Birthday Blessings

Wow - another Birthday just passed by, but this one was so different than the ones I have had before.
To me a Birthday is a chance to appreciate friends, and reflect on the year since the last Birthday.  Its a time when those who are close to you, yet physically far away make contact and remind you that you are special.
I took time to reflect this year and realised what a fantastic year is has been.  I have met some amazing people and made some great friends this year.  My friend Neil from high school just spent 2 weeks with me, which I can only describe as pure joy.  True friends like that, who have know you throughout your childhood, who have matured with you, figured out life with you, loved and lost with you, those people are rare and so precious.  Being able to spend all of that quality time with a person who I care for deeply was a fantastic buildup to a great Birthday.
The day itself was spend with loved ones, the dogs got some morning snuggles from me in the morning, then I got to spend an hour on Skype with my parents and some time on there with my Grandparents.  My best friend C surprised me in work, not only with his company, but also with the most amazing cheesecake and bowl of organic fruit I have seen. 

He stayed up until 3:30am the night before making the cake for me and you could tell how much time, effort and love had gone into it.  More than the cake, the gift of his presence and quality time with him was what made for a great afternoon.
What I thought was a fantastic afternoon was followed up with an even bigger surprise as E delivers to me my favourite desert on the planet.....Snickers Cheesecake.
One thing that I obsess about when I go back to the US, is a visit to the cheesecake factory restaurant for a huge slab of snickers cheesecake.  I have never been able to get cheesecake as good as that anywhere else in the world, and its just divine....well that all changed yesterday.  E's cheesecake was more delightful than that from the restaurant and contained the perfect amount of everything!

 

Chocolate, roasted peanuts, creamy filling, subtle base and a layer of gooey caramel, all served up with a glass of Fejoa wine and some great company.

I later found out that E had baked several cheesecakes prior to this one, in order to ensure that the one he baked for me was just perfect.  I think his neighbours who had to sample the previous iterations were grateful for this, and I can't believe how much effort he went to just to make my day special.

So yes, I'm spoiled to have so many people around me who care about me and show their love in ways that are so personal and thoughtful.

My reflection this year is that:

1 - I am so appreciative of my friends and aware of how fast time goes by.

2 - I am one of the luckiest people in the world to have so many who obviously love and care for me

3 - I loooooveeeee cheeecake :)