HBTM

Today is my 57th birthday.

Joe and I are in Ottawa for the day to celebrate with Mike, Marissa, Joseph, Ruby and Sadie. There was pandemonium last night as we arrived at the hotel, having picked Joseph up in Belleville, and all the others arrived. Ruby made for the bed because the rule is that hotel beds are made to be jumped on. Joseph managed to participate in conversation, text his friends back home and watch television simultaneously. Mike and Marissa traded back and forth the responsibilities of parenting. Joe and I grew tired just watching the activity.

Sadie was up and alert watching the action and commenting with grins or grimaces - an amazingly effective communication strategy. It was wonderful watching her engage with the world and seek to make herself part of the goings on. She sat with me awhile. At just 3 months she was able to fix her gaze on me, and respond with little sounds as I spoke with her. Now the conversation wasn't taxing - How's little Sadie? Have you had a good day? Pull my finger - but she clearly wanted to be an equal responder in the interaction.

At heart, I guess, we are social creatures. This is probably why we've made the trek to Ottawa, the world's coldest national capital, to experience a wee bit of family. About 20 seconds after they left I had stripped and slipped into bed. It was wonderful, the quiet.

Today almost every moment of the day is planned. Except for right now. The couple of hours in the morning where Joe and I can just be quiet, have a cuppa tea, and I can write my blog. Like Sadie with me - I enjoy engaging with you all. I enjoy, in my way having this means of communication with the outside world. So thank you all for joining me, chatting with me, challenging me, affirming me ... thanks for spending some of your day with me.

So I'm off into a day that will end with cake. How cool is that?