My birthday

It's my birthday today.  I didn't used to tell people.  I did my best to ignore the day every year.  I had some bad experiences on my birthday as a child.  Although the specifics of those memories have long faded, the feeling that the day would best be ignored persisted.  I also think I just didn't want the attention.  I didn't have the energy for extra attention.  What little energy I felt I had for myself I guarded closely and tried to live life invisibly.  

But everything has turned around so drastically in the last year and a half.  And I now have so much energy that I don't need to guard it as closely.  Plus, the more I accept some attention, the more I'm feeling the benefits of the connections that are built when I am seen.

So I told people this year.  I even just posted about my day on social media.  I planned something just for me as well as something for some of my community to celebrate with me.  For the latter, I have a group of friends who will be joining me for a happy hour next Thursday.  I'm so looking forward to it!

But the something just for me turned out even more amazing than I could have imagined.  I spent the last three days bird watching in Central Florida both on the Gulf and the Atlantic side.  I identified 50 different species of birds plus saw deer, alligators, and turtles.  I took 1,940 photos!  I spent at least 12 hours immersed in nature at four different parks/refuges.

I had some of the most amazing up close experiences.  A pair of Reddish Egrets danced for me in a tidal pond at Fort De Soto Park.  Two fawns unexpectedly stepped out from a forest at Lettuce Lake Park to take a sip of water in the lake.  A flock of Black Skimmers flew in unison as if they were doing a choreographed dance at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.  At the Orlando Wetlands, an Anhinga caught a fish that was way larger than it could handle - it put in a really good effort but eventually gave up.  Roseate Spoonbills landed just steps from the boardwalk where I stood.  And a giant alligator eyed me up suspiciously as I wondered how close I could get without disturbing him.

And then I got such a laugh as I stood on the boardwalk, not too far from where the Roseate Spoonbills were hanging out in the trees when I felt something wet on my face.  Wiping it away and then looking down at my camera, I realized a bird had shit on me!  And then I remembered this is the second time this has happened to me in the last 12 months.  This can't be normal, can it?  Some say it is a sign of good luck. I wonder if it is the bird's affectionate way of telling me he likes me.  Either way, I enjoyed the laugh and then I washed my hands at the park and showered when I got back to the hotel.

My feet and body are tired but in a way that feels satisfying.  I am really glad I planned this trip.  Happy Birthday to me!