the Empathy List #102: A Birthday Present?

🏆Vote for me for a Webby?😊

Hello friend, Liz here.

I turned 36 yesterday and I am utterly delighted—always, I’ve wanted to be older than I was.

My husband does not feel this same way about his birthdays, which tend to feel more like funary tunes to him (though he’s only two years older than I am), so he told the kids I was turning 25. I corrected him because, actually, I have earned every one of these years. ;-)

Every skin roll, wrinkle and sun spot, every grey hair, every laughline and pound: it’s all mine and all earned through years of suffering and joy.

So this is my own virtual birthday party. ;-) (Image: Andy Warhol’s, “After the Party”)

Here’s what 36 years have been for me:

I have married a good partner and we’ve stayed married for twelve years, going on thirteen;

I have birthed two children from my own body, literally in an inflatable pool in my living room with no drugs and under the care of midwives;

I have developed a surprise blindness in my right eye, a strange and invisible disability;

I have written three books, only one of which nabbed a publisher;

I have lived in and renovated three houses (okay, mostly Jeremy has) and along with that, I have lived in many cities and three countries in my short/long life.

In fact, this life has been abundant and full of wonder and pain.

So, those marks are my pride: I am thirty-six and full of joy! Bring on my thirty-seventh year!!

Illustration by Tom Bingham for the Atlantic

And now I want to ask you for a birthday favor…

I am not one for presents, really, as I’d rather buy my own trinkets myself. ;-)

But I would like to ask you for something. You can give me a birthday present that costs only you a few seconds of time.

Would you vote for this newsletter for a Webby Award?

Apparently I’m in FIRST PLACE?! By a hair?

That feels wild to me, but to win, I’ll need a last push from you, kind readers. I try not to ask you for much cause I know it’s ANNOYING. But I will accept a birthday present. :-)

Would you vote and share this newsletter if you like it?

Thanks for your support.

Warmly, Liz Charlotte Grant