Well, THIS birthday went a lot better than the last one, anyway!

[DFW]

Last year, on my 60th birthday (March 19), I got to "celebrate" by driving my wife to the hospital where she got her thyroid gland removed due to numerous tumors growing on it. We had to wait three days for the biopsy results, sweating blood the whole time. They finally came back as benign, but since she already had cancer once, we had a lot of lost sleep in between.

THIS time, we were determined not to have a repeat performance of that. I had to be in Brussels for work, and in Paris today, from where I'm posting this. So I got her a train ticket, and she came with me to Brussels yesterday. A woman I know who is retired from working as a cashier at a chocolate shop told me before she retired that if I ever brought my wife to Brussels, she'd love to show her around. She speaks only French, and my wife was thrilled. Her French sucks (though not as badly as she thinks it does), and she was looking for a chance to improve it. My retired friend is a warm, friendly sort, and they got along instantly. They spent the day together, and when I was done with work, I joined my wife at the hotel where we got recommendations on seafood restaurants. We chose one nearby, and were not disappointed. It was fabulous. It was fabulously expensive, too, but I figured what the hell, I had spent zero last year due to her operation, so I could average out.

We're a year older, but a year better. We'll take it.

There's a lot to be said for putting the world on "call waiting" for a little while.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Happy Belated Birthday, my dear DFW!

I'm thrilled that you two had such a grand day...

And in Paris, no less. I love that city. And yeah, spend the money. You know what they say: you can't take it with you, so you might as well enjoy it now.

I know you work really hard, so putting the world on "call waiting" is a very good idea!

[DFW]

4. Thanks, Peggy!

We did have a grand day. Today as well.

Definitely beats waiting for a biopsy all by my lonesome!

[In_The_Wind]

2. Happy Birthday DFW

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There's a lot to be said for putting the world on "call waiting" for a little while.

Indeed!

[DFW]

3. It definitely seemed like a good idea!

We're about to run back up to the Gare du Nord to catch our train back up to Brussels!

Never a dull moment.

Hell, never a moment, period.

[In_The_Wind]

5. Enjoy the beautiful view on your trip home.

The only moments we have are the ones we take hold of.

[DFW]

11. That's so true

As with another train route I often take (Rheinland to southern Germany), a shorter route was built for convenience, so the trip between the German Rheinland and Brussels is about half an hour shorter than it used to be.

Both of the new routes save time, but they both bypass some of the most beautiful countryside in Belgium and Germany. I miss going down the Rhein valley, seeing castles on top of every cliff with Roman era vineyards crawling up the sides and medieval villages every few miles or so.

[siligut]

6. It sounds like you both had a great day

So much better than last year, Happy Birthday

[bluesbassman]

7. Happy belated birtday DFW!

Sounds like you and your beautiful wife had a great day.

[DFW]

8. One HELL of a lot better than last year, that's for sure!

Thanks!

[mnhtnbb]

9. Happy belated birthday. Glad you got to enjoy it this year!

[DFW]

10. We did indeed, thanks!

The internet connection from the place where we're staying in Brussels has been sporadic, so I haven't been able to reply in a timely manner. After work today, we'll be going back to Germany this evening for a rare work-free weekend. Then the real world starts up again.