Wow, it looks like a bigger number when written out like that. Maybe "33" is better. Yes, two little digits staring blankly at me, with gobs of promise for the year to come. Today is my birthday, and to mark the occasion the Cutlet passed on his stomach virus to me. Yay! At least I've got tomorrow off, too, to give me more recovery time. It really stinks to burn the last summer holiday off on whooziness and downing clear liquids, but sometimes we don't have choices for the way we spend our time.
We tend to put a lot of credence in numbers ... at 16 we are able to drive ... at 18 we can vote ... at 21 we can legally ingest liquid poison until we get drunk and puke all over our friends ... at 25 we are midway through our twenties ... at 30 many of us realize it's time to grow up ... at 35 we see our youth slipping away just a little more ... at 40 we are confronted with the brick wall of a supposed "middle age," although that milestone is pushed back every year by advances in technology and medicine.
What happens at 50, ye who hath reached that threshold? My mom turns 60 in January, and she confided that it's a number she's finding hard to swallow. My dad is 65, but retirement will elude him at least for a few more years. After that, do the numbers mean anything? Does a person hit 80 and take time to re-evaluate life? I don't know. As youthfulness progresses ever so late in life, there is the energy, cognizance and wherewithall to take such moments later and later. What would an otherwise healthy person do differently at 100 than at 60?
This morning, while I was downing clear liquids at the kitchen table, the Cutlet wandered out to give me a big hug and wish me a happy birthday. Although it was no doubt prompted by the Petite Filet's urging, it was a sweet moment. I drank it in, like orange Gatorade in a glass, and realized that at any age I've got it pretty good. And that makes getting older not so hard at all.
Happy Birthday!!! I'll face the ol' "33" next, myself. Nice to get a little glimpse as to what it's like....
happy birthday, t-bone!
Happy Birthday! I'll have to wait 3 years one month and 13 days to tell you what 50 is like. LOL
Happy-wish-you-felt-better Birthday!
Hmmm. Milestones. Age milestones. Hmmm.
I didn't find thirty to be troublesome, daunting or particularly memorable. Life was busy. A new baby, making a total of four. Thirty was lots of kids, lots of laundry and no sleep.
Forty- now this birthday was a little tougher. I could no longer be considered young at all. You could fudge through your thirties, but forty? No way, Jose. You are on your way to ....middle age. Yikes. It was a depressing birthday.
Fifty - Not at all as traumatic as the fortieth. I spent my 50th birthday climbing the Lost Mine Trail in Big Bend. Gorgeous scenery, hiking with the man I was always destined to be with, and feeling younger than I had in years. A very memorable and happy birthday. I had reached a place in my life that was liberating, and less conflicted than any age I can recall.
Good health and better life choices, plus the wisdom of 50 years (finally glad to see THAT part kick in...) equals contentment most every day.
Happy Birthday, T-Bone, and know that, yes, each decade means a loss of youth, but also gain of so much more.
Young whipper-snapper.
Happy birthday-belatedly-and hope the tummy is much better today. I skated past most of the 'milestone' birthdays without any particular angst. The main significance of 21 was being able to vote not to consume alcohol. Guess that's a hint to the next big one--60 is around the corner since tomorrow is 59. I admit to being a trifle concerned about 60. I don't think I can make a case for 60 being the 'new' anything! Maybe if I keep repeating the number I'll get used to it ;) Advice? Savor those sweet moments one day at a time. ml
Happy Birthday. 33 sounds pretty good to me.
Cas
Someone needs to teach the cutlet how to choose a better birthday gift. Hope you're feeling better!
Happy Birthday!!
Happy Birthday, T-Bone!
arriving at the party late a couple of days late, but happy belated birthday. virgos rule, yeah!
Happy belated birthday!
Happy belated Birthday T-bone!
When I turned 40, I coached my then 11 year old son to say I was 36. It was a joke and to this day he makes me feel good by saying I'm only 36.
Now I'm staring 50 in the face and it doesn't bother me at all. Sure there are wrinkles and sags, but the rewards far outweigh those. There's a confidence that comes with age. Funny thing, when I was 18 I wanted to "find myself" and it took me a long time, but I think I finally have.
Life just gets better. Enjoy every day.
Damn...we are born in the same month!
I turn 43 on the 10th. Happy Belated dude!
Happy belated birthday. I'm so glad to read all those comments that say it just gets better and better cause i'm at that point where my age bothers me, i never particularly thought it would EVER be a big deal, but the day I put on eye glasses to read something it made me realize that was something I lost due to age. And then I keep hearing all the older folks in my life whining and complaining about all the aches and pains! I so hope, even if it hurts so bad it takes my breath away, I don't start every conversation with stuff like 'I sure wish I hadn't eat those onions!'
Live it!
HAPPY belated Birthday!!
Sorry this is kinda late... was away for 2+ weeks in Asia. Oh, there was internet access alright, but I didn't have much free time to spend in front of the computer :) So catching up on blogs and emails i've missed now.
Was trying to leave a comment on one of your previous posts but got an error message. So here it is again:
Let's see.... I think you left a comment on my blog first. If not i don't recall how I found yours. Could be through clicking around... I tend to do that quite a bit. I started blogging to keep my friends and family updated about happenings in my life, since i'm pretty bad when it comes to returning emails. Circus? Not a big fan... but I went to one maybe 5-6 years back. Think it was Ringling Bros. Not afraid of clowns but don't particularly like them either. Animal acts are ok.... the only thing I really like is the trapeze performance.
Enjoy your blog, esp your writing style.