this bear and moose at a hotel in N Conway, NH

Later, we made some new friends here.who were not in the wild.

Dinner tonight will be followed by chatting and game playing with Jill and Art, who became grandparents twice in the past year and are happy to talk of their grandsons. We leave for Nashua, NH, tomorrow. Our friends remain here a few more days.

This year, instead of being surprised, the surprise was on others. This past week, Patrick had contacted friends in the mill aptpartments meeting for brekfast on Saturday. It was a frigid morning when 10 others joined us at The Yolk, a local breakfast and lunch eatery.

Birthday breakfast with Clocktower friends & neighbors

It was my treat to see the surprised look on everyone’s face when told their breakfast was my “gift” to all. They had no idea beforehand. One of those priceless moments.

My year of celebrating has just begun, there’s more to follow in 364 days ahead 🎉.

How did you, if it’s passed, or if not, will you celebrate YOUR 2026 birthday?