Good morning (or day, or evening, depending on when you read this), Dale here commandeering Carole Knits once again to give her the day off to celebrate her birthday. Last year was a big birthday for Carole which called for me to write a post that included a lot of philosophizing, reminiscing and celebrating, as monumental birthdays do. This year, though it’s just back to regular ole birthday fun.
As readers of this blog you know that Carole has a lot of fun in a lot of ways and she’s always looking for new ways to enjoy life. She keeps finding them, too! She also hangs on to the tried and true things that have brought so much joy into her life – like me, for instance. But really, for Carole, joy comes from spending time with family and friends, keeping traditions, reading (lots of reading!), entertaining in our home, and cooking for the people she loves.
An important source of joy for her that not everyone gets to see, though, is her love of music. Music has played a very big part in our lives. I imagine that most of you know that I met Carole when she came out to see me singing in my band. We both had large collections of vinyl and CDs back then and our tastes were pretty varied. We both grew up listening to music with our parents and Carole also had two brothers who influenced her tastes with their music preferences as well. After being together for over twenty years we have blended our individual favorites so that we’re generally about 98% on the same page. (I’m sorry but I just can’t get down with that Uptown Funk stuff.)
You probably also know, since you’re here reading the blog, that once a week or so she and I enjoy a night of music listening which usually ends with a dance in the kitchen or out on the deck. I don’t think, though, that she has ever mentioned our sing-a-longs. Carole loves to sing, but never in public! We have favorites that we join in on and she always teases me when I don’t know the lyrics, which is frequent and probably not good for a lead singer. It’s never stopped me from singing, though, I just make up what I can’t remember. Carole, on the other hand, knows all the lyrics but thinks she can’t sing. I beg to differ and think she sings just fine and we make good music together. You should hear our rendition of Sonny and Cher’s I Got You Babe! (which, by the way, inspired the photo included at the top of today’s post, that’s us on our first wedding anniversary celebrating at a costume party for our town’s 175th anniversary.)
I guess my point is that music makes Carole happy and birthdays are all about being happy and sharing happiness. So, in that spirit and on this occasion of Carole’s 51st birthday, I’d like you all, no matter where you are, or whether you think you can sing or not, to lift up your voices and sing Happy Birthday to Carole. Since she can’t actually hear you singing, it’d be great if you left a comment, too. I know she’ll appreciate it.
And, I have a request for you, Carole. Tonight, after we come home from our dinner out, I’d like you to play that John Denver song that has the lyric “it’s the sweetest thing I know of, just spending time with you,” and we can dance and I’ll sing to you and wish you the happiest birthday ever.
You all can just pretend you didn’t see that last part, okay? Because that’s just for Carole.
Thank you all for tuning in! I’ll see you back here next year, God willing, and we’ll do it again!
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Carole! I hope you have a great day today and a wonderful year ahead! I’m sure that will be the case with your ability to enjoy life and an amazing man like Dale by your side. The whole post is lovely and sweet and I got a little misty-eyed at the part with the John Denver lyric (and now I’ll pretend I didn’t see that).
Happiest of birthdays, Carole! I hope you and Dale have a fantastic time celebrating.
Happy happy, Carole
Have a very Happy Birthday!
what a wonderful gift, Carole (and *not* hearing me sing happy birthday is another one 🙂 all my best wishes! xo, M.
Happy Birthday Carole! Can you hear me singing? Have a great day!
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday Carole!
Wishing you a very happy birthday dear friend. May the coming year bring you great joy. Luv ya
Just the littlest tear in my eye! What a sweet sweet post.
Happiest of happy birthdays, my dear sweet friend. A fine job, as always, by Dale … and I must admit to getting a bit verklempt at the end <3 Cheers!
Wishing you the very happiest birthday, Carole!
I’m certain that every one of your readers has fallen in love with Dale.
I’d say the volume on a blog comment is just right for me to join my voice in singing you happy birthday. IYKWIM Wishing you another year filled with all that brings you joy, and a few unexpected delights, too!
Happy Birthday, dear Carole—and many, many more!
I just want to say that you don’t need any presents for your birthday as long as you have got that man! Happy day to you and good job Dale.
Happy Birthday Carole!
Thank you two for sharing this, it is inspirational and is a great start to my day to read such a positive, happy, caring blog post!
Great job Dale! Happy Birthday Carole! I hope it is your best year ever!
Happy Birthday Carole! Hope it’s a good one (and with a lovely husband like Dale, how could it not be??).
Happy Birthday Carole! I hope all your birthday wishes come true
Great to be able to hear from you, Dale, without Carole along. Heh!
Now – back to Carole: Happy Birthday, dear lady! It’s been fun passing years with your blog each morning.
Happy Birthday! Enjoy!
Happy Birthday, Carole! Hope you have a wonderful day & year!
Dale…it’s no mystery why she loves you so! Happy Birthday Carole! Wishing you a wonderful year ahead!
Carole – I shall be singing all day just for you! I hope your day is filled with joy, love, and an icy martini or two! I am absolutely certain you will have your dance card filled for the evening as well.
Have the happiest of days which spills over to fill your year! XOXO
Have a spectacular birthday, Carole! Enjoy your special day and your special night! I have sung a lusty Happy Birthday to you!
I wish you the happiest birthday ever, Carole!
Happy birthday, Carole! Have a wonderful time, always inevitable with that man of yours.
Happy birthday, Carole! This post was so much fun to read and certainly you and Dale make beautiful music together!
Such a sweet post Dale! And Carole – here’s to you and a very Happy Birthday and a year filled with health, happiness, joy, fun and a bit of silliness…oh…and plenty of dancing! Love that picture at the top of the post. PS I’m whisper singing since I’m at work…and it’s best that way.
Happy 51st Birthday Carole!
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A Happy Special Birthday To Carole!
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Happy Birthday to Carole
and another 365 happy and joyful days
and any wish may come true
and a terrific party today
with your family and friends
Happy Birthday, Carole!
My best wishes for a happy birthday.
You are sweet as sugar Dale.
Happy Birthday Carole!!
Happy Birthday Carole!
May your day be filled with love, family, friends, and cake!
Such a great post, Dale! Happy birthday, Carole!
And . . . in honor of Carole’s birthday, Tom and I will be singing our always-rousing rendition of Rocky Raccoon, complete with dance moves. (And I know y’all might just join along . . . because we ALL know ALL the words!) XO
I shawl raise my voice (and my glass) to Carole tonight! Love you both! xox
Happy Birthday Carole – – enjoy your song and dance tonight!
Happy Birthday, Carole! I feel so fortunate to have learned of your blog through reading Kym’s. You both recognize joy in the small things in life and share well with others 🙂 Thanks!
Happy Birthday Carole!
Happy birthday, Carole! Hope you have a great day!
?? They say it’s your birthday!
Take a ch, ch, ch, chance!??
It turned your balloons into question marks!!
Happy happy Birthday Carol! May you enjoy many more with your sweetie!
Happy Birthday Carole!!!!
Happy birthday!!! Great guest post! It seems a mite unfair that BOTH of you can write AND sing AND are photogenic, too, but that’s life, I guess! ???
What a lovely post, and a belated happy birthday. There is something about food and music that brings people together.