Today, March 4, is an awesome day—it's Terry’s 64th birthday!

Today, March 4, is an awesome day—it's Terry’s 64th birthday! While we don’t have anything as grand planned as in past years when we sailed the seas with our dear friend Jeanne and the lovely ladies and fans of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, today is still special in its own unique way.

We're not doing anything as extravagant as past years when we sailed the seas with our dear friend Jeanne and the lovely ladies and fans of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, but today is still special in its own unique way.

On my birthday, we were both feeling a bit under the weather, so we kept it low-key. But Terry still made it memorable by getting me an incredible cake from Publix. Today, like on my own birthday, I have to work, but that won't stop us from celebrating in our own way.

A few months ago, I found the perfect gift for Terry that goes perfectly with a Christmas gift I gave him. It’s been hiding in my office since it arrived, and I can’t wait to see his reaction. I hope it gives him something fun to do on his days off and makes some of his ideas a little easier to bring to life. For dinner, I’m hopeful we’ll both feel up to going to a place Terry would enjoy. Although I wanted to try a new Korean spot near us for my birthday, we saved that adventure for today. Terry loves everything about Korean culture and is even learning a bit of the language, which I’m picking up by proxy.

Last year, we celebrated his birthday on the Norwegian Encore. Terry received a card signed by our friends Jeanne and Cheryl (Hollywood and Lightning from GLOW) and other friends who were cruising with us, including James, Vanessa, Manny, TeLisa, and many more.

Thank you for joining us in this celebration. Your thoughts and comments mean the world to us. If you feel inclined to send a little something our way, it would be deeply appreciated but absolutely not expected. Here's to many more years of laughter and unforgettable moments. 

What has been your most memorable birthday celebration? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below! 🎉❤️

You can also find me on the following social media platforms:
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https://bsky.app/profile/adriansknitwits.bsky.social
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I'm 49 years old today: The Sweetness of Memories: Coconut Cakes and Birthdays

Today, on my 49th birthday, I find myself reflecting on the memories that have shaped my life. While I don't usually receive many gifts, your comments and shared stories would mean the world to me and add joy to this special day.

As a child, my birthdays were a time of great anticipation—not for the presents, which were usually modest compared to Christmas, but for Mama's cakes. Baking was her passion, and while the house often smelled of her favorite pecan or walnut treats during holidays, my birthday cake was something special.

Growing up, I was accustomed to Mama's delightful yellow and chocolate cakes. Occasionally, we'd have carrot cake, and in the mid-1980s, Mama began experimenting with an applesauce spice cake that had a delicious glaze-like icing. She would bake it weekly to keep on the counter for us to snack on. However, my sister and I stopped eating it after what we humorously called "the time Mama tried to kill Granny." Long story short, Granny was visiting us and had a piece of Mama's spice cake. Within minutes, Daddy was driving her to the hospital. Though the cake had nothing to do with it, we couldn't get over the incident. Despite that, Mama's cakes were generally unforgettable.

Mama had an uncanny ability to remember and cherish the little things we liked, and this was especially true for my birthday cakes. Around 1979 or 1980, when we lived in the little yellow house on Easter Lane in Mobile, Alabama, Mama baked a coconut cake for our Easter gathering at Granny's house. Easter celebrations were a feast, with Dad and my uncles manning the grill, rocking out chicken, burgers, steak and whatever else they brought from the grocery store, or hunting trips. Granny and Aunt Joan preparing side dishes, like fried okra, fried squash and onions, purple hulled peas, lima beans, cornbread and all of their specialities. A then there was my Mama contributing desserts and her famous deviled eggs, potato salad, rich with onions, hardboiled eggs, mustard, and bell peppers.

But it was that coconut cake that stole the show for me. My four-year-old self boldly declared it the best cake I'd ever had, a proclamation that Mama took to heart. From that year forward, my birthday cake was always a coconut cake. For the first few years, it was great but later on, I never had the heart to tell her I might have enjoyed a bit of variety; her love and care baked into each cake made every birthday special.

As I grew older, I realized Mama had a baker's talent that could have rivaled any professional. Her cakes, pies, and confections were family treasures. Recently, my sister sent me a trove of Mama's recipes—handwritten index cards and printed sheets that spanned decades, some even from her high school home economics class. Flipping through a recent Magnolia magazine by Joanna Gaines, I was surprised and delighted to find Mama's peanut butter cookie recipe featured on a page, a testament to her enduring culinary legacy. I had no idea Mama knew Joanna Gaines but apparently she did.

Today, on my 49th birthday, I can't help but reflect on those coconut cakes and the love they represented. While I've yet to find Mama's exact recipe, I've come close with the Duncan Hines Dolly Parton Coconut Cake Mix. I suspect Mama's version might have come from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook, the one with the red plaid cover, eventually I will get around to finding out. I know her Thanksgiving and Christmas dressing is pretty close to what's in that book, as well as her lasagne.

I never imagined reaching 50—thought I'd check out in my late 20s—but here I am, still rocking along. As I celebrate today, memories of Mama's coconut cakes bring warmth and sweetness to my heart.

Thank you for letting me share this cherished memory with you. If it inspired a touch of nostalgia or a bit of joy, that's gift enough for me. 🎂💖