A year ago, this was my birthday week, and it was the last normal week and nobody knew it.
My birthday marked the last day of 2020 when Jon and I went out to dinner at a restaurant. I remember that people had started talking about the Coronavirus and that things started to feel a little weird. Everybody seemed on high alert.
A week later, the world shut down.
Yesterday was my birthday again. My first “official” pandemic birthday, if you will. I wish it didn’t have to come to this, but here we are. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I am all about celebrating birthdays and being thankful for all the wonderful moments that each year has to offer. Is it always perfect? No. We faced some particular challenges this last year. But I still choose to focus on the good things and so I will, as I did last year and the year before look back and share my favorite – big and small – moments with you, in no particular order.
(as always) moments lots of time this year spent with this guy (minus the beard, which became a victim of mask-wearing protocols. This photo was taken on my birthday last year.)
my morning coffee routine
trying (many) new recipes
writing more handwritten letters
running a sub-2 hour (virtual) half-marathon
FaceTime with my parents
closing out the month in YNAB
sunrises at the American River
reading in bed
keeping in touch with my gym buddy
electing Joe Biden as president and Kamala Harris as vice-president
seeing DJT leave the White House
BBQ in our back yard
trying new workouts on the Peloton app
reading and educating myself about systemic racism
baking Spritzgebäck (German Spritz Cookies) for Christmas
spinning with Tanja
problem-solving anything
watching shows with Jon
Saturday morning blog reading with my first cup of coffee
coffee from a new mug
reconnecting with an old friend
connecting with friends here and on Instagram
bi-weekly Target and Trader Joe’s runs
watching “The Never-Ending Story” with Jon
being a MudLOVE wayfinder
visiting my giraffe friends a few times
sweet yeast bread for New Year’s Day
take-out pizza from our neighborhood café
baking sourdough discard waffles
more quarantine baking
going for walks with Jon
our fake TV fire place
receiving Christmas cards
buying a new planner
morning breaks in the backyard
knitting a row (or two)
virtual runs and high fives
cheering on friends
getting a good deal
afternoon naps
Lisa of Lisa’s Yarns
March 11, 2021 at 6:54 amHappy belated birthday!! I guess we all have to have a pandemic birthday. And some will have 2. I am glad you could still come up with a long list of good things from the past year. It was a tough one but I feel so lucky that I came out of it healthy and with a healthy baby boy! I’m also feeling very relieved as I got my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine yesterday. I was eligible due to my immune compromised state. Sooo excited that I will be fully vaccinated by the end of the month!!
San
March 22, 2021 at 8:37 amThank you, Lisa. So glad you got your first shot!
Heike
March 11, 2021 at 9:15 amHappy Birthday San.
Love the coffee mug ;)
San
March 22, 2021 at 8:37 am:)
Emily
March 13, 2021 at 8:20 amHappy Belated Birthday! I love that you came up with a list of good things from the past year. Even the little moments should be remembered.
San
March 22, 2021 at 8:36 amThank you for stopping by Emily!
Tanja
March 14, 2021 at 9:05 amHappy belated Birthday friend!
San
March 22, 2021 at 8:37 am<3
Stephany
March 15, 2021 at 3:09 pmHappy belated birthday, friend! Who knew that we’d still be in this thing a year later? It’s odd to think that some people will have had TWO pandemic birthdays.
San
March 22, 2021 at 8:35 amThank you friend!
Tea
March 20, 2021 at 1:14 pmHappy belated birthday! That sourdough does look amazing
San
March 22, 2021 at 8:30 amThank you so much, Tea!
anne
March 21, 2021 at 4:03 pmHappy (very) belated birthday! I am so happy that you have so many good things to look back on this year – although I noticed that coffee figured prominently in there. ;) I hope that the next year is filled with even more joy.
And, on (or, well, after) your birthday, it just feels like the right timing to say that I have truly enjoyed visiting your blog since I found it. Thank you so much for writing here, and for continuing to do so.
San
March 22, 2021 at 8:30 amAww, thank you Anne. That’s really sweet. I’ve also been very glad to have found your blog and I’ve very much enjoyed getting to know you! :)
Tobia | craftaliciousme
March 28, 2021 at 12:35 pmIt’s so good you focus on the good moments. Hope this year will be a good one and with many more fun memories ahead.