A bit here and a bit there

For my most recent birthday, quite a few of my friends went all out. My friend Kay started it by driving a bit of a distance to procure a one of a kind cake! On the actual day, C dropped off 3 boxes of ice cream. Another friend had a dozen mini donuts delivered to my home.

 

Hans quietly remarked that it felt like Craigley's birthday was being celebrated a second time!

 

Craigley loves cake, ice cream and desserts. On the other hand, I like anything savoury. Give me tortilla chips with a homemade 7 layer dip, and I am in snack heaven. I will also eat French fries in my sleep and if they are accompanied by hot mustard, I would consider it a dream come true.

 

However, I digress.

 

My parents and my brother are always on track with my birthday gifts. They write the nicest words on an envelope (my parents) or find a card with the nicest words and add some more (my brother). Then, they throw in cash for good measure. My parents hope I use the cash to do some personal shopping. My brother has no such conditions!

 

More so than ever before, I feel lucky to have been born into a family that is as nice as mine.

 

The gifts continued to appear after my birthday. There are 2 notable ones. My friend C decided to buy me a digital voice recorder. She wanted to give me something that could help with my writing. She knows that I have been diagnosed with Palindromic Rheumatism. Today, ASid gave me an iPad.

 

At this point in the post, I will intentionally digress.

 

8 years ago, in May 2012, Craigley got me my first iPad. He had the words "All You Need is Love" engraved at the back of it. Since he is a big-time Beatles' fan, it would make sense to most people. Some may reflect on the irony of those words. However, those words were merely chosen as an inside joke. Craigley worked for BlackBerry at that time and that was the song the company was using to promote the Playbook which was their version of an iPad.

 

It was as if Craigley was comforting himself with the thought that he may have given into temptation, but he didn't sell his soul to the devil in the process.

 

A few hours ago, I unboxed my second iPad. ASid had the following words engraved at the back of it.

 

"If I should leave you

Try to remember the good times"

 

They are lyrics from a song titled "Little Bit of Rain".

 

Recently, ASid and I binge watched a British series that had a beautiful selection of songs play through each episode. Of all the songs we got to listen to, my most favourite was "Little Bit of Rain" and those 2 lines made me a little emotional.

 

The boy remembered.

 

I have received many gifts during my lifetime. The ones I cherish the most are the gifts of Time.

 

A little bit here and a little bit there

Lovely little treasures to revisit in my head