i have so many treasures that can never be lost, including framily, my charm bracelet, my car, my cowboy boots, the first snow of winter, and the memory of the yeasty smell of my sons’ heads when they were first born.  but one treasure that constantly gets taken away from me is my sleep, which leads to no good rotten very bad cranky days.  i get up in the middle of the night and i’m worried and scared.  but sometimes a stranger can say something that changes things for you.

ruby gives a lot of herself to her hometown of shelbyville, indiana.  boy scouts, church, little league concessions, and a slew of other volunteer activities in addition to running a household and working as a waitress.  all of which lead to situations where she can have a bad day.  but a birthday is a special day and she gives herself a birthday party even if it’s just for herself.

make sure to print out this picture and put it in your wallet. next time you have a bad day, take it out and look at it! we are meant to have a wonderful day EVERY day!

and if you want to contact me and say “arlynn, could you sing me happy birthday?” i will!  i continue on my travels and i sing myself a birthday song, although