Maria’s birthday is a sacred day, even though I often forget the exact date. It’s today.

I’m giving her a trip to our favorite Vermont Inn in March, a book of poetry, some old fabric I found, and some new aluminum snow shoes. She gets to do anything she wants today, and what she wants this morning is to lie down and read, a rare thing to see here in the morning when she is usually buzzing around like a hornet doing her chores and eager to get to work.

I’m not big on birthdays, but I pay attention on hers.

Maria got another present last night; she sold each of the sheep potholders she made this week in just a few hours on her Etsy Page. She wants to go out for breakfast this morning and eat pancakes and have a peaceful and quiet day of reading, talking soaking up some quiet, and sketching. In one way or the other, she is making art all of the time.

I don’t have words to describe the impact of Maria on my life or the depth of my love for her. I know it is over the top; I have never felt anything like it.

I didn’t even meet her until I was in my sixties, and she has righted my life, turning it upside down in the right direction.

I never imagined I could find such love, support, and understanding.  I didn’t know what it was.

I admire and respect her more than anyone else I’ve known in my lengthening life. She is all good and all gifted, even when she is being a pain in the ass, which is also one of her gifts. No one deserves to be perfect or should be.

Maria is a brilliant artist and an exceptionally loving and empathetic human being. She also has the energy of a demon, takes excellent care of the animals, the farmhouse, and me, and still has the power to make fantastic art just about every day of her life.

She turned my life around and gave it new meaning. She is my joy every day, every morning she brings me the light.

Wow. It’s amazing just to write this.

Happy birthday, wonderful person; I can never thank you enough for existing. Your birthday is my national holiday, even when I forget it. Today is yours; I am at your service. Tomorrow, I’ll be the pain in the ass as usual.