What a Great Birthday!

I wanted to ignore my 42nd birthday. Pretend it wasn't happening. But Ed took me to dinner at Kay's Restaurant, a new place in Kisumu, where the décor is beautiful, the service impeccable, the food 4-star, and Ed's company delightful. My Aunt Sandra made me a homemade birthday card, which arrived today!!! How lovely to see her handwriting and read her warm wishes. Walter Odede visits the office to have lunch and he brings gifts of a handwoven purse and a homemade bracelet. My Mom sends money, insisting I spend it on me. I feel very lucky to have such loving friends and family. And then the cellphone rings. I answer and hear Jennifer Miller's glorious voice reaching all the way from Atlanta!! She is ecstatic on finally getting through and so am I!! It feels like she's beside me. "I love you," "We love you," "I love you, too," then Jennifer hands the phone to Marsha, who sings a jazz version of "Happy Birthday." It's a tradition, having Marsha sing this jazz song to us on our birthday, and I'm overwhelmed with her standing in Georgia singing to me via satellite. "I love you," "We love you," "I love you, too," and then Marsha hands the phone to Dee Dee. I tell Dee Dee that Marsha is making me cry! When I ask about Tony and the kids, Dee Dee says everyone is doing wonderfully well. "I love you," "We love you," "I love you, too," and Louise's voice comes through. She calls me "Honey" and I tell her I'm working very hard to make it home over Christmas, that I can't stay away from them or my children for longer than that. Louise spreads the news immediately after saying, "I love you," "We love you," "I love you, too," and giving the phone to Sherri. Sherri says she printed this entire blog, more than 200 pages, and reads it with her husband, Shane, every evening. "I love you," "We love you," "I love you, too." Sherri gives the phone to Kourtney and I tell her that I've been thinking about her every day. She says she's taken on lots of extra work and will email me soon. "I love you," "We love you," "I love you, too," and Kourtney gives the phone to Richelle and I could swear Richelle is standing beside me, her voice is so clear and cheerful. I can see her shiny face and mentally touch her arm! "I love you," "We love you," "I love you, too," and Richelle gives the phone back to Jennifer Miller, my rock. Jennifer is going to Brazil on a mission with her church the first week in July. She'll work with orphans. Knowing Jennifer's huge heart, this won't be the last time she volunteers for a mission. As we are ending the call, Jennifer holds the phone up and seven voices call out, "Happy Birthday, we love you!" and then there's the familiar beep beep sound as the call ends. Beep beep and then a void. I can still hear them, though. Still hear these remarkable women, who have lifted me up on a day I wanted to ignore. I hold the phone for several minutes, recalling their voices, as though they're right next to me, as though we're still connected. Because we are.