A milestone birthday

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I turn 50 today. 50! Wow. I can hardly believe it. Doesn’t seem like I’ve been around for 50 years!

I guess I’ll need to change the “40-something” designation in my profile. But I don’t want to say “50-something” since that sounds so much older than just barely 50. Maybe I’ll just say “middle-aged.” 😀

I had thought about doing something special here to celebrate this milestone, but it ended up being a busy week. So I’ll share something that brought me a few chuckles and eased me into the transition into a new decade:

Perks of Being Over 50

  • No one expects you to run into a burning building.
  • People call at 9 PM and ask, “Did I wake you?”
  • People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
  • There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
  • You can eat dinner at 4 PM.
  • You have a party and the neighbors don’t even realize it.
  • You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
  • You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.
  • You sing along with elevator music.
  • Your eyes won’t get much worse.
  • Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.
  • Your joints are more accurate meteorologist than the national weather service.
  • Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can’t remember them either.

~~~~~

When Sally discovered her first gray hair she immediately wrote to her parents: “Dear Dad and Mom, You saw my first steps. You might want to experience this with me too.” She taped the offending hair to the paper and mailed it. Her father’s response was in the form of a poem:

It’s a trustworthy observation
That nothing can compare
In the process of aging
With finding the first gray hair.

He signed off with this observation: “That gray hair you sent is not the first one you gave us!”

~~~~~

Finally, here are some quotes I saved especially for this birthday from a Thursday Thirteen I saw at Echoes of Grace when she was also facing a milestone birthday:

1. Happiness is inward, and not outward, and so, it does not depend on what we have, but on who we are. ~Henry Van Dyke

2. Regrets are the natural property of gray hairs. ~Charles Dickens

3. I suppose real old age begins when one looks backward rather than forward. ~May Sarton

4. There is no cure for the common birthday. ~John Glenn

5. It is not how old you are, but how you are old.~ Marie Dressler

6. The older the fiddler, the sweeter the tune.~ English Proverb

7. Old age is like flying through a storm. Once you’re aboard, there’s nothing you can do.~ Golda Meir

8. The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it. ~Jean Paul

9. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair. ~Douglas MacArthur

10. Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. ~Mark Twain

11. Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop of ice cream fall from the cone. ~Jim Fiebig

12. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were? ~Satchel Paige

13. Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many ~Anonymous

19 thoughts on “A milestone birthday”

  2. Happy Birthday Barbara! I love that line “barely 50.” I think you should stay “barely 50” for the next decade! These lists are terrific. I’m about to turn 30 myself, and while people won’t apologize for calling and possibly waking me at 9 pm, perhaps I could milk the “can’t run into a burning building” thing. (smirk)

  3. HAPPY BLESSED BIRTHDAY, Barbara!

    Now may the Lord bless you and keep you,… and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you,… and turn His face toward you and give you peace.

  6. Happy 50th, Barbara!!! I love the stories and quotes! I remember, as a child, thinking my parents were soooo old at my age (55) but I don’t feel nearlyyyyy as old as I THOUGHT they were! *smile* But I will say…..getting older isn’t for wimps!!! Have a wonderful day!! ((HUGS))

  10. Oh, happy, happy Day! Yes, I think you should say you are barely 50! I loved this post, esp. numbers 5 and 11. I hope you have a terrific special day because you are so special. You bring a lot of joy and encouragement to Bloggityville.

  11. Happy Birthday, Barbara. I didn’t realize our birthdays were only three days apart.

    Fifty was the first time a birthday ending in a zero bothered me. Thirty didn’t phase me – I had two toddlers – I was too busy to notice. Forty wasn’t bad either. Fifty knocked me for a loop. Three years shy of SIXTY is starting to sound a little scary too.

    Trust me, all those quotes are true and seriously, you really are only as old as you feel. Today, I’m 97. LOL

    Hope your day is wonderful. 🙂

  13. Barbara–Happy birthday! Loved the sayings. You can wish me the same on December 15–I’m right behind you. 🙂

  15. Happy Birthday Barbara!!! I’m following in your footsteps in three short months!!! Loved all your quotes, thanks for sharing! Blessings, Diane

  16. Happy Birthday Dear! I hope the day is as special as you are. Always enjoy your bloggy. Have a happy extra blessed day.

  17. Barbara,
    Sorry I’m a little late, and…

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

    This is a great milestone. Your quotes cracked me up.
    I hope you continue to bring your wisdom and humour to the blogosphere – you are a blessing.

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