Lent, Valentine's Day and my Birthday

This is the time of year when the weather is generally dreary, the skies grey, and the air rather chill. Still, a hint of Springtime may sneak out once in a while, with bright sun and slightly less cold in the breeze.
Valentines day comes during this dark season, tempting the faithful to neglect their Lenten vows of self-denial. I almost never give anything up for Lent, being raised Protestant, I was usually living in a Calvinist state of some self denial anyway. (We only had chocolate or soft drinks on special occasions, so when my friends would give those up, I thought it an empty gesture. ) I do usually try to ponder more spiritual things than my usual topics of rumination.
(The usual being "which disaster is coming next?", "Am I as fat as I think I am?", and "Am I REALLY THAT OLD?")
My birthday nearly always falls during Lent. I usually observe it anyway, because a birthday only comes once a year, and not celebrating seems ungrateful to the Creator who gave me life. To have had another year is something to be grateful for. As I age, it becomes more of a struggle to be happy about the mounting number of years, since their number is beginning to show in some areas of my appearance.
I have already gotten my Valentine's / Birthday present. My husband bought me an MP3 player. I admit to not really thinking I would use one, but I have albums on it that I used to listen to constantly and have not played in years. I can now not only listen to my Grand Opera arias, but I can relive teenage memories by listening to John Denver, Elton John, and the Moody Blues. Also Chicago, the Chieftains, Scottish folk songs, The Gypsy Kings, The Bangles, and never least, Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger's Precious Friend recording. I have also put some of the reordings our Church choir made on there, and the Christmas CD my husband and I recorded for my mother. My biggest challenge if I ever wear this out in public, like when shelving at the library, will be to NOT sing along with the arias or other pieces I know well.
Admittedly, my voice is not awful, but without proper aural feedback (ie, when the earbuds are in) one cannot self-correct for pitch and strength of tone. It is also rather jarring for those who cannot hear the orchestra and Maria Callas as I can to hear me burst forth into Una Voce Poco fa...
There are several albums saved on that device now, and there is still LOTS of room left. I can remember the days of being afraid that both sides of the LP would not fit onto the cassette tape when we were recording our records onto tape to be more portable. (And yes, I am old enough to remember 8-Track players, too.) My, how times and data storage and playback capacities have changed! I have changed on the outside, maybe a little on the inside, too. I'd like to think I am more emotionally mature than I was at 14, but some days it feels like I'm not. I feel pretty much like I have since my 20s, even though my 40s are fast wearing themselves out. We don't have any kids, so we may not be up on all the latest expressions and desireable gadgets, but we are also not as worn out, nor nearly as grey of head as our friends who have teenagers. We also have the joy of helping spoil kids without having to deal with their behavioral issues. Being an Aunt or Uncle, even by "adoption" is a good thing.
Oh well. Time to go see what my husband is up to.