Today, I light a candle for more than just age — I light it for every dawn I’ve greeted, every storm I’ve survived, and every quiet moment that shaped me into who I am. At 107, with no family beside me, I gently baked myself a cake… not out of loneliness, but out of gratitude for a life bravely lived. 
Each year taught me something precious:
that joy can be handmade,
that love can be found in simple moments,
and that a heart can remain full even when a room is empty. 
So here’s to the laughter I still remember,
the memories that still warm me,
and the light within me that continues to shine — softly, proudly, beautifully. 
Happy 107th to me — a celebration of survival, grace, and the gift of simply being here.
