Widowhood brings many firsts, some excruciating, some not-so-bad, and some very good. Today I experienced a good one.

I’ve been so glad the house refurbishing is finished and everything nearly back in place that I decided to throw a celebratory party – for one. And what better place than the beach?

Pulling on my 8 year old bathing suit, I made the mistake of glancing in the mirror. Although I couldn’t do much about the ravages of time, I could do something about the winter-white skin. Digging under the bathroom sink, I found some “Sublime Bronze Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion,” a little tube of cream that promised exactly what I wanted:

“A soft, smooth, 100% natural-looking sunless tan in less than an hour.”

Squeezing a generous dollop into my palm, I got my first surprise when it came out as dark as a piece of Fanny May chocolate. Although I’ve never liked being pasty white, I didn’t think I could pull off “swarthy”.

Nevertheless, I smeared it all over, hoping for the best, then set to planning the party refreshments: a baggie of cantaloupe, a Nutri-grain bar, a bag of pretzels and a Coke Zero. Although Jack would’ve been a welcome guest, summertime beach rules discourage daytime doggie attendance. Besides, heavy black fur and hot sunshine aren’t a happy combination. Jack understood and found a cool napping spot on the new slate tile.

Climbing onto Birgitta’s 7^th grade bike, I headed for my party at the shore, backpack full of reading and writing material, and the refreshments.

God apparently knew about the celebration ahead of time, because when I got there, he was ready with a second surprise. After pulling off my beach cover-up, my 65 year old body began sparkling like a convention of lightning bugs. Apparently the self-tanner had been laced with glitter, and it was all over me.

Always hoping to go unnoticed when in a swimming suit, today my time-worn skin made a noisy announcement as the sun bounced off every inch of me: “Look at my body! Look at my body!”

Although I hadn’t planned on an immediate swim, the chilly June water didn’t discourage me, and in I went, rubbing at the glitter with gusto. After that, the party went as planned, a lovely festivity for one.

God and I enjoyed the entertainment together, a long, uninterrupted conversation. And I got to eat all the food myself, sit in the best beach chair, and nap on my favorite towel. Several hours flew by, and when I arrived home, Jack was excited to hear all about it. I made sure to tell him that not all widow-firsts are negative.

Thanks to the Lord’s involvement, some are downright hilarious.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine.” (Proverbs 17:22)