My Kryptonic Birthday

I am making no attempt to be cryptic about the fact that I was once a half -blown science nerd. I have obviously since managed to rid myself of most of the incriminating cerebral evidence. I once had the periodic table memorized in song form and would hum it in my head in my spare time. If you think I am kidding, then my attempts at fooling you all into believing that I am a normal human being is working nicely. I became 36 at 2:27pm last Friday. 36 is a square and triangular number. Krypton is the 36th element on the periodic table. It is one of the noble INERT GASES which are located on the far right column of the P.T. This family has the "happiest" elements of all. WHY ARE THEY HAPPY? According to the Bohr description of electron shells, happy atoms have full shells. All of the inert gases have full outer shells with eight electrons. The fact that their outer shells are full means they are quite happy as they are, not reacting with the other elements. The question is, does it make me more or less of a geek that I will now metaphorize my life with an inert gas? Now that I have arrived at my kryptonic age, I am going to daily identify 8 "electrons" in my life that leave me feeling abundantly full of happiness. I know that I must insert some photos before I lose those of you who can't follow thoughts without illustrations (myself included).

HAPPY ELECTRON #1

FIRE

A=C=F=H

I am a PYRO and Fire brings me joy (just ask my camp counselors)

Corey bought me a cake, not because I like cake, but because, in his words "the cake is just a vehicle for your candles." I think he is just monitoring my fire addiction in a safe environment.

AGING=INCREASED NUMBER OF CANDLES=MORE FLAMES=INCREASED HAPPINESS

HAPPY ELECTRON #2

WATCHING ANSEL TRAIPSE MERRILY DOWN A TRAIL (We went to Coeur d'lane today and hiked on one of my favorite trails by the lake. It was a gorgeous day.)

HAPPY ELECTRON #3

Watching the boys in my life run and play next to a large body of water

Corey took the day off and even offered to take me thrift shopping after our hike. This was no small sacrifice on his part. I didn't need a 9th happy electron, so I turned him down.

HAPPY ELECTRON #4

ROCKS. I even love rocks more than fire

HAPPY ELECTRON #5

A birthday rock chosen just for me




HAPPY ELECTRON #6

WILDFLOWERS IN MY YARD

HAPPY ELECTRON #7

EMMY'S ever-evolving smile (her teeth are growing on a daily basis)

HAPPY ELECTRON #8

SAVANNA "posing" 99% of the time we attempt a photo

I guess what I am trying to say is that, like krypton, I believe I have come to a NOBLE and inert place in my life where I feel full and happy. My joy is not precluded by a "when or if only" but is a daily arrival of sorts

So when I broke my tooth during my birthday dinner, did I let that "grumpy" electron tamper with the stability of my krypronic day? A little. But not very much.