How did THAT happen??

45.

I'm 45.

Fortyfuckingfive.

How did I get to be 45??

I haven't felt all that festive about this birthday. Not because of my advanced age (!!!), but because of a major upheaval at work this week. I'm still employed; someone very close to me is not. I've been assured that my job is safe as it can be in these uncertain times in my crumbling industry, but it's been a very rough few days, watching an old friend and longtime colleague - the person responsible for hiring me - lose his job. And trying to lead the troops while helping him pack up his office and tie up loose ends. And trying to keep the tears at bay.

For weeks, people have been asking if I had any big plans for my birthday. I think they were all disappointed when I told them I was planning to go to hula. And considering the way the week turned out, it was the best possible way to spend my birthday evening.

I was enveloped by the love and Aloha of my hula ohana, had lots of laughs with them, and got to do something that has come to mean so much to me. I'm so grateful for it for countless reasons, most of which I can't articulate. And I felt like a different person at the end of the night....in a GOOD way.

Here's hoping I'm hula'ing for many birthdays to come.