Wednesday, May 29, 2013

May 50

As I mentioned the other day, there were two 50th birthdays this month. My friend Mark also hit the milestone in May. 

Always like a brother to me, Mark tried to talk me out of every unhealthy relationship I ever got myself in to. I never listened. 

Mark doesn't seem too phased by the birthday. He says 50 is just a number.  To celebrate, there was a small dinner party, and some cocktails. Attendees included other 50s, who joked around about the big birthday, but seem to agree with Mark, you're as young as you feel.  

Monday, May 27, 2013

Why Do You Have A Flower On Your Toe?

The other day I noticed how incredibly cute a friend of mine looked. She was smiling, and she had cute sandals, an ankle bracelet, a toe ring, and a fresh pedicure. Bright red polish. And one big toenail was painted with a cute white flower. I commented on how nice she looked, and how I loved the flower. Her response shocked me a little. She said her sister took one look at her toes and said "Why did you get that flower?".

I don't really know why that bothered me, but it did. A lot.

The older I get, the more I do not want to wear beige. I do not want to blend in with the rest of the old people and their neutral, invisible, practical clothes and shoes. I say get a flower painted on your damn toe! Get a tattoo! Be alive! Let the world know who you are. Celebrate life!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Friends

Someone made the comment to me today that friends are never really your friends, and the only people you can really ever count on are your family.

To that I say, I am really, really blessed, because I have a circle of strong women and men that have supported me through thick and thin. Through good times and bad. Through heart aches and heart breaks, the loss of my mother, and even financial woes. I've cried to them, they sometimes cry to me.

I'm very happy that I can trust my friends. And I'm so blessed to have them.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

May 50

Aside from a sweet local newscaster, there wasn't a noteworthy 50th birthday in April. Not in my circle of friends, anyway. But to make up for it, there are two in May.

The first occurs mid month, when my friend Old Beth celebrates her milestone birthday.

For the record, I don't call her Old Beth because she's old. I call her that because I have two good friends named Beth, and one day, years ago, when I mentioned "Beth" was coming for a visit, my son said "Which Beth?" I realized I didn't think my kids actually knew the last name of either of them, so I had to think of some way to distinguish them. At the time they'd only met my work friend Beth on a couple of occasions, but had known the other one their entire lives, so I said "OLD Beth". It stuck.

I first met Old Beth in the 4th grade but we didn't get tight until middle school. She still looks like a kid. She's cute, small, and feisty.

I haven't talked to her a lot about her feelings on turning 50. After surviving a horrific car crash in the early 80's, I would say she's just glad to be alive.

I know she's not where she thought she would be in life right now. A lot of us aren't. But she's beautiful, she's funny, and she is so very blessed.

I hope and pray she will see that and will make the most of what life has to offer. I feel like there's a lot more to come for Old Beth!!

Monday, May 6, 2013

This Week

Life is always changing, isn't it?

For so many of my friends, life is happening--ready or not.

New, exciting romance.
Heartbreak.
Aging parents.
Care giving.
Death.
Worry.
Fear.
Injustices.
Cancer.
Victories.
Things that come too late.
Bittersweet.
Love.
Hope.
Happiness.
Well wishes.
Trust.....Faith.