Happy Birthday Bubbles !

Happy birthday... to me!

Happy birthday... to me!

Happy birthday... to meee-eeee!

Happy birthday........... to..........me!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was started by my father a few years ago, that we call all the family members we can, as early as we can, and sing happy birthday to ourselves. I guess he started it because he had forgotten my mom's the year before and didn't want her to forget his.

We do try to be polite and not call before 6:30 am, but that 'unwritten' rule has been broken once or twice. And if calling my uncle (dad's brother) you happen to be eating a maple nut ice cream cone, mores the better!! My uncle.. favorite though he may be.. forgets mine every year. He frequently calls about a month or two late, saying "you were on my mind but I was ...(insert excuse here). There were a couple of years I just showed up at their home on my birthday and invited myself over for dinner... politely announcing half-way through the meal, that this was 'the best birthday dinner you've ever made me!!' It's usually good to wait until they have a mouth full of food or liquid to do this since the choking and/or sputtering always gets them. One year I showed up, it was over 90 degrees out and they were pretty much in their underwear. Also mentioned by me, that they didn't need to wear their birthdays suits to my birthday party! (Will not mention the ensuing rush to clothe themselves)

Well, my friends, it's finally happened.

Bubbles has said 'goodbye' to the first half-century of her life and said 'hello' to the next one.

She wanted to share some birthday memories with you.

This picture was published in the Idaho Statesman in the Society Pages.

In this picture is me (far left) My aunts Heidi (2 1/2 years) Holly (4 years) and my 'boyfriend' Mikey. I know you've all been dying to see a picture of him!! Oh, and Pamela on the chair with Mikey.

This was the big birthday for me.

I was flower girl in my uncle's wedding. I also nearly drowned that week. We were swimming in Lake Washington and when they couldn't find me, my dad waded in and pulled me off the bottom of the lake. It was only a foot deep but a wave from a passing boat had knocked me over.  Dad pounded me on the back a few times until I coughed.  CPR wasn't around back then.

Thus the start of my nickname "Bubbles." It has since evolved to describe my personality!

bbles wanted to share some of her thoughts and life lessons.

Let's begin, shall we?

- Siblings: Being a new "big sister" at 2 1/2, Bubbles took a look at her new baby sister, poked at her a couple of times and pronounced "I'm done playing with her you can take her back now". Parents generally don't return the new offspring. They are usually there to stay.

- Bubbles has been doing a lot of soul-searching the last four years, and finally (with the assistance of her helpful internist) figured out what makes her tick. Seems at one point she ingested a watch battery that still hasn't passed.

- Bubbles has a motto "Gravity: it's not just a good idea... it's the LAW!" Gravity has never been a friend to Bubbles. In fact, it's been outright "anti-Bubbles". If anything can be tripped over, fallen over, dropped and broken.. Bubbles has done it. Though she is proud to admit to never breaking a bone! Bubbles totally sucked at gymnastics. It truly wasn't a pretty sight.

- It was the last rule that inspired Bubbles to take up scuba diving. If there is one arena "The Law of Gravity" can be challenged, it's water. Bubbles was never able to stand on her head on dry land, but she can underwater! Indeed, this was the perfect sport for her 'abilities'. She was so good she went on to be a dive-master and rescue diver. She gave me permission to share that during her rescue diving certification, she had to do the respiration part of CPR to another diver. So she inflated his BC (flotation vest) to stabilize him, went to swim around for better mouth to mouth and hit him in the head with her tank. The "thunk" was so loud everyone on the beach heard it. Luckily the 'victim' was ok, and pulled to shore safely and alive. They both thoroughly enjoyed the lesson! Bubbles rocks at CPR!

- Family: Bubbles firmly believes that a family tree should have more than four branches. Enough said.

- Children: Bubbles was once told by a friend that 'all of the qualities that make you special, taken to an extreme aren't such good qualities' and to that end Bubbles says she will raise her son to the best of her ability and pay for his therapy later.

- Parents: Bubbles has been blessed with great parents, however the other day her dad said something (and now she can't remember what it was) but she told him she's found him a room in a lovely retirement center near a slaughter house outside of Butte Montana. It has a single bed, a small dresser and a chair. The view can't be beat. He laughed, coughed and said "oh, look at the time, I'm late for something, somewhere...bye!" He's a great guy!

- Teaching your child about sex: Bubbles thinks it's important to have open communication, so while driving her son to school one morning (he was in 5th grade) it was mentioned that they had just had sex ed in class. This is great! The official 'opener!' So she says to him "do you have any questions because it's important to know the facts." He waited for the stop sign by the school and jumped out and ran the rest of the way. The only thing Bubbles likes more than open communication, is seeing her child get extra exercise!

So her first wish is that her Adsense would hit $23.50. Is that too much to ask?

Second wish is that my friends in the Tree-House would join her for margaritas...She feels like someone gave her the keys to the insane asylum. Kind of like an alternate-universe!! You've all become more like family and I adore you all!

Third she wishes to share her joy with those early fans that took a risk by putting their faces on her hub. You really took a leap of faith, the early stuff was only so-so (not that later stuff is 'quality')! Everyone of you mean everything to her, there is something different and special in each of you..

Bubbles tried to list each of you out, but she ran out of space..So, to the truly unique ones, the special ones, the zany, good, bad, odd, quirky, wacky, wise, talented, clever, poetic, alien, intelligent, innocent, oversexed, underpaid, overworked, real, alters, and disguised,.. *inhales deeply*..grumpy, dopey, sleepy, happy, sneezy, bashful, and Doc..the animals, vegetables, minerals, amphibians and one dragon and one bunyip, who make up my "hub sweet hub".. you know who you are, and where you fit in. I love you all more than you can possibly know.

I can't believe it's only been 3 months, but it's 3 months that have changed my life and sucked a lot of time into this computer. I wouldn't change a thing, except get a better chair!

I was recently told to "can" the idea of a do-over. so I shall rephrase it..

This is a darned great start for a "DO-MORE-LAUGHING"

Birthday Card: Well here you are.. so this is what 51 looks like? Yeah, this is what 51 looks like!! TAKE 8 MARGARITA STEPS FORWARD CUZ IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!

Cheers!

"To Laugh often and much,

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children,

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends,

To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others,

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, or a garden patch...

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have suceeded!" (Uncle) Ralph Waldo Emerson

***Happy Birthday Bubbles, I love you lots, Candie!***