We’ve been so focused on the Memorial Cup hockey championship in our house that my birthday (today!) kinda’ snuck up on me. This 10-day national championship series was hosted by Kitchener this year. Building a team that would get the Kitchener Rangers (for whom Murray scouts) to the championship game actually began last year. In the end, the Rangers had what it took to get all the way to the final game against the Spokane Chiefs, but unfortunately things didn’t go quite as the Rangers’ team and fans had fantasized. Although the Rangers gave it their all and then some, in the end the Chiefs emerged victorious in a hard-fought game.

Needless to say, the mood’s been a tad sad around here since yesterday.

The Rangers had a brilliant season – ranked in first place across Canada for most weeks of the season, finishing in first place, then clinching the OHL championship to advance to the Memorial Cup as the OHL representatives.

Since only one team can emerge victorious, sports can be bitterly disappointing for those who participate as players or fans. But as Coach Pete DeBoer’s mom wisely reminded me partway through yesterday’s game, sports is also about entertainment, and the Rangers proved masterful at that. They provided their fans with a winning season of entertaining hockey. Hats off to a great team and a classy organization!

But back to me! It is supposed to be all about me today, right?! (LOL)

Murray and I don’t usually make a huge deal of our birthdays, but since May 26th fell on a Monday this year, and I don’t go in to work on Mondays, it would have made sense to have planned a fun way to celebrate the occasion. Instead, I’ve spent the day doing laundry, tidying up the house, taking my vehicle into the dealership to get a front end noise checked out, and answering emails. Murray and I are going out to dinner tonight, but if I’d had my act together and planned a day that included some of my favourite “things”, here’s how it could have gone……….

* Sleep in!

* Enjoy a breakfast of fried eggs (sunny side up!) and bacon, home fries, toast and marmalade, freshly squeezed orange juice and tea.

* Spend the morning at a spa.

* Hit Booster Juice for a Tropical Tornado or Canadian Colada smoothie or Starbucks for a Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino.

* Head to a play at the Stratford Festival in Stratford or the Shaw Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake (neither theatre actually schedules plays on Mondays but remember, this is my fantasy day!)

* Enjoy dinner at a favourite restaurant in the Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge area – Hannah’s Bella Bistro, 20 King Street, King Street Trio, Blackshop, Charbries, Sole, any of the dining establishments in the Charcoal group of restaurants (to name a few!)

Since a fantasy day can be as long or as short as one wishes, I’d also want to include time to read a book, have afternoon tea at Langdon Hall, and go on a hike, then I’d end the day with friends and an ice cream cake or a platter of interesting cheeses, crackers and fruit, and a bottle of ice wine. (Notice that the day would have involved a fair amount of eating and drinking!!)

It might be too late to fulfill my birthday fantasy day this year, but judging from experience, I should really get a head start on planning for next year!