Somebody learnt that my birthday is today and gave me the best birthday present ever this weekend - a day on the beach, with picnic and sunshine. Bright balloons (with stars on them!), presents and so much more. I loved it Linni - thank you :) Today can hardly be more of a be-me-day than that.
Linni's photo of me
This is the beginning of my last year in the twenties. A year I want to spend gathering up all that has happened during my second phase of life. The decade I've travelled the world, the outer and the one in me, made a best friend and lover, moved out from my family, come home to where I belong in a new country, learnt at university, in work-with-your-hands jobs, at college, found acupuncture and the work I feel drawn to do, been figuring out who I am and what I look like, what it's like to be in the world.
I want to gather it near, spread it out before me, hug it, laugh with it, talk to it, ask it, cry with it, sort it, pick out the meaningful, brush it off, try to lovingly let go of the heavy. Take back the parts I want to carry with me, place them carefully in my rucksack, wave goodbye to the ones left on the ground and then stride off for new adventures with a lighter mind.
This week I might or I might not disappear a little bit, because I have exams on Saturday. If I do, I wish you a sunlit week with promises of green, dreams of colourful gardens, carefree laughter and the energy that comes with the light. Much love to you all.
The ocean calls me. I forget how much it feels like home until I'm there with it again. I loved seeing all the lives being woven together there, spending time with that great expanse and each other.
wow, what an amazing gift from the lovely Linni. and what an amazing gift you are to the world.
i hope you have the most wonderful birthday today.
with love
-leonie
Posted by: chocolate covered musings | Monday, 11 February 2008 at 10:22
love love love the last photo...and the first one...and the second one...ahhh...love you! :-0)
I'm doing a goofy happy birthday dance for you right at this minute...breathing out...what fun! Dancing with you! xx
Posted by: Linni | Monday, 11 February 2008 at 12:31
Happy Birthday!!! It sounds like you've been having a wonderful time. Eat some cake for me :)
I borrowed one of your images for my blog, and linked back to you...check it out!
Good luck with your exams.
Posted by: Carolina Eclectic | Monday, 11 February 2008 at 13:58
Happy Birthday! Love the light and silhouettes in your last picture. Seems like you had a beautiful day!
Oh, it's my husband's birthday today also...he's out of his twenties though.
Posted by: Murray | Monday, 11 February 2008 at 15:28
Beautiful, beautiful birthday girl :)
Oh how I wish I could bottle the stars and send them all to you...
to sit on your night stand or fit in your pocket...
a gift to shimmer and shine, a gift to wish on again, and again, and again.
May this year be the most incredible year of your beautiful life.
I celebrate YOU today Caroline... one of the most beautiful girls I know.
xoxoxo
Posted by: joan | Monday, 11 February 2008 at 15:40
Happy, happy birthday to you! May this year and all that follow fill you with happiness galore! :)
Your day sounds wonderful.
Posted by: Jessie | Monday, 11 February 2008 at 15:46
congratulations!
Posted by: marie | Monday, 11 February 2008 at 17:11
congratulations!
Posted by: marie | Monday, 11 February 2008 at 17:11
happy birthday :) your day sounds absolutely fantabulous!! xox
Posted by: darlene | Monday, 11 February 2008 at 17:51
it sounds perfect! i love the lake so much, so much like the ocean minus the salty air/water. it was where i loved to go when i needed to clear my head or pull myself together...your photos remind me just how much i miss it and long to be standing before so much water...but oh how much i will love it even more when i get back there. ;-)
HAPPY Birthday dear Caroline, i wish you the best. xo
Posted by: misty | Monday, 11 February 2008 at 18:50
Happy, Happy Birthday!!! You two beauties met up for the weekend? YAY! Oh, this makes my heart sing, and I will be happy dancing over this...
:-D
(((HUGS))),
Love,
Me
Posted by: PixieDust | Monday, 11 February 2008 at 20:08
happy birthday dear one. good luck with your exams, i'll be thinking of you. xo
Posted by: kristen | Monday, 11 February 2008 at 20:59
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Caroliiiiiiiine, Happy Birthday to you! Whoo hoo!
I'm so glad that you are loving your beautiful life. Good luck with your exams!
PS - Guess what? Your thirties are going to be even BETTER! You have lots to look forward to! :)
Posted by: susanna | Tuesday, 12 February 2008 at 03:03
Hope you had a wonderful birthday!
Posted by: Angie | Tuesday, 12 February 2008 at 14:23
Oh Yay - I love birthdays! I hope you had a wonderful day and year to come!!!!
Posted by: Rebekah | Tuesday, 12 February 2008 at 15:11
happy birthday!!! and good luck on your exams!
Posted by: degan | Tuesday, 12 February 2008 at 22:21
Ooh!! Happy Happy Birthday to you, Caroline!
May you get everything you wish for & more! Definitely more! Hugs!
Posted by: Lynn | Wednesday, 13 February 2008 at 02:18
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y
Beautiful, sweet, inspirational you...
What a perfect gift from Linni! I have been on blog withdrawal lately, just too much going on, but then I come back and it's like I have this feast waiting for me. I have gone back a few days here and as always your images just enchant me. I think I need to choose a print from your pocket for my new bedroom. Yes, I'm sure of it.
Happy birthday lovely Caroline...and good luck with your schoolwork... and thank you to Linni for making your day so special!
xxooxx
Posted by: kateri | Wednesday, 13 February 2008 at 12:51
I’m late…but happy birthday Caroline. I admire your intensions for the coming year and how you live so deliberately. Wishing you all the best for you last year in the 20s! You put it beautifully… “I want to gather it near, spread it out before me, hug it, laugh with it, talk to it, ask it, cry with it, sort it, pick out the meaningful, brush it off, try to lovingly let go of the heavy.” Love that.
Posted by: Chloe | Wednesday, 13 February 2008 at 16:45
Happy, happy birthday dear friend! I'm happy for you; the lovely gift you received, and for all the wonderful things you have packed in your back pack ready to take on coming adventures. I'll be around to follow your steps :-) Hugs, from me.
Posted by: Anne Marie | Wednesday, 13 February 2008 at 17:42
A late happy birthday! May you have a year full of love, light and learning!
Posted by: bibbi | Wednesday, 13 February 2008 at 21:48
Happy belated birthday Caroline! May all your wishes come true and may 2008 bring you everything that you've ever dreamed of. I've been very busy these past few months and couldn't stop by as often as I wanted!
Hugs!
Amy
Posted by: Amy | Thursday, 14 February 2008 at 00:45
Oh, I missed your special day...HAPPY BIRTHDAY! May your 29th year be one in which you mine the best parts of your self and soul. Much love. xoxo
Posted by: Marilyn | Saturday, 16 February 2008 at 20:37
Caroline, even though this is belated, the meaning is not without any less enthusiasm. Happy Birthday, sweet Caroline. I liked 29 so much, it's my "official" age. XOXO
Posted by: Rachel | Tuesday, 19 February 2008 at 00:47
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Abbey | Saturday, 23 February 2008 at 15:38