South African Birthday

This is mainly for all my family in Texas and D.C. who are worried that worlds away from home, my birthday just won't be the same. Which is true, I miss you all tons and tons and wish you were here to help me with my birthday candles (everyone knows asthmatics never get that damn wish, especially when there are 24 candles to contend with-- yeesh I'm getting old), but you should know that I'm being well taken care of on this October 16th.

I was given two birthday wake-up calls-- one at midnight, to be the first birthday wish, and the other at 7am to be, well, don't quite know why I was given that early morning call. Mary and Justin, as always, have made the morning superbly special. I was given my favorite breakfast of eggs benedict, a gift of magnolia scented bath things (Magnolia bringing in the scents of our Southern homeland), and a gift of a beautiful bottle of wine. Mary even went so far as to stand in for the crazy Tokaz/Bowers/Sleeth birthday musical tradition, singing "Happy Birthday" on repeat, with an attempted Texas accent and country jig. Glad to know that our craziness runs in Scottish families as well.

So know that you are all missed but that I was awoken with a sunrise over the vineyards-- not a bad way to start my 24th year.

Oh, yes, and in breaking news, the UNDIES HAVE BEEN FOUND!! Thank the lord, I was really really starting to panic and considering fashioning new undergarments from a spare pair of sheets. I came in to talk to the maid in one last, desperate attempt. Once again, I made the sign of the bag, to which she shook her head no, but then I dauntlessly pressed on. I went to Mary's room, and pointed to a pair of undies, hoping that props would help in my otherwise unsuccessful miming attempts. It worked! Her face suddenly was alight with understanding and recognition, at which point she walked over to Justin's armoire, and reached into the back to pull out my beloved plastic bag. No need to comment further on the location of the bag or why she decided to put them there... Karen had a great thought. Maybe the maid was worried that those were the undergarments of a lady-friend of Justin's and she was just trying to cover for him; to which Justin responded that she just might be the best help they had ever had.