When you were a little girl, did you ever have a tiara?  I didn’t but I always wanted one.

A feather boa, too.

I think it’s that teensie weensie Zsa Zsa thing in me.

Y’all have some of that, too.

You know you do.

Did you ever go to Burger King, especially on your birthday, and they gave you one of those Burger King crowns?

I remember one Christmas not long ago, one of our little cousins was three and I found the “to die for” dress up clothes outfit; hanging right next to it was a pink feather boa; I just knew she had to have it – so we gave her that, too.

I think every woman should have a tiara, a feather boa, some of those Zsa Zsa high heel bedroom shoes with the feather fluff on them (that matches the feather boa of course!) and the leopard print pants, too.  Especially on her birthday.

My sweet friend Patricia surprised me with a dear birthday post over at Pollywog Creek; she officially crowned me Queen today.  Bless her heart!  I jokingly asked her where my tiara was and do you know what?

Today is international tiara day!  CLICK HERE to read all about the May 24^th trivia of days.

Funny thing is – it’s also Thelma and Louise Day.

That is one of my favorite movies and I also drive a 1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, and well, her name is “Thelma-Louise”.  What I would give for my Thelma-Louise to be in the Wagon Master condition!!  But she's still pretty good for me.

Meanwhile, I had a birthday road trip today.  We drove 75 miles to get the BEST homemade peach ice cream in the South – maybe the ENtire universe – at Thomas’ Peach Orchard and Greenhouse just south of Athens in Bishop, Georgia.  You haven’t had homemade peach ice cream until you’ve had theirs.  We bought a quart to bring home and quart to eat on the way home!  We went prepared with our own spoons to pass the ice cream in the car on the ride home! Oh yeah, and fresh picked peaches, too!  Can’t wait to have sugared peaches with cream!

Then we just had to stop in historic Madison, Georgia at the candy store.  I picked out truffles (my favorite!) and homemade, right there in the shop, peanut butter and chocolate fudge!

Not bad – peaches, peach ice cream, chocolate and chocolate and chocolate – yeah …. that’s  pretty good.

Today is the first of 365 days of being 45 for me.  After tonight, I only have 364 days to be 45.  That’s not very many days, you know.  I have quite a bit to squeeze in before 46.  Yesterday was my last day to be 44; I hope I used all my 44 year old days wisely.

I say that very thing to both of our sons when it is their birthday and have decided to apply it to myself.  I also ask for their wish list each birthday.  As you might imagine, they work on those birthday wish lists for weeks, sometimes months, in advance!  So since it is my birthday today, I want to share my wish list with those of you who stop by South of the Gnat Line to visit:

• For the next 365 days, I wish that everyone in the whole wide world would see each day as new and special and say to each person they see, “Hey Y’all!”  In fact, I declare all future May 24^th’s as International “Hey Y’all!” day.
• I wish there were more wild flowers.
• I wish there were fewer harsh words.
• I wish there were more hugs, no illnesses and that frowns miraculously vanished being physically impossible to form on one’s face.
• I wish that everyone recognized that birthday’s are not about gifts (unless they are tiaras and feather boas) but a celebration of life.
• I wish you all a Happy New Year - since today is the first day of my personal New Year!

Thank you to those of you who stopped by and left birthday wishes – thank you to those of you who stop by South of the Gnat Line regularly – I wish you each a Happy Birthday on your day to celebrate YOU!

And last, but not least, CLICK HERE to watch a great video that one of my best friends sent to me this morning.  Truthfully, I think he's dancing in honor of my birthday.  It is hilarious (though I warn you – there are a few *suggestive* moves here and there ~ sorry).  But I can only wonder, as a society, “What were we thinking?” and then, “How can I smuggle this guy in with us for this weekend’s big wedding event?” that we'll be attending!!  Aaahhhhh!

So there you have it – for the next 365 days Y'all will all be going around saying “Hey Y’all!” to the world at large and more women will be wearing tiaras and feather boas.

Now don't let me down.

Sounds like a better world already.

Gotta run – day #1 of 45 is winding down and I’ve got chocolate waiting on me and the two hour finale of Lost!

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday, Y’all!

Harriette