The Day of My Birth

'Tis my birthday today!

I like to celebrate like a kid, for days and days, sometimes all month long I pull the

'but, my birthday is this month' card.

I have a four layer coconut cake in the kitchen that I'm gonna get on like a snake on a rat.

I thought I'd share some humorous, embarrassing photographs of myself today.

I was born the 4th girl to my parents.

They thought for sure I'd be a boy, and picked out the name James.

Surprise!

That's how I was named Jayme.

I happen to believe I was the most beautiful baby in the world. Sad story surrounds my birth. I was quite unplanned. My parents really weren't too happy about it at all. A few weeks after my birth, my father had a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized for six months. My sister, extremely jealous of me, nearly bit my toe off in the crib, and I had to sleep in a dresser drawer for a month or so. My mom, alone now, her hands full with a 13 year old mentally handicapped daughter, a four year old, a two year old, and the most beautiful baby in the world - me. She told me that she'd wake me up after 10pm, when the house was quiet, cause that was the only time she had for me. Other than that, I stayed in the crib all the time.

Isn't that one of the saddest things you've ever heard?

Here is me on a horse, or technically a pony.

I've only been on a horse twice in my life, two times too many.

I'm rather frightened of horses.

Kindergarten Graduation.

1967.

I still remember this day vividly.

My paper hat was sat on at home.

5th Grade

Mr. Rabeckis was my teacher.

I loved him.

He double promoted me to 7th grade.

I was a huge John Denver fan.

I was quite the popular girl in class.

Um, not.

Don't you just love the eye wear of the 70's?

I loved to sew, even as a young girl.

Ok, I dyed my hair platinum blonde, and it's true, blondes do have more fun.

I was painfully shy all during grammar and high school.

Once contacts were in place, and bleach was applied to my hair, I blossomed.

Here's something I really didn't want you guys to know, but I'm gonna spill the beans.

I went to Columbia College in Chicago for photography.

I had my own darkroom and was obsessed with photography.

I hesitate to say that, because the pictures on my blog really do not reflect this.

I can't seem to take a good picture anymore for the life of me.

But I know one when I see one.

I think since I don't have a digital SLR I feel doomed to take poor photographs, and I really don't put that much effort into it.

March 12, 1983.

My wedding day.

My parents and Glenco.

This was perhaps the most awkward job I've ever had. As a 5'8" gal in socks, I towered over all my co-workers, except for Mr. Akizawa, seated to my left. Put heels on me, and I'm about 6'.

I still remember all their names. Mr. Akizawa, Mr. Yasui, Mr. Goto, Mr. Sato and Mrs. Hayashi.

I used to have to serve tea to visitors from Japan. They'd all be seated on the floor as I carried trays of tea in, and I had to somehow gracefully get to their level to serve it.

I didn't last long there.

Please, please, please don't let me forget to tell you the story that involves Tab soda, a weak bladder and a sink on the wall.

It's classic Jayme.

I have no explanation for the following photo.

Perhaps I found myself at the mall with $300 burning a hole in my pocket and I thought one day I might get a Realtor's License and need a photo for my business card.

That, or I thought I might go into country music.

Again, no explanation for this either.

These were the pensive years.

As you know now, I'm no longer painfully shy.

Quite the opposite.

I'm older today.

48.

I like that number.

I'm really enjoying my 40's despite the old lady skin that has cropped up in the last year, and the fact that it feels like someone has poured cement into my joints and my breasts are pointing due South.

I don't feel 48.

Sometimes I forget the fact that I'm old enough to be a grandmother.

Say what?

It's all in the attitude baby.

And I got a good one.

I'm gonna rock 48.