Here is an overview of past birthdays since today is one such.
Yes, it happened: in the early hours of today I got the best present that no money could buy. In the first half Luka Dončić scored 27 points, the same as all of the Suns combined. It only got worse (for the latter). Just one clip to illustrate the defence. Jason Kidd, the coach for the Mavs, was mic’d:
I reckon that now, with Luka and the Mavs making the final four of the whole of NBA – and how! – I may as well shut up because you will start hearing about them for yourselves, finally, wherever you are.
I’ll go quieter overall after Thursday when my one year of daily blogging is complete. The year went well and was over in a flash, but I need to get out of this chair.
Not quite yet. Today we have a look at some photo evidence of past birthdays starting with my 40th in chronological order with commentary.
And today? I didn’t take any photos. In the evening amore came home with cake, cannoli and the gift of a new green tunic. After the full moon fast today, breakfast guaranteed.
And now? On to more years and new victories. On Wednesday night it’s the first game in the Western Conference finals: Luka and the Mavs vs. Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. I hope you don’t have any family there.
2010: For my 40th I gathered my friends and family in my garden and we had a lottery for who will ride in which car to the party. The only rule: couples must not end up together. Do I love to people-manage or what? Much fun was had as ten cars or so drove for an hour or so to the party location in a straight line over the hills. When we reached the destination, I made us all walk to the nearest hill when we had sparkling wine from plastic glasses. Recreating an old holiday photo with my two friends at the party. I have it right here next to bed. I got this shirt as a present. It says “Don’t give up”. I had to put my hair into action. Also that year two other friends, who live abroad and I rarely see, were summoned by my parents to join us in Piran for dinner. This was a complete surprise and a major success. Here is my travelling accommodation on the way to the restaurant. I shared it with our first dog. 2012: Two years later I turned 42 and sister made me The Answer cake. Amazingly, it worked. It was high time. 2013: A mere one year later and look at me in Tuscany! (How? I still don’t quite get it.) Amore organised the visit of my parents for just one day, my birthday, in complete secrecy. I was FLOORED when I saw them arrive. Mom picked me flowers, and dad took this photo. And this one. And then they left again. 2014: But the next year they came back! With mom’s cousin Duša and her husband. We had such fun playing Dixit that we almost didn’t go out. (Almost.) The paintings are by Duša. The shelves are FULL of stuff by now. But then she had to leave again. (And again she picked me flowers.) 2015: Mom (right, with glasses) was quietly asking But why? when she had to wait for all hundreds of old-timers to pass noisily at the 1000 Miglia race. All for her daughter! On the way back dad clicked me clicking the cypress trees in Val d’Orcia. 2016: Travelling uncle came over with presents. 2017: We took my parents and amore’s uncle to Trattoria da Maria Moretti in Pereta where they tried to murder us with food. You pay 25 eur and they just keep bringing and bringing. Dad’s photo is shaky but joy is palpable. 2018: My parents came over – for the last time so far – and dad made his famous shrimp cocktail sauce. And mom made the ikebana. 2019: I went to Slovenia for my birthday, for a change, and we had lunch at dog-friendly Finisterra in Kodeljevo Castle in Ljubljana. Bestia was interested in the menu. 2020: I certainly knew how to choose the year in which to turn 50. Amore and Flavia organised a secret all-day online birthday party with participants from all over the world. Memorable and much fun. 2021: It is amazing how hard it is to make him go anywhere. Our day-trip was wet but included lunch in Pitigliano, a new town of Sorano, and a little monastery with a lovely door and a nun operating a drone.
This day in my blogging history
Two important things today:
1)Luka scored big time and the Mav’s won!! **I looked at the sports section first thing this morning**
2) Manja’s birthday! Happy Birthday, my friend!!! 🎈🎁🎂
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Ahh, how excellent, Lois, that you looked. 🙂 This was a particularly harsh beating the Suns took. Thank you! It was a good day!!
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Such a lovely smile your Mum has! I certainly remember 2020. Happy birthday, Manja!
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Thank you, Jo! Oh yes, how could I ever forget… And I know that you took me by surprise and I had to ask you who you were, correct? 😀
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Yes! Glad you had another happy day, Manja.
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I did. Thank youuu!
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Great memories. Nappy birthday dear Manja 🎂🥂❤
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Thank you, bushboy. Nappy birthday made me giggle. 😀
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I did as well 🙂
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Damn….HAPPY Birthday
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I quite liked nappy already. 😀
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Happy Birthday, beautiful Manja! 💖
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Julieee!!! How lovely that you’re here. Thank you!! Hope you’re happy!
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Happy birthday, what a nice record to have.
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Thank you, scooj. Indeed.
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Lovely Through the years photos. Amazing. I felt the love in each one. Happy Birthday dear lady. You are loved, indeed. I bless you, wish you many more fun years of miracles. XoXo
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Selmaaa! How lovely to hear from you. Just about to go to bed. Another birthday came and went. I’m so glad that you like the selection and can feel the love. ❤ I always feel yours too. Be well and thank you so much for all your miracles.
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Luka pictured in the newspaper here too! Behind Rangers beating Penguins though (local teams first…) Happy Birthday!!! (K)
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Haha, good. East Coast in fear finally. 😉 See, I don’t even know which sport Rangers and Penguins are… (Penguins? They are far from home.) Thank you, K.!
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Hockey. The Penguins play in Pittsburgh. Still far from home.
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Happy Birthday Manja hope you had a great day!
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I did, thank you, Norm! 🙂 Cheers!
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Happy Birthday! 🎂. A lovely retrospective.
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Thank you, Lynette. 🙂 Making this post made me realise anew how lucky I am.
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Happy Birthday, Manja!! I hope it was a wonderful day, and you have a most excellent year!
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Thank you, Deborah. I hope you had a lovely celebration as well. 🙂
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Thank you! I had a nice easy goin’ day. 🤗
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What a journey and compilation Manja, happy birthday from the Road to Nara 🙂
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Thank you, Narayan! 🙂 It made me humbly grateful, making this post.
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Great photos! Happy birthday! 🎂
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Thank you, Dawn! 🙂
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Happy Birthday! Looks like you had another fun one.
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Thank you, Judy! 🙂 Oh yes, the start of it with this amazing basketball victory was once-in-a-lifetime moment.
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Happy Birthday Manja ❤️
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Thank you most kindly, Teresa! 🙂
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Happy Birthday, Manja! And it wasn’t raining 😀
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Haha, it wasn’t! Not hear in Tuscany, at least. Maybe in Slovenia. Thank you, Sofia! 🙂
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Well, it was here, but when is it not? 😀
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Happy birthday, Manja. Keep enjoying.
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Thank you, Bojana. I’ll just keep celebrating, I decided… Tonight it’s the first conference final match in San Francisco. It’s different now. Now everybody is in fear of Luka and the men. 😀
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You’re a real fan.
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😀 Heavy!
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Happy Birthday Manja!! 🍾🍷🍷
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Thank you, Sue! Cin cin and cheers!
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😊😊🍷🍷👍
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Happy birthday Manja!
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Thank you, Nes! 🙂 I wonder why WordPress thought that this comment of yours must go to spam…
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It’s definitely not spam, Manja. Hope you had a great day!
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Happy birthday, it sounds like your day couldn’t be more perfect. Love and happiness from me here in Oz 🥂 cheers
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Thank you, Not Pam, and cheers to Oz! 🙂
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Love this collection of birthday happiness!! Happy Belated birthday!!
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Thank you, Sylvia. 🙂 It made me happy to collect these glimpses. Cin cin!
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Happy birthday to you. Manja. Your post made me smile. 😊
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Good, Pepper. It made me smile when making it too, and feel gratitude. Thank you kindly!
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What a lovely look back at birthdays past! I hope today’s is/was as good?
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Guess who I got the idea from, Sarah. 😉 I remember your post vividly! This year it started with the huge bang of that basketball victory but then it was really quiet. I’ll make up for it. I need more people. To Slovenia soon. Thank you!!
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Luka + Eurovision = Fun Birthday. I’m so glad your basketball dreams were answered. It’s neat to see the photos of birthdays past. Also, the blurry image of you with Amore is the BEST EVER. OMG look at you two. Congrats on almost an entire year of blogging every day. I could not do it. No, more correctly: I would not do it. ❤
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Thank you, Crystal. I will remember this birthday forever. And it’s not over yet. Tonight Luka and the Mavs are in San Francisco for the first Conference final game. I’m so glad that you like that blurry but happy shot. 🙂 It’s been a while since we took any like it. As for blogging every day – I do not recommend. You’re right. Too much time is spent sitting.
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🎂 “Happy Birthday” 🥂
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Thank you kindly, Conspicari! 🙂
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Happy birthday. This day is special for me too. It’s my 35 wedding anniversary.
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Ohh, Claudia, how lovely! I’m pretty sure that you told me this before. How nice that we are connected in this way. It’s been a great date. Happy anniversary! Quite a number!
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Thank you. It’s nice to have company on a special day, I think! And as for your birthday, I wish you many happy returns!
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Thank you!
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Fantastic! Happy happy birthday!
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Thank you kindly, Liz! Your doors came just in time. 🙂 And all your other photos from France, just amazing.
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I love this portfolio of joy and love! I love the portrait your Dad took of you by the ocean (and the one with your Mom too). My favorite, though, is the portrait of your Mom leaning her head against the wall, with another bouquet of flowers in a glass of water. So sad when they say goodbye. But the photo tells me how proud of you she is.
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Ahhh, what a nice thing to gather from this photo of my mom, Carol Ann. She reminds me here of a moment when we played a kind of pantomime and she had to show the word “fleeting”. She gave this kind of look and I guessed immediately. 🙂 Thank you!!
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Oh, that is a powerful story and an apt title. “Fleeting” reminds us to pay attention and savor the moments. You do. And you create such moments for us too.
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I’m sadly late to the party. All the candles have been blown, and the balloons deflated. But a happy birthday to you
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Haha! Never too late for a party. Thanks, I. J. I’m waiting to come to Slovenia to celebrate properly. Next month…
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Happy Birthday although I know it was last week!
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Thank you, Emma! Always a good time to celebrate. 🙂 By the way, I really love that painting by you that I retweeted today, “Erin’s Hope”. Most excellent!!
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Thank you for that retweet – it all helps!
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You sure know how to have memorable parties, and how to celebrate milestones. I love the photo of you and your mom on the beach. That must have been a great surprise. But the one on zoom in 2020 will most likely be the most memorable. Donna
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Oh yes, Donna, that first birthday visit was exceptional in every regard. It was sneaky! I almost fainted when I saw my parents in front of our home. 🙂 And yes, the 50th birthday will be memorable too in a different way that I envisaged. Too bad it didn’t include you too! 🙂
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❤ This is all so very lovely ❤ The Answer cake, the birthday procession, the online birthday get-together…cosy vibes. It made me feel happy-sad too for various reasons. Happy Birthday to you again, MM 🙂
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Thank you, Sunra Nina. 🙂 Happy-sad times we are having…
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