Yes. Another picture from the archives. In honour of my recent adoption by and of a bunny rabbit buddy I'm proud to present the first non-domestic critter it is likely I ever held. In case you didn't know, my grandparents on my mother's side lived on a farm. When I tell people I'm really a country girl at heart despite having lived almost all of my life in suburbs and cities I can now point them to this entry as proof.

Today marks the 2nd Probative Anniversary. Which anyone who's been paying attention will know is coincident with my own anniversary -- of my birth. When this blog started I was at the beginning of what became a very educational (as pain usually is) and transformative couple of years. The blog archives are proof of that. I was isolated and ill and convinced that I was losing my grip (as tentative as some think it was originally) on reality. Looking back now, I have to say it was the scariest time of my life, bar one (not a typo, I mean one).

I also must admit that there were moments during that period that I was fairly well resigned to not ever being the Janice I used to be. Almost but not quite resigned. Ready to accept it if it was to be. And then: 2005 has brought with it a major realignment (very punny, huh?). Many wonderful and positive changes have brought me back to being me. Friends and family lit the way through the dark and foreboding passage that even now is starting to fade from memory. (Of course, should I ever forget what it was like, all I have to do is read the archives. Kind of like an innoculation for senility but not exactly. Oh, forget it...)

I am grateful to have been blessed by this third chance at life. (I'll tell you about the second one later -- maybe in the book I've been told I should be writing.) 52 seems full of possibilities from this end of the road. Today I am celebrating with a few friends. I had a mutual birthday lunch with a good friend and former coworker whom I have known for twenty years now. (It was great to see you, Debbie! We'll have to do this again -- soon. The lunch part.) Tonight I will be surprising a couple of good friends who are too busy to keep track of my special day but I'm sure will enjoy the tequila I'm bringing with me. I've talked with my daughter and received several cards already. An auspicious start to the next year. [Update: My son called and missed me while I was out getting supplies for the party tonight. I hope to connect with him tomorrow. And my truck driving, slightly younger brother caught me at my friends' place later in the evening. Thanks for remembering my day, guys!]

Happy Birthday to me!



Here's the picture you may have been waiting for ... Yep, that's me at my grandparents' place in Tweed, probably a half a century ago and yep, that's a chicken.