It's my Birthday (party) and I'll cry if I want to.....

Last year on this exact day, Mom and Dad were here in Cincinnati to celebrate my 28th Birthday with me. Mom got me a beautiful pair of Tiffany earrings that I am currently wearing today and some other fun things including this little silk floral arrangement that sits on my porch. We had such a great weekend with them. They were the most amazing parents a girl could ask for.

Exactly 29 years ago, my Mother and Father celebrated as they brought a new baby girl into the World. Not knowing what to expect or what I would become, they were overjoyed being new parents. Although my Birthdays will never be the same or as special, I am thankful I had 28 years of birthday celebrations with Mom and Dad. What I miss today is the phone call from Mom. If she wasn't in town for my Birthday, I would for certain get a call. A very cheerful call from Mom, "Happy Birthday Melissa!!"....Dad would be yelling it in the background.

This weekend was a very special one in CT spent with Ted's Aunt and Uncle and cousins (and a fun visit from Mel) . They celebrated my Birthday on Saturday with cake, gifts and all! It was so nice to be near family that I love dearly. Now more then ever, these relationships are so important to me. Although...they always were.

Since Ted is out of town this week, we celebrated last night with more cake, ice-cream and gifts and today I was greeted with a ton more cards in the Mail from my wonderful friends and family, gift certificates to the Spa and Shopping, bags of chocolate and books and nice emails and phone calls. And I have a fun dinner and movie night planned out with my Cincinnati girlfriends. An Olszowy girl never spends her birthday alone.

This is my new life. My very first birthday spent without having a Mom and Dad. But I am praying they are catching glimpses of me whether it's today or them being able to remember the 28 years they had with me.

Your memory remains a part of who I am today and will forever remain a part of who I am to become. I know your proud of how I am handling myself these days but as sensitive as Mom was, I know she would also be sad and tearful today that I was without them. It's still so painful not being able to hear your voices. I could sit and think about them all day long........and like the song says, "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to".