My birthday surprise!

I realize I never told you what my birthday surprise was! It was tickets to this: Revived ‘Ragtime,’ Bursting With Energy & Ingenuity.

This was a great surprise because a couple of months ago I had mentioned reading the book several years earlier and we had a long conversation about the story and the characters in it. Mr. SLS remembered that and when he saw the show was coming to town and opened on my birthday, he snatched up two tickets.

I had a great time and was reminded how much I appreciate my husband who *listens* to me.

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Happy Birthday Chris!

Well this is the last of the cousins with birthdays in April, which is fitting because Chris is the eldest cousin and turns 40 this year.

Chris — an only child — and I were raised as brother and sister practically, spending the night at each other’s houses all of the time, going to the same summer camps, day camps, high school (we were in marching band together) and college. He was there when I got my first kiss (he vetted the dude for me LOL!); taught me how to whistle, blow bubblegum bubbles, ride my bicycle, play checkers and helped nurture my budding love of music by making me learn every ooo and ah of the Jackson 5′s records as well as the drumbeats, the guitar strums, the keyboard strokes — everything.

I never would have left the house during high school if he didn’t have a car and felt sorry enough for my imprisoned status to let me tag along with him to various parties and stuff every now and again.

He moved me in and out of every dorm and apartment I lived in before I bought my house, bought my textbooks for me one year when I was mad at my parents for something and wasn’t talking to them. He was the first family member Mr. SLS met (and later he told me “that’s your husband.”) Chris essentially had the brotherly relationship with me that my brother and I never seemed to develop.

I especially hope this birthday is a good one for him because he and his wife are divorcing. We talked last week and he seems OK with it. If I’m honest I have to say I knew when they got married 10 years ago it would come to this end and I won’t be sad to see the back of his wife for the last time.

Happy happy day cousin! Best wishes for many more.

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Happy Birthday Amir!

OK, Amir is really the son of one of my first cousins, but since his birthday falls in April, I’ve decided to include him in the April birthday shout outs. He turns 7 today and is growing big and strong like his dad and granddad (my cousin and uncle).

Happy happy day cousin!

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Happy Birthday to me!

Well, we’ve finally made it to my name on the April birthdays list. I’m writing this a little early so I’m not sure what Mr. SLS has planned other than the go-karts (unless it’s raining) but no matter what we do I’m glad to see another year and hope I’m blessed with many many more.

Happy happy day to me!

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Happy Birthday Chellie Belle!

Yes, *another* cousin’s birthday. LOL!

I’ve written about my cousin Michelle and her faith here before, and I have to say Chelle is my most favorite cousin of all.

Her parents lived with us for awhile after she was first born while they were buying their house and I used to babysit her a lot when she was little. Even though she is the youngest of us first cousins, she is the one who keeps us connected by calling, writing, emailing and always making sure she sees us when we’re in town.

She’s fiercely loyal to and protective of her big brother, Jonathan (yes they are like me and my brother and have birthdays that are just days apart, too) and is an aspiring filmmaker.

Well today she turns 26 — a grown damn woman, I can’t believe it — and I hope this birthday is wonderful wonderful wonderful for her.

Happy happy day cousin!

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Happy Birthday Steven!

Another day, another cousin, another birthday. Today my cousin Steven turns 33. He’s a sweetheart with his teddy bear self and now has two fat babies of his own and a wonderful wife.

Happy happy day cousin!

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Happy Birthday Lil’ Brother

Today my brother is 33 years old.

I remember my parents asking for my input in naming him and I chose Michael (I had a crush on Michael Jackson for years and years and years!!) and for months before he was born, his name was Michael. We called him Michael, referred to him as Michael, he was Michael.

Then, when he came home, his name was Daddy SLS Jr. I felt some kinda way for a good long while cause dammit if they were gonna veto my suggestion why play with me for months on that ish? LOL!

I don’t remember this, but my mom says that when they brought my brother home, I got mad and tried to snatch him from her arms and throw him to the ground. I can believe I did that….my parents hadn’t planned on a second child and as a result I was spoiled rotten. ROTTEN.

As I’ve mentioned previously, his birthday is exactly 7 days before mine, so the day people came to greet the new baby was my birthday, which was on Easter that year. My parents had gotten me a rabbit cake with toothpicks for whiskers and I got mad because I was all pretty in my Easter outfit and all the people were coming to look at that wrinkled up noisy baby. So, I wouldn’t let anybody cut or eat my cake, including me. My parents put it in the freezer and I think it was eventually thrown out, but still I SHOWED THEM! LOL!

All of that was likely a sign of things to come because, though I have some good memories of us, we are not and have not ever been close. Who knows what the future holds though.

Anyways, happy happy day little brother. Best wishes for this one and many more.

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Happy Birthday Jonathan!

As I said in a recent post, me, my brother and most of my cousins have birthdays in April. Today my cousin Jonathan turned 31.

Jonathan has always been one of my favorite cousins because he’s a sweetheart. He has a great girlfriend that we all love and he’s trying hard to get his entrepreneur thing going. I wish him much luck.

Happy happy day cousin!!

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Love, kisses and birthday wishes

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. SLS!

Facebook: SingLikeSassy Vaughan
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