by Linda R.
Member since:
August 14, 2006

Upsides and Downsides A Few Random Thoughts About My Birthday

June 01, 2007 01:45 PM EDT (Updated: June 01, 2007 02:06 PM EDT)
views: 63 | comments: 70
  

 I was born on June 2, 1945. Counting on my fingers and toes, I’ve determined that I’ll be 62 on Saturday.  Somehow that seems so old and obviously it is old in certain ways.  But it’s a lot younger today than it used to be thanks to healthier lifestyles, diet programs, hair dye and cosmetics. 

 

Growing older involves a combination of losses and blessings, joys and sorrows. I’ve been blessed with an incredible husband, wonderful children, beautiful grandchildren, reasonably good health and a lifetime of special memories.  My career provided a sense of accomplishment and ultimately allowed me to retire with a reasonable though not lavish standard of living.

 

As the calendar advances, my most obvious losses are my formerly youthful face and girlish figure.  Not a big deal in the scheme of things.  More significant and infinitely more shattering is the loss of many long term friends to cancer and heart disease. At this point in our lives we’ve lost more friends than we have left. 

 

Life is fragile, precious and unpredictable.  No guaranties no warranties.  But as I sit here thinking about the fabric of my life, I pause to savor the sweetness and give silent thanks for all my blessings.

    

 

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Comments: 70

Mariana T. Jun 1, 2007, 1:47pm EDT
Miz Linda - I send you early birthday greetings - and may you continue to savor the sweetness and enjoy the moments. I enjoyed reading this. Salud.
greg smith Jun 1, 2007, 1:48pm EDT
Thank you for that article.
Virginia M. Jun 1, 2007, 1:59pm EDT
Happy Birthday! I enjoyed reading this, and especially liked "I pause to savor the sweetness" Thank you for reminding us to be thankful:)
Monica Kennedy Jun 1, 2007, 2:01pm EDT
I don't know where your article went, but Happy Birthday anyway!
Linda R. Jun 1, 2007, 2:05pm EDT
Thank you for the good wishes.

I don't understand what happened to my article either, Monica. It was there and then it was gone (so I repasted it)
Otelia S. Jun 1, 2007, 2:11pm EDT
Tomorrow, I'll be at my moms and she don't have a computer so(For Tomorrow)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIR............THDAY DEAR,SWEET,THANK GOD FOR YOUR LIFE,,,,MRS. lINDA R,,,,,R.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
OH,God bless you in a time where most don't even get to see their 18th.B-Day.
Enjoy your day as you have your life.
Age ain't nothing but a #. It's all in the way you shake your hips,mama!
Cindi P. Jun 1, 2007, 2:11pm EDT
Linda,
What a Great outlook! I hope you have a very haoppy birthday! And remember age is only a state of mind! : )
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Happy Birthday My FRIEND!
Sue * Jun 1, 2007, 2:42pm EDT
Happy Birthday! I'm 10 years behind you, and luckily we haven't lost many friends as of yet. I do think getting older has ups and downs. I'm just surprised sometimes how my actual age doesn't match the age in my head!
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Jun 1, 2007, 3:36pm EDT
Happy birthday Linda and I hope you have many more. My husband turned 60 today.
Sensational Sadie Sexy Senior Sitizen Jun 1, 2007, 5:01pm EDT
Linda, In case I don't remember tomorrow(I'm older that you , you know). Have the best Birthday ever.

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Amanda "middle of nowhere" C. Jun 1, 2007, 5:55pm EDT
How true! I wish you a happy day today and many happy returns!
Amanda "middle of nowhere" C. Jun 1, 2007, 5:56pm EDT
Happy Birthday, Linda!
donna h. Jun 1, 2007, 6:39pm EDT
Happy Birthday...
Anne Marie A. Jun 1, 2007, 9:12pm EDT
Happy early Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Otelia S. Jun 2, 2007, 1:53am EDT
It's officially June 2nd, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDA
Larry H. Jun 2, 2007, 4:54pm EDT
get a number 6 and a number 2 and you won't have so many candles to blow out.
Larry H. Jun 2, 2007, 4:55pm EDT
If you lived here you could go to the Mott College and take some classed free. wouldn't get a credit but you could take the class.
Linda R. Jun 2, 2007, 6:18pm EDT
Thanks again for all the wonderful comments. Great idea Larry. It might be fun to take some noncredit classes.
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Jun 3, 2007, 4:02am EDT
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LINDA!

I'm sorry your featured article over at the "Your Birthday Group" didn't post when it should have. I posted it right before I left the house yesterday at noon and came home to find that it never posted. I'm so sorry!

Anyway, you now have an article dedicated to you at the group, as well as 2 birthday items featured for an entire week.
Barb S. Jun 3, 2007, 7:39am EDT
ood article, Linda!!!! I hope you have a wonderful birthday!!!
Christine G. Jun 3, 2007, 8:19am EDT
Hope you have a Happy Birthday!
Linda R. Jun 3, 2007, 8:47am EDT
Thanks Barb, I'm glad you enjoyed the article. My birthday was nice and quiet, but very pleasant, Christine. We'll continue celebrating with a family dinner this afternoon.

Thanks for trying, Faith. I understand about gather glitches. No harm done.
Linda R. Jun 3, 2007, 10:07am EDT
Thank you Renda. Good wishes are always welcome.
Laura H. Jun 3, 2007, 10:18am EDT
Happy Birthday!
Laura H. Jun 3, 2007, 10:20am EDT
Tha't s wonderful way to look at it.
Jenna S. Jun 3, 2007, 6:58pm EDT
I'm now a day late.But, happy belated birthday! Its truely amazing how fast life flies by. I'm noticing that even more so now that I had my daughter. It wasn't that long ago I was still in school and wouldn't have even considered marriage or a family. Now, I'm just wishing for time to slow down so I can enjoy each and every day. Life is funny that way.
Linda R. Jun 3, 2007, 8:05pm EDT
Thanks for your comment, Laura. Life does move quickly, Jenna. Sometimes 20 years passes before you know it.

Thanks Wanda. You didn't really miss it. We've been celebrating all weekend.
samantha b. Jun 3, 2007, 9:11pm EDT
Have a beautiful birthday!
Shannon W Jun 4, 2007, 1:33pm EDT
You have a great outlook on life.
Shannon W Jun 4, 2007, 1:35pm EDT
I hope you had a wonderful birthday.
Elizabeth Davis Jun 4, 2007, 7:22pm EDT
I'm late, as always. I hope that you had a great time celebrating!
Elizabeth Davis Jun 4, 2007, 7:23pm EDT
BTW, you're really 26 & young at heart & mind? Right?
Elizabeth Davis Jun 4, 2007, 7:24pm EDT
What do you mean "silent thanks for my blessings"? You aren't up & jumping & shouting thank you? LOL. Sorry, I"m in a weird mood, tonight.
Elizabeth Davis Jun 4, 2007, 7:31pm EDT
Anyways, I really do hope that you had a grand time celebrating your birthday!!
Linda R. Jun 4, 2007, 7:55pm EDT
Thanks Samantha, Shannon, Elizabeth. It's been a wonderful birthday. And thanks to Faith and her group members, I'm still celebrating.
Bonii P. Jun 4, 2007, 8:13pm EDT
Happy Birthday late, linda! short, sweet, to the pont article, linda-- and well written. you have a good grip on life, i believe; recognizing the inevitibilities of life, and celebrating the meaningful. hope this coming year will be a wonderful one for you-- 'and many more!'
Linda R. Jun 4, 2007, 8:42pm EDT
Thank you Bonii. I appreciate your comment.
Happy Birthday Linda.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
You made me feel better about getting older myself.
Linda R. Jun 5, 2007, 1:31pm EDT
Thanks again Wanda.

We don't have a choice about getting older, Faith. So we might as well find ways to see the glass as half full instead of half empty.
Digital Diva S. Jun 5, 2007, 2:52pm EDT
Happy Birthday Linda.
Digital Diva S. Jun 5, 2007, 2:53pm EDT
We see so many names and faces on Gather but rarely get to know who they are. I found it interesting you are 3 months older than I. I hope you have a wonderful Birthday week.
Digital Diva S. Jun 5, 2007, 2:56pm EDT
When I turned 60 I decided to celebrate for a full week not just a day and can't imagine why I didn't do it earlier. It's a festive time. Our friends treat me like a queen and there is a long string of parties and informal get togethers. Lunches with the girls, visits by my children, lots of laughs.
Linda R. Jun 5, 2007, 2:57pm EDT
Thanks Marilyn. I always figured that most folks here on gather are consideralbly younger than I am. It's been nice to run into some people who are closer to my age, just because of the shared memories
Digital Diva S. Jun 5, 2007, 3:06pm EDT
Shared memories - that's a fact. Your story rang true with me. We are blessed in so many ways with modern conviences, medicine, and knowldge. Family and friends too. We also remember what it was like to take a breath clean air and not be worried about the ozone.

So, put on your sun screen, wear your straw hat, take your vitimins and antioxidents,if you are outside don't forget the deet and eat well, drink a little and have a blast on your Birthday!
Linda R. Jun 5, 2007, 4:53pm EDT
Hugs to you too, Eileen.
Kathy and her Buckethead H. Jun 5, 2007, 10:19pm EDT
Happy Birthday Linda! Did you watch Oprah- I guess it was today. They had on several famous ladies in their fifties and older. Geena Davis, Nora Ephron, I think it was Diane Sawyer- can't remember any more. They all looked pretty good for their age. A few wrinkles and a girlish figure- neither one is important!

Happy Birthday (a little late)
Linda R. Jun 5, 2007, 10:29pm EDT
Thanks Kathy. Not everyone loses their girlish figure. Just look at Nancy Reagan.
Bonii P. Jun 6, 2007, 12:10am EDT
linda, just had to pop in again to say, again, most happiest birthday ever!
Linda R. Jun 6, 2007, 5:38am EDT
Good morning Bonii. Thank you.
Tab B. Jun 6, 2007, 2:52pm EDT
wonderful contemplations. Yes, even though I am a bit younger, I notice too that the older we get the "younger" those "old" ages seem. But each year alive is counted a blessing!
Nurse Nancy S. Jun 7, 2007, 5:23am EDT
I understand completely. Out of my immediate family(other than my children), there are only my sister and myself. As I grow older, my family seems to be leaving me behind. Yet, I am happy for each day I can spend with my children and grandchildren.

Happy Birthday, Linda!!
Linda R. Jun 7, 2007, 7:15am EDT
Thanks Tab, Thanks Nancy. Each of us has much to be thankful for.
Connie C. Jun 8, 2007, 1:52am EDT
I may be late but at least I am here.
Connie C. Jun 8, 2007, 1:52am EDT
I hope you had a wonderful birthday.
Connie C. Jun 8, 2007, 1:53am EDT
Well It looks like Eileen is late too.
Connie C. Jun 8, 2007, 1:53am EDT
Hi Eileen!
Big Wave ~~~~
Connie C. Jun 8, 2007, 1:54am EDT
I just love the last paragraph of your article. That just says it all
Connie C. Jun 8, 2007, 1:55am EDT
I hope your life is going good now. How is your husband doing??
Connie C. Jun 8, 2007, 1:55am EDT
I think of you and him very often. I can imagaine how hard it is
Connie C. Jun 8, 2007, 1:56am EDT
I really need to go to bed. The Drs have changed my meds and the anxiety pill puts me right to sleep.
Connie C. Jun 8, 2007, 1:56am EDT
Will try to be back tomorrow.
Connie C. Jun 8, 2007, 1:57am EDT
Just wanted to stop by and show my support. Have a wonderful night
Connie C. Jun 8, 2007, 8:41pm EDT
Well I felt like I had let you down...were is everybody????
Connie C. Jun 8, 2007, 8:44pm EDT
Happy Birthday Week to you
Linda R. Jun 8, 2007, 9:09pm EDT
Thank you so much for all your comments Connie. I just haven't been on gather much for the last few days.
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Jun 9, 2007, 3:31am EDT
.
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Linda R. Jun 9, 2007, 7:35am EDT
Thanks Faith. that's a great card
Karolyn Q. Jun 11, 2007, 2:35pm EDT
I hope you had a Happy Birthday! Sorry I am late. Playing catch up.
Linda R. Jun 11, 2007, 2:37pm EDT
Thanks Karolyn. I'm running late on a lot of things too.
Elizabeth S. Feb 21, 2009, 9:36pm EST
I'm reading this my later, but I think this is a wonderful tribute to your birthday.
My grandmother's birthday was June 2. I always thought that was a good time to be born and have birthdays.

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