birthdays

So I turned 43 the other day... and I think some people after 30... stop getting excited about their birthdays... I don't... I spend so much time... attending to my son's needs... and yes, my husbands... that I don't really take time for me... wait, you are a stay home mom.. working part time you say??? you have lots of time... to attend to yourself.. but I don't.. I look for jobs... work... clean...cook... and leave little time.. to read, eat what I like... get a pedicure... see friends... or the like...
SO what did I do.... for my birthday.. well  the day before my birthday... I sat alone when My husband was at work... and my son at school.. and ate this for lunch.... and the drink... (was a coupon I had for Mcdonald's)... not a huge fan of the Golden arches... but I wanted to try the strawberry lemonade... since I had a coupon... it was SWEET... but pretty good...
( i just put it in this martini glass)

I spent the day of my real birthday retail shopping with my mother... My mother.. who has not always been there for me... who has been difficult to be around at best... but who can make me laugh... a lot.. and for that I am grateful... I have not and do not laugh much anymore... and it's important... and I just don't ever seem to do it... So we went to T.J. Max and she got me some fun new shoes... and a shirt... 
I let my son stay home from school.. I am sure many of you don't think that is responsible...but I told him we would have an afternoon date... so I took him to see the New Johnny Depp pirate movie... again... your thinking... not very responsible..but I am very strict about appropriate shows for children.. and it was PG 13.... but you know what... I read 3 reviews.... and figured.... if it was scary.. I would cover his eyes.... He and I were pleased.. but shocked that the mermaids in the movie.. had fangs like Vampires... that part was a bit scary... all the mermaid books we read... they are beautiful.. and friendly.... the day of my birthday... I also spent time with my brother and that is nice.. always.I even got to see the band Pumping Madonna... at night.. so it was a full day.---why can't we do more things... like that once in awhile.. why do we have to wait a full year....
I started thinking about where I am at 43... Not exactly where I want to be... I still can't find the balance I am looking for.. or the happiness.. but my son fills my heart with warmth... The most emotional of all relationships I believe is.... mother and child. The richness and complexity of the bond between mother and son... is hard to describe... He is very busy.. and requires much of my time.. still at his age...but he really makes my heart sing..He was sitting on the sofa.. eating MY bag of buffalo... wing flavored pretzel crisps.. on MY birthday.. but I couldn't even get angry..I can't believe he likes them.. they are spicy!!!!

 I also told myself I have to get out of this slump... I have to exercise, eat right, and have fun... I have to balance... cleaning... and playing... I have to start living FULL THROTTLE... stop worrying about what HE will say... stop feeling guilty... just be confident that ... I am doing the right things... and the rest will fall into place.

 I want to get back to photography...

So what do you do for your birthday?????
Getting older.. you lament.. things.. letting your body.. go.. new wrinkles... and so it's a time... to embrace who you are now... but if you want to be more in shape... or eat better... or be happier ... JUST DO IT..

But I did bring out old pictures of the Wasabi Mommy pre-child... and look.. at what I was then....I miss those tone arms.. and that little waist... but I am going FULL THROTTLE...