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08.24.2007 :: Candles
There are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents ... and only one for birthday presents, you know. - Lewis Carroll
Today, August 25th (not the 24th like the entry head says) I am 46 years old. I have to say that my 40's have been good to me. Life truly is good. I have a loving family, who I (most of the time) love! :D I have lots of great friends, I have yarn, I have Fig. I have my health, I have a home that is in the process of beautification. I have all that I want and some (pounds) that I don't. But that is neither here nor there.
Today I am 46.
And I'd like to ask something of you. I'd like to ask you for a gift.
Gauche? You may think? Maybe. But I'm going to do it anyway.
I'm willing to bet that you have lots of riches in your life too. (hopefully not the extra pounds, but again, neither here nor there). And unless you are Claudia, you have plenty of yarn. (Claudia is the only one of us that I know that can limit her yarn buying to one project at a time) Claudia is brave.
Being so lucky, I feel it's important to give back. Last year, my birthday was an embarrassment of taking. Don't get me wrong, I loved every minute of it, but it's not ME to get gifts in that way. I cherish the memory of it.....and now that I think about it, I Do want gifts again this year.
The gifts I want?
To share ourselves. And a bit of our money.
Please consider making a donation to the Red Scarf Scholarship Fund. A better charity I have yet to see. Having 2 college age kids, the thought of an 18 year old being put into the college scene with no strong parental support is heartbreaking. The loneliness must be overwhelming. We can knit a red scarf but we can also give generously to the scholarship fund. Email Norma and tell her your donation and you will be entered into a wonderful, growing raffle for a gift for yourself. If every one of us gave only $1.00, the scholarship will grow by leaps and bounds. But imagine if we gave a bit more. I plan to give $46, one dollar for each and every one of those wonderful years I have been on this earth.
AND.
Then when you are done giving your money away, please consider joining Tracey in knitting something to keep a homeless person warm this winter. Hats, mittens, gloves all to donate to the wonderful people of the Franklin County Homeless Shelter in Pennsylvania, where it can get downright cold. You may live in a cold place too and wonder why you should knit for the Pennsylvania homeless. Well, why not knit for all of them then?
So, on this day, the day of my 46th birthday, I stand here asking for gifts. I hope you can find a bit of room in your knitting life or in your wallet to honor these wonderful causes.
And if you happen to find yourself in a place that isn't able to give, perhaps next year will be better for you!
I have lots to be thankful for when I blow out the cake candles. You are amongst them.
Thanks for reading and sharing my life.
Posted by Sandy on 08.24.2007 AT 08:54 PM
Comments
happy birthday, sandy! you're such a ray of sunshine. i hope you had a great celebration. :)
Posted by: carolyn on 08.31.2007 AT 11:06 AM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Andrea (noricum) on 08.30.2007 AT 11:45 PM
I am embarrassingly late to the party. Any cake left? I thought not. A belated happy birthday to you, and a happy unbirthday to go with it.
Scholarship Fund donation: done.
Knitting for the homeless: working on it.
Posted by: Lucia on 08.30.2007 AT 05:39 PM
A belated happy birthday. And to a wonderful year!
Posted by: Kathy on 08.28.2007 AT 10:49 PM
Happy Birthday Sandy. I'm glad you're here.
Posted by: Stephanie on 08.28.2007 AT 05:18 PM
Happy belated birthday, Sandy! You're only 358 days older than I am. :)
I hope you get a lot of what you wished for this year ...
Posted by: Ruth on 08.27.2007 AT 09:21 PM
Happy Birthday Sandy! You deserve a sky shot for today. I'll look for one after work :)
Posted by: Rebecca on 08.27.2007 AT 07:25 PM
Happy Birthday, Sandy!
Donation: done; scarves: done; hats for my local shelter: done.
Thanks to you for all you do: done!! Happy days...
Posted by: Beebs on 08.27.2007 AT 01:06 PM
Happy Birthday to a marvelously wonderful human being, who also happens to be a great friend. Thanks Sandy. Happiest of Happies to you.
Posted by: Tracey on 08.27.2007 AT 10:59 AM
happy birthday lady!
Posted by: maryse on 08.27.2007 AT 07:49 AM
Happy belated birthday, Sandy! (I don't think I've ever sent a birthday greeting on time... ;-))
Posted by: Lee Ann on 08.26.2007 AT 09:29 PM
Happy happy belated birthday. :)
Posted by: Romi on 08.26.2007 AT 03:12 PM
Happy Birthday Sandy!
Posted by: Tiffany on 08.26.2007 AT 02:35 PM
Happy Birthday to you! And ... Happy Sunday! :-)
Posted by: Terri on 08.26.2007 AT 01:28 PM
Happy Birthday, Sandy!
Posted by: Pat K on 08.26.2007 AT 11:42 AM
Happy Birthday Sandy!
Posted by: Nicole on 08.26.2007 AT 10:29 AM
Hope you had a great birthday. Best wishes.
Posted by: yvette on 08.26.2007 AT 09:59 AM
Happy Birthday Sandy!
Posted by: Kelly on 08.26.2007 AT 09:43 AM
Happy Birthday! (Ok, a day late). I think you should have a birthday WEEK, don't you?
Posted by: claudia on 08.26.2007 AT 09:24 AM
Awwww, SNIFF. You know where I've been, and it's NOT been reading blogs. So I had no idea you were over here being the same old generous and thoughtful Sandy you've always been. Happy, happy birthday, my dearie. I'm going to start knitting for Pennsylvanians now. :D
Posted by: Norma on 08.26.2007 AT 08:42 AM
today is my son's birthday as well. he's 15. i already donted to the red scarf scholarship fund, in my sons' names. i'm glad i'm here to be there for them when they start college. I almost wasn't. (no death scenario, just a lot of heartbreak, that we had to really work through).
Posted by: minnie on 08.26.2007 AT 12:01 AM
Happy Birthday, Sandy (you youngster, you). I'll make another donation to the Red Scarf fund in your name. Smashing idea!
Posted by: Alarming Female on 08.25.2007 AT 11:45 PM
Happy Birthday, Sandy! I always remember your birthday since it's the same week as mine. Same year and everything! Yay for 46!
Posted by: susan on 08.25.2007 AT 07:43 PM
Happy Birthday, Sandy! My daughter's birthday was yesterday. It's a great time of the year to celebrate a special day. Enjoy!
Posted by: Annie on 08.25.2007 AT 07:40 PM
Happy birthday dear Sandy, happy birthday to you! :-) :-) :-)
As always, your wish is my command. Consider it done. :-)
Posted by: Beth S. on 08.25.2007 AT 07:20 PM
Happy, happy birthday!!!
Posted by: --Deb on 08.25.2007 AT 06:37 PM
Happy Birthday Sandy!! So glad to call you friend!
Already been to Norma's to donate to OFA, I will knit a scarf or 2 for Red Scarf and will knit for Tracey's cause too. Super idea! Thank you.
Posted by: Manise on 08.25.2007 AT 05:46 PM
Happy Birthday, Sandy. My daughter (22) shares the day. [Your Helgi's Mittens gave me the courage to try a pair.] Hope you have a great day.
Posted by: sonja poor on 08.25.2007 AT 05:45 PM
Happy Birthday, Sandy! My daughter (22) shares your day. [Your Helgi's Mittens - in KnitPicks Andean Treasure - gave me the courage to try a pair!] Hopey you have a wonderful day.
Posted by: sonja poor on 08.25.2007 AT 05:44 PM
Happy Birthday Sandy. I have done my donating to Red Scarf. :) Who couldn't with all of Norma's cheering?
Posted by: kathleen on 08.25.2007 AT 04:59 PM
Happy Birthday! I even managed to post a Saturday Sky photo today ;o)
Posted by: JessaLu on 08.25.2007 AT 02:57 PM
Happy Birthday, Sandy! You and I are the same age for 6 more months, then I'll be older than you again! Loving the 40's. I will warm some hands in your honor!
Posted by: DebbieB on 08.25.2007 AT 02:49 PM
That's a wonderful birthday present to ask for.
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Carrie K on 08.25.2007 AT 02:17 PM
Happy birthday! ...even though I didn't get to see you last weekend.
Posted by: kate on 08.25.2007 AT 12:28 PM
Happy, Happy BIRTHDAY!!!
Posted by: Cara on 08.25.2007 AT 12:26 PM
Happy Birthday, Sandy! ♥
Posted by: Cookie on 08.25.2007 AT 12:23 PM
Happy birthday, Sandy. I'll be following through on some of your birthday suggestions. May some of your generosity be reflected back to you today.
Posted by: sprite on 08.25.2007 AT 12:07 PM
We're almost twins - tomorrow's my birthday!
Posted by: Theresa on 08.25.2007 AT 12:07 PM
Happy happy birthday, Sandy! Wish I was there to give you a hug.
Li
Posted by: Li_B on 08.25.2007 AT 12:06 PM
Happy Birthday, Sandy!
Posted by: Paul on 08.25.2007 AT 11:41 AM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Rachel H on 08.25.2007 AT 11:17 AM
Happy Birthday Sandy! I have you have a fabulous day!
Posted by: scout on 08.25.2007 AT 11:06 AM
May your day of annual eminence rock mightily.
Posted by: marcia on 08.25.2007 AT 10:46 AM
Happy Birthday (again)!
Posted by: Dave Daniels on 08.25.2007 AT 10:29 AM
I had a post all ready to go first thing this morning and I goofed up the time! I'm so happy to see that many people have already come by to wish you a happy birthday. You are so generous and caring and we can all learn from your love. XOXO
Posted by: margene on 08.25.2007 AT 10:11 AM
Happy, happy birthday, Sandy!! What a wonderful idea, the gift of giving. Way to go, girlfriend.
May this year be the best yet for you and your wonderful family. I love ya, girl.
xoxoxo
Posted by: Kim on 08.25.2007 AT 10:07 AM
Happy Birthday!
Your kindness shines through even on a day when it's all about you. But, that's you. I hope your day is wonderful and I will skeedaddle over to Norma's when payday hits this week.
Posted by: Sandy on 08.25.2007 AT 09:44 AM
Happy Birthday Sandy! And many, many more. And you know what? It's my mom's birthday too!
Posted by: Paula on 08.25.2007 AT 09:27 AM
As always, you are thoughtful beyond measure. Happy birthday!
Posted by: Cathy on 08.25.2007 AT 09:11 AM
Such a beautiful request from one of the loveliest, warm and loving women I know.
Have a great birthday, I'm thankful you were born. Mwah!
Posted by: Teresa C on 08.25.2007 AT 08:43 AM
Happy Birthday, my friend. I have donated to the Red Scarf fund and am knitting socks as a prize for another donor. Thanks for inspiring me to do even MORE.
Posted by: Carole on 08.25.2007 AT 08:29 AM
Happy Birthday, Sandy!!!
Posted by: Vicki on 08.25.2007 AT 08:24 AM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Jeanne on 08.25.2007 AT 08:07 AM
Happy Birthday, Sandy!!
Posted by: Mary Beth on 08.25.2007 AT 08:00 AM
Happy Birthday Sandy!
Posted by: Karen on 08.25.2007 AT 07:49 AM
Happy Birthday, Sandy!
Posted by: Jo in Boston (Formerly) on 08.25.2007 AT 07:39 AM
Happy birthday! - from another 46 year old :-)
Posted by: janine on 08.25.2007 AT 04:40 AM
I've already donated a bit to the red scarf project - but I'm willing to do another. And any project that does not have a dead-line I'm good to go :) I think I have a couple of ear-flap hats from last year that just need a bit of finishing some where around here.
Happy, happy birthday!
Posted by: michelle on 08.25.2007 AT 01:20 AM
Happy Birthday! And what a lovely thought. I'll be giving to Red Scarf, and already have a big pile of knitted things to take to my local shelter. Have a great day!
Posted by: Jane on 08.25.2007 AT 01:09 AM
Happy birthday!
I've donated to the Red Scarf appeal and will look for a local charity wanting scarves/hats/mittens :-) I hope that is a good birthday present for you!
Posted by: lynne s of oz on 08.25.2007 AT 12:53 AM
Happy Belated Birthday! I had not even read this, and I worked on my red scarf and donated to the OFA fund. 46 has not been so exciting for me yet. Note to self, must finish CIC sweater.
Posted by: Paula on 09.05.2007 AT 10:12 PM