Another Year Gone

With each passing birthday I am more and more aware that the years pass so quickly. There have been birthdays that were significant like turning 21, then 30 then the years of my children's birth. This year wasn't too traumatic and it was actually kind of special since I got to celebrate my birthday with my parents for the first time in 19 years.
Our tradition growing up was that we got to choose our favorite dinner and type of cake we wanted Mom to make. Mom seemed to be eager to continue the tradition when she was here. But, I had gotten in my head that I wanted a fruit tart instead of a traditional birthday cake. I studied one in the Whole Foods bakery case and decided I could make it myself. So, once I get an idea in my brain I'm like a dog on a bone and have to get it done - myself. I put dinner in the crockpot in the morning and finished the fruit tart by the time we were ready to eat. I was quite proud of the final result, although I'll change the filling recipe next time.