I spent the weekend running around picking up things for Sunday afternoon, which is when I was having my surprise party, which I like to throw for myself every year.

Except I forgot to take my birthday off Facebook, so it wasn’t such a surprise.

I like to treat for my birthday, because I have the best friends in the world.

This year the only we had that I actually made myself was pimento cheese, because I make really good pimento cheese. Everything else I ordered and rode around and picked up.

The best thing I picked up was sausage I had made at The Spotted Trotter. It was beyond all reasonable belief.

The best things that showed up were my friends – every single one of them. Some were friends I see practically every day, and some I hadn’t seen in decades.

As the afternoon wound down, we all ended up around the table, laughing and talking and picking at the leftovers.

I wish every one of you could have been here.

It was all just so wonderful, even the part where Tina Turner went walkabout and we had to go out in the rain and drag her bad little self back.

I am blessed beyond measure. I hope you are too.