Britta's Letters from her life divided between city-life in German's capital Berlin and life in a Bavarian village

Tuesday 29 December 2020

Today is my Birthday

 

drawing by Quentin Blake

... and I am happy to be here! 

It was a very strange year for all of us - but as a wayward taoist I accept change, though I always try to find a few balloons which make wafting through life a little easier. Of course "wafting" has, as most things and situations, two faces. Some will call it "living in a bubble", I call it "looking for happiness even in tiny things". I believe that many days consists mainly of tiny things. 

This early morning I looked at the water-grey sky of Berlin (in my dressing gown, on the balcony, clutching a warm mug with strong tea in my hands) and I had to stare very hard, but then I saw them - sparkling in a hazy misty way: five stars! 

As long as I am able to enjoy that, life is beautiful and my greatest gift.  



24 comments:

  1. Seeing the stars that way ... at the start of a day..with tea
    and an open heart...how lovely....Happy Birthday

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    1. Thank you, Libby! Yes - that is my morning ritual (today we had a beautiful new moon).

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  2. Things change, nothing stays the same forever - Happy Birthday dear Britta, have a lovely day.
    Today is also special for us - it is our eldest sons birthday too.

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    1. Thank you, Rosemary!
      Your son will love that date as I do!
      The only thing I was not happy with was that I, being 3 days away from the next year (thus: being actually almost a year younger) I had to bring more sporty achievement to get points than those three days younger... :-)

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  3. I think all my days are the sum of the parts of many small things Britta! But nothing wrong with that. Have a wonderful Birthday! Rachel x

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    1. Thank you Rachel! Of course small things make the days of most people - and I am content with that (now - when I was younger I looked at the famous people, which by now I would not like to change my life with)

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  4. Tiny things are all we need! And a very Happy Birthday to you, dear Britta! x

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    1. Thank you, Pipistrello - let's celebrate the tiny things! Small - but very good! x

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  5. A most Happy Birthday I wish for you. Today I am looking out the window at the heavy snowfall we are having. The evergreen tree across the street is so pretty with snow covering its branches.

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    1. Thank you, Emma! You have snow - we don't, but I can imagine the sight of that evergreen tree with snow on it!

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  6. Happy birthday. Life is the greatest gift! Blake's drawing is wonderful.

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    1. Thank you, Joanne! I adore Blake - and took that picture when I visited an exhibition about him in London (some years ago).

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  7. Happy B-day Britta. There is so much to see and appreciate in nature. Your early morning stars high up in the sky made a very nice birthday greeting. The wonders of nature. Today on my walk in the forest, the stream bubbled along and the sound of the water moving over the rocks was glorious.

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    1. Thank you, Susan! You have a forest near by - that is so great! (Can you collect mushrooms in autumn there? Or find blue-berries?)It sounds very romantic!

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    2. No blueberries in the forest but lots of mushrooms. Very tall pine trees and a bubbling stream. Walking paths wind throughout the forest and also make good trails for cross country skiing when it snows. The forest is part of my daily routine.

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    3. Wow - that sounds like a dream! Instantly I see Christopher Robin's forest before me - Winnie the Poo and the pine forest.

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  8. Britta, hope your birthday celebration has continued and 'wafted' over into today also so I can wish you a belated Happy Birthday. I send s wishes for many more. Starlight always makes for happy feelings does't it?

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    1. Thank you, Mary! The celebration yesterday was lovely - although we in Berlin are only allowed two households meeting - thus we were two people - but we had a lot of fun and joy! Even the fine Italian restaurant near by had decided to cook menus that you could order before and then take home - I live only one street further, so I could bring it "warm" to our table.
      Yes - starlights are always making me happy - one gets the feeling that there is more than what we can see.

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  9. Oh Britta ..... I'm so sorry that I missed your birthday. A belated many happy returns to you ..... I hope you had a lovely day.... and, happy, happy 2021 ..... may it be filled with happy times. XXXX

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    1. Thank you, Jackie! It was a very lovely day, with all I could wish for (except the family) - and I thank you so much for your good wishes - and wish them for you too! XXXX

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  10. Beter laat dan nooit Britta. Hartelijk fefeliciteerd en nog vele jaren.
    Bovendien een goed en gezond 2021.

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    1. Dankjewel, Guusje! Ik heb de laatste maand heel veel Nederlands kunnen praten :-) I wish you a happy and healthy 2021, Guusje!

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