They say it's your birthday

Marie's Birthday, 2011 

 Sometimes, for those of us with a melancholy disposition, a February birthday isn’t an unalloyed joy.  This year, as mine comes around, I’m old enough to know I had better pay attention to the good times.

This year, I was looking forward to seeing a special friend on my birthday. Let's call her Pam. She was coming to town—and I and others of her old friends were truly looking forward to her arrival. She’s one of those people whose wit and humor, whose willingness to play, carries any party along.

Life, however, intervened. She isn’t coming. Like many charismatic people, she’s manic, living through huge ups and downs. We understand. However, her absence left us at loose ends in what was supposed to be a cheerful mini-reunion. You need friends around for a good celebration. As the Beatles observed: “We get by with a little help from our friends.” If loss, distance or just a bout of depression keeps them away, a birthday may end up being kind of depressing.  

 

I’m still here and it’s a year later, but so what?  Who is by my side cheering me on with a big “Go you?”

Who will eat cake with me or laugh and caper around to The Safety Dance?

 

Well, okay, my husband is still taking me to a special lunch at one of our local breweries. Here in the German part if PA we are well supplied with new, good ones. They have many varieties of beer and some nice dinner plates and all kinds of bar snacks. My favorite is a local bratwurst, which comes with red kraut and horseradish-y potato salad, which seems the exactly right accompaniment for a draft. A special new friend will come along with us, one with her own life-time fund of stories to share.

 

And then there are my sons. They can’t be here in person, but they are kind enough to call and send presents and all that good stuff we do on family birthdays.  I appreciate the attention, because, as the pop poet said, “it’s a drag when you’re rejected” and most especially a drag when the rejector is your own kid.  

 

So most of what’s happening will be on the plus side. And, actually, it’s quite a lot. I’m well fed (!), reasonably healthy for my age, more or less secure, and still breathing.  That I don’t get the bubbly fun of that senior version of girl’s night out shouldn’t be a total buzz kill. Still, all of us will miss our friend. It was a chance to laugh together one more time, a thing that the obits in the daily paper remind us should not be lightly passed by.

So there’s regret, but it’s not going to be a spoiler. Here I am, in my seventies, still relearning the lesson of one day at a time.  

 “I will make this day a happy one, for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be.”

  

~~Juliet Waldron

 

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54 Birthday Spankings...by Jamie 'Let's Get This Over With' Hill

Well that got your attention! But I haven't gotten a birthday spanking since I was in single digits, and that 'one to grow on' can stop any day now. 

I've been psyching myself up for my birthday because it's been such a hectic and busy summer. I've had many things happening on all fronts. I've been through manic mood swings varying from intensely happy to severely depressed and thought maybe I could nudge my way back to some semblance of normal by easing out of summer with a big birthday blow-out. Of course, the week hasn't gone as planned.

I can't blame that on my birthday, it's just life. And things will turn out okay, they always do. I simply have to relinquish control of the things I cannot change, much like the serenity prayer used by many twelve-step programs.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

*Sigh*

 

So far, 54 feels pretty much the same as 53. My family and friends have been great, I've been treated to breakfast, lunch and dinner already this week. I have absolutely nothing to complain about. Yet it's hard to squelch the tiny rumblings of dissatisfaction deep in my belly. 

I'm not sticking to my diet. I haven't been getting much writing done. The summer has come and almost gone, and I've made no progress. I'm stuck in the same spot I was at the end of May. 

It's hard to know when to be tougher on myself, and when to cut myself some slack. I know it's been a crazy busy summer. I know I'll get back on my eating program here shortly, without much damage done. I know my writing deadlines are my own, self-imposed schedules. I'm not in trouble. It's okay. It's all gonna be just fine. 

Deep down inside I know that. I just need to remember it.

Somebody smack me. One to grow on oughta do it. 

Have a great rest of the week.

 

Birthday Presents For Me? by Jamie 'Birthday Girl' Hill

So the big '54' is just around the corner. This year I've asked for a new pair of walking shoes since I'm in the process of slimming down and was walking daily before the sun decided to fry my neighborhood. Autumn is just around the corner and I intend to start walking again soon, so good new shoes it is. (I asked for a Fitbit for Mother's Day and love it.)

But what did I used to want for my birthday? The past few years I got spa gift certificates, which were amazing. All of a sudden they felt a little frivolous, so I've stopped asking for that. Though the occasional massage or mani/pedi still lures me!

I usually get a bottle of my favorite perfume. My son already gave me that as an early gift before he moved away (sob) and he even included the matching lotion which is so wonderful.  

My other son is heading off soon to start an incredible new job overseas. He gave his father and I each a new computer this year for our birthdays. Can I get any more spoiled? He said it was a small thank you because he knew I always have worked at least two jobs and did so the whole time he was growing up. He wanted to say that he was aware, and he appreciated everything I did for him. And he also knew his father would whine if he didn't get the same gift. LOL (Those were my words, not his.) My husband's computer was much older than mine and really needed an upgrade. And yes, we do realize how blessed we are.

Life was much simpler when I was younger, and my wants were cheaper. I collected dolls and books by the dozen. (And man do I wish I still had those Nancy Drew's!)

I didn't think this was going to be a 'big birthday' year, but it's turned out that way. But the best part, even without the gifts, has been spending time with my sons before each of them flies the coop. We've watched movies, gone to different restaurants, went swimming, done yard work, taken walks, and talked. A lot. And it's made the summer one of my best. I've complained regularly about this year because we've had one hell of a lot going on, but my old mantra is as true now as it's always been.

I can't compain, but some times I still do.

I know, my bad. :) Life really is good.

What Does 54 Mean to You??? by Jamie "The Birthday Girl" Hill

So in less than a week I'll turn the ripe old age of 54. Not a particularly festive birthday, but as I told Ginger I'm feeling a little sorry for myself for various reasons this summer so I'm going to do it up big this year.

To celebrate my 54 years on Earth, here's a fun list of 54.

54 Frightening Facts You Didn't Know About Disney Villians

(I didn't know most of these, but this one really surprised me: #47- Sid Phillips from Toy Story makes a cameo as a garbage truck driver in Toy Story 3. Who knew that? LOL)

http://www.buzzfeed.com/samstryker/badder-is-better-disney-villains#.biAoDk8v0

From Wikipedia, 54 is also:

• The number of milligrams of caffeine in 12 ounces of Mountain Dew
• +54 The code for international direct dial phone calls to Argentina
• 54, a 1998 film about Studio 54 starring Ryan Phillippe, Mike Myers, and Salma Hayek
• 54, a novel by the Wu Ming collective of authors
• In the title of a 1960s television show Car 54, Where Are You?
• The number of cards in a deck of playing cards, if two jokers are included
• The number of countries in Africa

 And finally, 54 is how old I'll be in 6 days. Provided I make it that long. Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise!

The Birthday Countdown is On...by Jamie "Birthday Girl" Hill

When I was a kid, my birthdays were maybe the best day of the year. Christmas was a close tie, but in the eyes of a child we shared that day with the baby Jesus, and rightly so. But my birthday was just MINE. 

For the first few years, my grandma made me special cakes that she decorated with small ceramic figures which she made as a hobby. Or she crafted me doll cakes similar to the one pictured. I loved Barbies so those had an added bonus. Now that I'm grown, I no longer have the Barbies but I do still have several of those ceramic figurines and they mean a lot to me.

Age ten was the first birthday party I remember. We invited a bunch of girls to my house. I can't recall exactly what we did, but there was cake and presents involved, so I was a happy girl.

I spent one birthday on a family vacation at the great Salt Lake. Traveling across multiple states in a camper doesn't sound like fun to me these days, but it was a blast back then. I got a Barbie that year, too. (I must have been easy to shop for.)

These days, birthdays involve dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant and spending time with my special crew, my family. They spoil me rotten with spa gift certificates, perfume, and this year, a new computer which I am already enjoying. 

Growing older isn't always easy, but I like to say that it beats the alternative. Bear with me for the next week as I continue on this path of celebration. It's going to be a wild ride!

It's My Birthday and I'll Cry If I Want Too - Ginger Simpson

Seems like yesterday I was 20, aching to be twenty-one.  Don't have any idea why except that twenty-one makes you "legal."  I don't drink, never was much of a smoker, but the idea of being a true adult was something I craved.  I guess because I never expected to live long enough to flash my ID at someone who asked for verification of my age.  Always had a terrible fear of death, and no matter which age I turned, I convinced myself I was living my last year.  You know, won't live to graduate, but when I did, wouldn't live to get married, but I did.  Then I worried I wouldn't live long enough to have children, but I did...even though they tried hard to kill me.  *lol*

My father and his entire family passed away young.  Dad was only sixty-one, so that was my new number of fear.  But here I am...bypassing that age by several years, shocked that God has granted me the good fortune of enjoying a grandson despite predictions that I looked exactly liked my Aunt Miriam who passed away much too early.  I guess there are some strong "Poole" genes that have overrode the weak "Pomerantz" ones since my Mom just turned 90 on November 1 and I'm still alive and kicking, albeit not very high.  Funny how no one asked to see my ID when I was younger, but here in TN, if you buy beer, you have to show an ID.  Even the age spots on my hands won't do...they want to see my license.  Strange.

My sisters and I were all enjoying a good laugh the other night (but crying inside) at what shocks lay in store for senior citizens.  Growing old is one surprise after another.  From your eyelashes falling out, to whatever held up the skin on your neck disappearing overnight, to growing that "old lady" belly most likely meant to support your elongating boobs to the possibility of spending money on lifting something or plumping up something that's disappeared.  I've never had much lip line, so imagine if I turned up with one all of a sudden!!!!  I guarantee you, I'm no Angelina Jolie.

  We are all three years apart, and my youngest sister will turn 60 in a few weeks.  For one year, my sisters, our brother and I will all share the same decade.  While some people love the "back in the sixties" craze...for us it will have a whole new meaning:  sixty, sixty-three, sixty-six, and sixty-nine.

So...today I give thanks to God for letting me be part of this wacky family that produced the first punk rocker in a redneck town, a child determined to piss off every policeman in his path, a wonderful grandson who hasn't let autism defeat him, along with a mother, sisters and brother who add love and laughter to my life.  Two daughters-in-law have made my sons the men they are today...I couldn't have done it without them.  Yes, I'm spoiled. I'm especially thankful for a husband who takes care of me, loves me, wrinkles, fat and all, and is proud of everything I've accomplished in my 69 years.  Kelly is my biggest fan.

So, Happy Birthday to Me.  My sister, Glynda got me "delivered" water so I can begin drinking the 96 ounces a day the nutritionist advised.  I do good to drink a plastic bottle of Aquafina in a day, so perhaps my end will come from drowning.  That's always been another fear of mine.  *lol*