By the way, what kind of a lovely scrumptious pastry is that in your photo!?

ALEX RESPONDS: The pastry is actually a plastic children’s toy!

I walk to the lake, sit down on a bench or flop in the grass or perch on a stone or concrete, and meditate while listening to the water crash on the barriers. I write, I draw, I read, I breathe, I close my eyes, I think, I dream. I snuggle with my cat. I cook a kick-ass lunch for one. I wander in and out of cute boutiques and pick up something pretty for myself. I sit down in a little café and drink delicious foamy drinks and sneak chocolate treats. I reflect on where I’ve been and think about where I’d like to go.

I visit with friends in the evening, and we laugh and glow and tell stories about how we’ve all affected one another in amazing ways. I eat birthday cake or a birthday muffin or some other delicious concoction and ride home in a whirling blushy haze.

A friend of mine recently wrote that he didn’t do anything for his birthday because “it was no big deal.” I had to disagree, but it didn’t make much of a difference. It’s in the eye of the beholder — or rather, the birthday boy / girl — to make the most of his or her day.

I like to think that I do. Every year.