We started at the Lower Deck enjoying another wonderful evening of Paul Lamb and Cory Tetford… I know I’ve said it already but if you haven’t gotten out to see them… you really should. Thing is… I’d had a pretty rotten day…. personal stupid crap. There I was, trying to get in the mood and be part of the fun conversation with a few of my best friends but nothing could lift my spirits until about three songs in. Cory and Paul have this way of making everyone happy! By second set… a Paul Lamb original birthday tune (he made up the words as he went) and Cory’s yelling of “The Queen is in the House” had me laughing until I was close to tears! Seriously… these guys are fun!
Next, we headed to Durty Nelly’s where the fun simply doesn’t end. Shawn Brady a fabulous Toronto musician, known for his U2 cover band Elevation, was in town and once we discovered him at the Deck… we dragged him along with us. He kept us laughing the entire night with his ridiculous dancing and foolishness. He’s in town to record an album… I’ll let you know when it’s ready for release!
Folks rolled in and out through the entire evening and it truly was fabulous to have a night out with so many people who are such an important part of my life.
Now to get sappy…
I can’t ever truly express what my friends mean to me… I think they know. They’ve dragged me kicking and screaming through my divorce and now that I’m on the other side of it… they make me feel more loved than I’ve ever felt before. I’m surrounded by this remarkable group of talented, funny, smart, beautiful people who are just as insane as I am… who support one another, who check in on each other, who care and make fun and love… it’s amazing to be a part of it!
A friend told me the other day that my group of friends reminds her of a herd of elephants… and the story she told me really struck a chord. Apparently, if one elephant in the herd is sick… unable to stand on their own… the other elephants will gather around, placing their bodies against the sick elephant, feeding it and nurturing it until it’s eventually to the point of standing on its own again… when they are better, comfortable, can hold their head up and move forward again.
My friends have been my elephants.
I received a card last night from CA that said… “40 was the past. 41 a blur. 42 was a hesitant new beginning. 43 is yours.” She’s right. It is. I still face personal crap but so does everyone. Some days are worse than others but for the most part… most of my days are amazing. I’ve surrounded myself with this remarkable group of people who’ve held me up when I so desperately needed them… who never let go. They encouraged. Listened. Laughed. They were my rocks… my elephants.
So, apart from this week being a celebration (alright, one day… whatever), every single day is something to look forward to. Wonderful friends, fabulous music, an amazing family… I have it all. Every gift I could possibly need or desire, I already have.
Happy Birthday to me. What a wonderful year it will be.