DAY 1 and 30 more to follow...

So October 1 came yesterday and I tried to make a decision about what I would do to kick off my birthday month and 31 great celebrations of the season. I'm celebrating more the season rather than my birthday but taking a day in the middle of the month to mark the addition of another year to my life.

And so I was home last night. I didn't have the fixings for pumpkin bread or apple sauce (that is coming today, Day 2) and I was at CEF late so I didn't know what to do. I figured my sweet potato fries for dinner weren't enough to call it a celebration.

And then I had lunch at noon...

Found out it was Yolanda and Rich's 26 wedding anniversary. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY YOLANDA AND RICH! And so since this is a month focusing on numbers (I feel as if I should say this month has been brought to you by the number 31 and the letter O like in October) I would take a look at the number 26. After all my friend Nikki turned 31 on the 26th. And so I got the number 26 in my head.

And so last night I sat at home thinking back on my life. Thinking about past birthdays and thought I'd write down 26 memories of 30 years past. And so in honor of 31 and 26...here's my list.

1. When I told my parent's for years that I wanted a limo ride for my16th birthday they went with the idea! I'll never forget riding around Boston in a limo with my older brother, cousin and four friends. Even though our limo driver was on crutches and had a cough that was about to kill him he got us exactly where we needed to be. You may think that when the screen is up between you and the driver they can't hear you. Obviously not! Someone said, "When you call information for Cindy Crawford's number in Plymouth..." and before he could finish his sentence the wall went down and the limo driver said, "yeah, they don't give it to you!" I'll never forget my Sweet 16.

2. My 13th birthday - A family member who has sworn his/her identity to secrecy gave me a Michael Bolton cassette tape for my present. That's right...a cassette tape.

3. Some childhood birthday - I got three Barbie dolls for my birthday! Astronaut, peaches and cream and ballroom Barbie!

4. I have the honor of celebrating my birthday with my mom every year! I'm born on the 16th and she was born on the 19th. She brought me home on her 28th birthday.

5. My 18th birthday - My parents came to Lancaster, PA and took me and my friend Marilyn out to a murder mystery dinner theater for the big event. I even have the candle holder in my living room that Marilyn gave me. A minute into my birthday a girl down the hall came into my room and wondered why her alarm went off at 12:01am. Then she yelled, "Because it's Tanya's birthday!" I had finally made it to 18.

6. My 21st birthday - I worked all day at Provident Bookstore and thought my birthday was going to be a sad day. And then my amazing roommate surprised me with a party at our dorm house that night. Such a great day.

7. My 25th birthday - I had been in Moldova for seven months. I was living in the village and a Moldovan friend told me that an American lady wanted to meet me for tea. We arrived at a restaurant and two other friends were there. they surprised me with dinner, cake and presents. It was awesome! Earlier that day a man drove three hours from the capital city to deliver a bouquet of flowers fro my family. I tried to give him a tip for driving the whole distance but he said, "No. this is my job."

8. My 27th birthday - My brother came to visit me in Moldova during my birthday. A few days later we flew to Rome and spent four days. I love vacationing with my brother! Oh the memories of that trip.

9. My 29th birthday - My parents came to Moldova six weeks before my birthday and actually threw me a party early. We had a great time with an apartment full of 30 Moldovan and American friends.

10. My 30th birthday - After dinner with friends in NYC I was walking down a street in Manhattan and I saw a sign that said, "30: Three Unforgettable Decades."

11. It wasn't my birthday but Julie Rulie's 30th birthday party was pretty fantastic last year!

12. While living in Moldova i learned to celebrate my birthday a little differently. I learned that I'm the one who supplies the birthday cake.

13. In Moldova I learned how to not just say Happy Birthday but to give a birthday greeting to the person with blessing and kind words for the future.

14. About five years ago I discovered that a close friend from high school and I have the same exact birthday! Happy Birthday Donnette!

15. The grandmother of my best friend from childhood has the same birthday as me too.

16. I always remember Elvis' date of death. August 16, 1977. One year and two months before I was born. Why that is important to remember....not so sure!

17. So...I think I'll need to stop here. I aimed for 26 things but I'm stuck. I'll finish the list in the next blog.

PREVIEW OF DAY 3!!!

Saturday & Sunday, October 3 & 4, 2009
Pin Oak Farms, U-Pick Pumpkin Patch, Sat 10am to 5:30, Sun Noon to 5:30

Located 1/2 mile west of New Haven on Hwy 100, 1 1/2 mile south on Hwy E and watch for signs. Come and visit and spend a day amongst the beautiful autumn colors choosing your perfect pumpkin from the fields. Ride the wagon to the field, , find your way through the corn maze, a tub o'corn for the little kids. http://www.pinoakfarms.com

30 comes before 31...

345 days ago I turned 30.

At first I wasn't so sure about leaving a decade I had become quite fond of. I liked being in my 20s. I graduated from college at 21. Celebrated years 22, 23 and 24 in NYC. Moved to a foreign country at 24 and made a move to a place I thought I'd never live - the midwest - at 29. The 20s were filled with lots of change, amazing friends, incredible memories and treasures that remain deep in my heart. My 20s were so special but this whole 30 thing - I wasn't so sure.

And then my 30th birthday came.

No more fears. No more worries. No more complaints. I was excited to be 30.

On my 30th birthday I was home in NYC. It was a great night! A great walking night and all I could do was walk. Had dinner with friends and then took the subway back to 60th Street before walking to the hotel. I came up from the subway, decided which street to walk down and then saw it. God's birthday gift to me! In a store window there was a huge sign that said:

30: Three Unforgettable Decades

Yes...it had been!

30 came and I knew that 31 would follow....

In 2009 I will turn 31.
My birthday is in October and there are 31 days in the month.
My birthday is in October and the fall is my favorite season.
October is my favorite month.

Every fall I want to take full advantage of all the great things that the season offers. Pumpkins, leaves, cinnamon, baking, hay rides and all kinds of other fall goodness. I want to make every day count and savor the season.

And so I decided that I would have 31 days of celebrating 31. And so on October 1 the celebrating begins!

Make sure you check in with the blog to see what October brings my way! There are some big things planned, some quiet moments planned and some special plans that I hope will be a blessing to others.

But in it all, I will celebrate fall. I will celebrate turning 31.