Life Preservers

Happy Birthday, Old Friend

August 28, 2013 at 12:09 am 2 comments

This post dedicated to a dear friend who was born August 28, 1963. Some thoughts on turning 50. 

• After a 50^th birthday, you wake up and realize, you can stop freaking out about turning 50.
• The friendships that have lasted this long are pretty much good to go. And new people worthy of your time, energy, and love are easier to spot.
• You can now drop an F-bomb in front of your parents and they’ll just laugh.
• This is the first birthday in a long time during which you will be celebrated as you were when you were a kid. Enjoy every minute. ‘Cause the next big one is 60 – and that will just be sad.
• You don’t have to join A.A.R.P. if you don’t want to.
• Whether it’s a fancy night out with your sweetie, a no-fuss game night with friends, or an evening with Haagen Dazs and Dean Martin, you know how to – and you make the choice to – recharge as needed.
• At 50, tragedy has touched you. And tempered you.
• At 50, you are capable of soul-expanding joy.
• At 50, you never ever have to ride your bike to get a candy bar, dig through couch cushions to purchase a pop (aka soda), or worry about borrowing clothes for a formal event.
• Whether you are tall or short, overweight or skinny, straight-laced or goofy, graceful or clutzy, you are loved. And you know it.
• Whether you are rich or poor, brilliant or ditzy, famous or ordinary, fabulous or frumpy, there are people who don’t like you. And you’re okay with that. Maybe even a little proud of that.
• No one (including you) will ever expect you to drink until 3:00 a.m., run a triathlon, or wear a bikini.
• You’ve forgotten more stuff than the youngsters will ever know. And you’re about to start forgetting even more stuff.
• The number of years until you can retire is now a comprehensible span of time.
• You have arrived at 50. You know what matters most to you and it doesn’t matter if the same things are important to a friend, co-worker, neighbor, or the person taking your pizza order.
• You have friends who have already turned 50. And they are cheerfully, wickedly relieved that you have to go through it, too.

Happy Birthday, Vern. You are one my life preservers.

NOTE:  A variation of this post is available to purchase as a poster. Click here to go to the product in my zazzle store.

Entry filed under: Life Preservers.