Birthday Row

Today I celebrated 45 years as a living, breathing human being.
And what better way to do so, to feel completely alive, than to get out on a gondola and fight the wind.
One of my passengers grabbed my camera and took a few shots.

Here's one:

photo by Shelly Ferraro

Rowing in the wind is always a great way to get a workout, but it also inspires creative thinking. Gondoliers find themselves contemplating corners and canals in new ways. The direction of the wind forces them to take new approaches to waterways they've rowed hundreds of times. Such was my cruise today.

I loved it. Dug deep with each stroke and couldn't stop smiling.

I did many things today to celebrate, but taking the Ferraro family out in the wind was one of my favorites.