I'm going to be 70 on my birthday tomorrow. April 30, Taurus, Sunday's child, you know, bonnie and blithe and good and gay, the last year of my 7th decade on this planet. Next birthday I'll be entering my eighth decade. That's sort of mind boggling, especially since I just finished clearing 218' of heavily overgrown fence.
When I was in high school, 50 seemed really old to me. As it happened, when I got there it was much like the 40s only a little more relaxed, maybe a bit easier. After that I really had no conceptualization of age or aging other than not being like my mother who announced at some point after she turned 60 that she was old now and didn't have to do anything and parked her butt on the sofa and that was that. But the 60s were hard to accept. Maybe because of the sudden aging of my face. I had maintained a fairly youthful appearance for so long and it just seemed to crater soon after crossing that threshold even though my hair is still mostly dark, which amazes me every day, and was the reason for the year of the selfie when I was 64. I figured if I took and looked at enough pictures of myself I would adjust and I did. The 60s have been a pretty good decade after all even if I now have age spots everywhere and wrinkles and deep creases and crepey skin and chin and mustache hairs. For all of that I am still strong, still limber, can still work hard though not for as long, and my friends tell me I don't look 70, but then I expect no less from them.
So, 70. Both my parents died in their 70s. I'm planning on lasting longer.
When I was working my birthday was always a personal day off but every day now is like a personal day off since we retired from doing the etched glass and the small pate de verre sculptures are getting fewer and farther between. Our go to celebration for birthdays has always been a movie and dinner out, something we won't be doing this year so I imagine tomorrow will just be another day. No party now though one was planned, postponed and maybe canceled. Who knows. Covid-19 maybe.
In any case, it will be a good day because I am alive and healthy and the yard is blooming and we got some good rain and the mockingbirds are singing and the mississippi kites are back and the magnolias are in full bloom and scenting the air and the earth is a beautiful place and I have family and friends even if we have to keep our distance for now and I have no real complaints.
Happy birthday! Starting a new decade always seems significant, a kind of decision point: what shall I do next? You feel the same inside, and it's surprising to see that person looking at you from the mirror!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your day, and your year.
they say it is just a number. I do agree. It is also genetics and self care. Age is relative. but it does make you think, WOW- that went by fast and now there are less years on this planet than before. Timing is everything, I reckon, and we oldsters will be out of here before things get really ugly...selfish thought but that is what we get for being born when we were. A perk! Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteI meant FEWER years!
DeleteHappy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness. Another trip around the glow rock . Happy Birthday! I hope I last into my 70's but I doubt it. I just don't have the stomach for it. Besides, politics will most likely kill me if trump gets another term.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Lady! There's not been much funny about this Covid19 business, but every time I hear someone say us frail, vulnerable, over-sixties should stay in the house and quiver, I just laugh. I wasn't sure what it was going to be like, once I hit seventy, but it's been just fine. It will be for you, too -- enjoy the next decade!
ReplyDeleteOh, happy birthday, Ellen! You are a beautiful woman and part of that beauty is your strength and your determination. Age definitely has its way with us, especially if we've spent a lot of our lives outside, working hard under the sun. But for some of us- that has been our joy. Or at least a good part of it. We are still here, we are still putting in good days, we are still curious and involved and loving our loved ones and being loved back. And there is so much good in all of that.
ReplyDeletePlus- you make art.
I hope there's a cake for you tomorrow somehow. And if there's not, still remember to be sweet to yourself. Do what you want and enjoy the day.
I'll be thinking of you.
thank you Mary. my daughter came by with a small tiramisu cake and flowers. first birthday cake I've had in decades.
DeleteHappy Birthday! 70 is good. Going strong. You have the same birthday as my mother.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday. Happy 70th birthday.It's as good as you make it, which will be just fine. And I hope you don't ever again work as hard as you did clearing that fence.
ReplyDeletegawd, me too!
DeleteHappy birthday to beautiful you. Wishing you much good health and happiness... and many, many more. ♡
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY! I think you look great. No one would guess your age. I enjoyed that year when you did the selfie every Friday. Was fun seeing what you were doing. Enjoy your day tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteHappy, happy Birthday. You're amazing. Totally. And an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Ellen! Do you not color your hair and it's still that dark? If so, how wonderful. My dad who just turned 91 years old in April still has the dark brown hair but I need to color my hair doggone it:)
ReplyDeletenope, I do not color my hair. there are gray strands throughout but they don't show up in photos.
DeleteHappy birthday! I remember your year-of-the-selfie -- I can't believe that was SIX years ago. Time flies! In any case, I think that's a terrific picture of you and here's to many more.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday. It's a special time of the year. My friend was born on the 29th and Queen's day in Amsterdam used to be every 30th. We did travel to Queen's day to celibate his birthday and take in the party. In those days 800,000 folks lived in Amsterdam and around 1 million visitors would join them every Queen's day for the party. It was called Queen's day in celebration of the Queen's birthday, Beatrix I believe, and not because of us and a good many other, “queens” who flew there to party. Exciting times, fly that far from Oregon, 4 or 5 days at the Adolesce Hotel. Good memories, good time of the year.
ReplyDeleteYou make 70 look fabulous! And really I need to use you as a role model & get off of my couch!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Ellen. You are looking great. Health, wealth and happiness for the next chapter.
ReplyDeletea very happy birthday to you, dear Ellen, virus or not. can’t let a little thing like a dangerous virus stop us, can we? I just wish one of them went to an address I could mention, but won’t.
ReplyDeletealtacockers? what’s that?
thank you. we're all wishing it would go to that address. altacocker is yiddish for an elderly person, old-timer [literally "old shitter"] "A crotchety, fussy, ineffectual old man."
DeletePS: 70 is barely elderly, certainly not old.
ReplyDeleteyes I agree. in fact a friend refuses to say he's getting old. he says he's 'aging'.
DeleteHappy Birthday! Yes, the shock is all the wrinkles and the liver spots...but it is what it is and you are in very good health as active as you are.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Ellen. I think staying active helps to keep you feeling younger.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday - How Wonderful - Bug Birthday Hugs - Stay Strong
ReplyDeleteCheers
Happy Birthday, yes, keeping one's darker Hairs is a Mystery isn't it? My Mom went Silver quite Young and since her Natural Color was Blue Black it showed up more against the Dark, but she looked striking with Silver. Dad was of Native American decent and never got a Gray Hair, it was Black when he passed in his 70's... Mom made it to her 80's... her people live longer, she was Welsh. As for me, I've attained my 60's and it's Good, I feel that growing Old is a privilege not afforded to many and I'm enjoying it, the Journey. My concern now of coarse is that this damned virus is taking out our Generation right, left and center... so who knows in the Future what Old Age will be if few get to attain the milestones of previous generations? Scary thought, tho' I do think our Age group is being especially careful to follow Pandemic guidelines so a Senior Friend mused that wouldn't it be ironic if we were the only ones that Survived this? Interesting thought, but I would Hope not... I have Children, Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren and I want for all of them to enjoy the privilege of growing as Old as possible.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! It's interesting, my face held up until I was 60, and then it just let go. I guess it was too much time in the sun. I do have a great silver streak across the top of my head, it would be nice if all of it would turn that color. Your hair looks good.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Ellen!!!! Wonderful musings here. My face too was fairly unchanged until I turned 60 and since then I’ve been trying to make peace with this new face I wear so I love hearing that you managed to do just that. You have a beautiful face, full of character, a face an artist would love to paint. Thanks for showing us how to be 70, clearing that fence and all. Have a wonderful year.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Ellen.
ReplyDeleteI too have all the things on your list plus one more...round cheeks.