The Birthday

Reader(s?), you have read about my apprehension concerning this week's milestone birthday so it just seems appropriate to follow-up with how it went.
Daniel had planned a nice quiet, family party for Sunday afternoon. He made sandwiches, cut up some fruit, bought a cake, and made my favorite dessert too (Brownie Delight - brownies with vanilla ice cream, Cool Whip, chopped peanuts, and chocolate syrup). Most of the family came bearing cards with cash and we had a fun time hanging out together. It was simple and fun. All of this was on Sunday seeing as how my birthday fell on a back-to-work Monday (how appropriate - Monday and 40 on the same day).
Monday morning I went to work as always and it wasn't a big deal, just another day at the schoolhouse or so I thought. The morning was quiet and uneventful. My sister came in and wrote HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY TRACY on my board (how sweet), but that was it.
Lunchtime arrived and I walked down the hall to the lounge with my lunchbag. I saw a couple of people in the hall that I don't normally see at that time, but it didn't really register as unusual until...I walked into the lounge and saw DANIEL standing there!! He and Jeri H. had been cooking up a plan with some others in my department to give me a surprise party for lunch. He brought Zaxby's and fruit and ANOTHER cake. What a sweet man to go to such lengths for me! There were cards and a couple of gag gifts too. Unfortunately, Kara got sick so Jeri was out that day and missed the whole thing! But, we had fun anyway.
Then, I went back to my classroom and in the middle of my To Kill a Mockingbird lesson, there was a knock on the door. Several of the Leadership students were there with inflatable flamingos to 'flock' my room in honor of my birthday. That thank you goes to my department chair who was also absent that day, but still very much 'in' on the festivities.
I ended my special day with Daniel and the kids having dinner at Olive Garden. This was followed by a dish of Brownie Delight and Daniel cleaning the kitchen for me (the BEST gift of all). However, it isn't completely over yet. There is one more birthday activity to come. This Saturday Daniel is taking me on an all-day shopping spree to spend all that birthday cash. I can't wait! 40 isn't bad...so far.