March's Pre 50th Birthday countdown Gift from Birdie & Happy Bird News Follows Sadness

On the brighter side... I was definitely in need of a pick-me-up this week so on Tuesday night I finally opened the gift my sister Casey had sent before she had surgery

Aside: she's back to work and is doing great at physio plus she had some wonderful life-changing news on the heals of mourning the loss of her 11 yr old dog Timber. Timing is life can make the world of difference. Approximately 24 hours after Timber died, Casey received news from her boss that will change the direction of her journey - a direction she has earned and wanted so badly. She had her 7 yr anniversary with FedEx Ground yesterday. My hard-working talented sister is the Senior Manager of Canada's largest FedEx Ground unit located at Toronto's Pearson airport. The job is very demanding and difficult to have a good work/life balance. I'm convinced it  contributed to her being stricken with Bell's Palsy a few years ago and a mini stroke this past December! Over the past few years, she had prioritized making a change to a smaller branch even if it meant less pay. Her dream was to get a transfer to Nova Scotia but those higher level jobs within the company are few and far between. Well, last week her boss informed her that she was the successful candidate for the Senior Manager's job in Belleville, ON. The location is perfectly situated between Toronto (where she has many friends) and Ottawa (our sister K and Auntie Betty live there - it's where we grew up). She and Sandy have spoken ever so fondly of Prince Edward County over the years as they've gone to gatherings at the home of friends who live there, own real estate and want to establish a community of "friends" for retirement. This is all going to happen by June. If you know anyone in the market for a great house in Milton, ON - let me know! 

If you've been reading my blog, you'll know that Birdie being the wonderfully creative and generous sister she is has decided to countdown my 50th birthday with a gift every 19th of the month leading up to my big day in July!

In February, I received an iPod Shuffle that I can use underwater when swimming thanks for the earbugs she included and it's loaded with 6 hours of music. I've used it on my long runs and on the bike trainer.

This month I waited as the 19th was the day Timber left us. 

Look at what I got ...