Happy Birthday!!!

I had originally not planned to write a post today, but then I realized that yesterday, my blog turned 4 years old!  Then today is a three-fer birthday, and tomorrow is a two-fer anniversary - it seemed like neglect to wait another day ...

Today would have been sweet Tess' 19th birthday.  I wish so much that she was still here so that we could mark the day together, but I know she is busy, because it is also the birthday of my father and The Tim's father.  I'm sure they are all celebrating in heaven.  The Tim thinks his dad is offering Tess a Cheez-It, since he used to do that with our Molly (who would happily take it and eat it - we're pretty sure no one ever told her that she was a cat).  My dad is doing God knows what, but I'm sure it's over the top, since a) he was that kind of person, and b) he was even nuttier about animals than we are.  (See, I get it honestly.)  So Happy Birthday to Tess, Dad, and Dad!  If you can't be here to celebrate, at least you are together, and we can (and definitely will) toast you appropriately later today. 

Then tomorrow is my sister and brother-in-law's 40th wedding anniversary, and my niece Julie and her husband Keith's second anniversary.  We are heading to Baltimore later today, so that we can join my sister and most of her family for a celebratory dinner.  Which, needless to say will I'm sure involve quite a bit of eating, and even more, er, "toasting" ... unfortunately, Jules and Keith won't be able to join us, but they'll be there in spirit.

So back to my blog's birthday - to be honest, I'm amazed!  Not because I still have the blog, because when I started it, it was as much for my own amusement and to keep track of knitting projects, than it was to meet new people.  I do have to say though, that meeting new people has been one of the best things ever!  I am by nature someone who prefers to be left alone 99% of the time, but having this blog has allowed me the chance to have so many friends and visit with them when I feel like it, without hurting anyone's feelings that I didn't call them back, go out with them, etc. 

This is the biggest surprise to me, and the happiest one as well.  Though last month was just plain old awful, the fact that so many of you sent me notes, comments, and actual snail mail was truly comforting to me.  You hope and know that people feel happiness or sadness for you, but seeing actual proof helps in ways that other things cannot.  I know I have not responded to all of you yet individually, and I'm still working on that.  For those of you whose e-mail addresses I don't have, please know that your kindness was appreciated by all of us here at chez Ravelld Sleave.  But no matter what, I want to take this time to say a big thank you to everyone for your kindness.

It would seem that it's time for something special to celebrate four years of my blathering, and your reading of said blathering.  I have a couple of ideas that I want to mull over, so I'll let you in on the details in the next one or two posts.

In the meantime, thanks again for being here, and please join us in toasting the many celebrations happening this weekend.