beloved

Yesterday marked my 41st year on the planet. I adore birthdays and yesterday was just perfect–with its perfection bleeding into the day before and after as well. I am still riding on a wave of birthday goodness.

Thinking on the wonder of birthdays today, this quote came to mind. It is from Raymond Carver’s Late Fragment. I ran across it on an artist’s blog that my sister had recommended to me years ago. The artist, Lisa Congdon, is doing a year of hand lettering and this snippet is one that really drew me in–both Carver’s words and Congdon’s visual interpretation of them.

It is exactly why I love birthdays. On birthdays, the beloved-ness I experience day in and day out of this lovely life of mine is crafted into sentiments expressed in words, cards, gifts, and experiences. A quilt of beloved-ness that I wrap myself in at the end of the day and sigh contentedly.

I got exactly what I wanted for my birthday this year. And a whole lot of it. Thank you.