birthday celebration

For some reason celebrating my birthday has always been very important to me.
This year I even took the evening off from night school to go to a charity event for Central Park. I paid fifty dollars, got dressed up, ate snacks, drank wine and chatted with a young lady who is a member of the Central Park Conservancy. Since I knew the sponsors/caterers - a restaurant in my neighborhood - I snagged a ride home.
One of the teachers put a sign on the board, so the students remembered. I got hugs from kids and teachers all day.
One of the supervisors gave me 2 dozen roses at the end of the day. There were even purple ones - I'd never seen roses in my favorite color before.
Earlier, in the mail, I'd received a bookmark from a cyberfriend, two packages from my mother and a card from my friend from when I was 15 (she sent me a gift card that arrived on my birthday exactly).
My mother had sent a pair of earrings - perfect for Valentine's Day - they're pink and red crystals. She also sent me a small tote - not my style, so it will go straight into the donation bag. I have about six books from her, so lots of reading in my future.
It was a low-key day - pleasant.