Frank Joseph, New Zealand March 15, 2006

(Birthday message sent to friends and family)

A year ago on this very day..the 15th, I was surrounded by friends and family. A few of my senses tell me that day that occured a year ago was a century past, yet the other senses tell me it was just yesterday.

Today, the presence of my friends and family are with me celebrating my new year. They are amongst the green pines, snow capped mountains, ever white glaciers that are in Frank Josep, New Zealand. They woke up with me on this brisk morning and they will be the last one's I think of before I go to sleep.

It's been a great year!!! A year unimaginable...A year that is soon coming to a close. I go with a softer heart, a smile and a few tears for this year has touched my soul with love and laughter.

Last year on this very day, I looked in the mirror to find a reflection of a black fancy dress, hot pink boots and a face put. This year, I look in the reflection and find the same girl with dirty stained cargo pants, windbreaker, sneakers and hair uncombed and I am just as happy.

As it turns out, I've once again become the scruffy girl from college days that loved sweat pants, baseball hats, hight top sneakers, men's boxers and long snuggly flannel shirts. Maybe this year I grew younger rather than older, wiser than expected, simplier than most would imagine and most of all appreciative of all things.

It's been a great year~~~

I just hope you all recognize me....in a few weeks, for homebound is only a few days away.

Happy Birthday to ME!Today is March 21, 2006 and I sit in the harbour of Wellington, New Zealand.

It' seems that I left