Happy Birthday to Me

Today is the 75th anniversary of my birth. I think that sounds better than saying "I'm 75 years old." Most of the time, I don’t feel my age, and my friends and family say that I definitely don’t act my age. I am greatly enjoying my second childhood, and am thankful to the Good Lord for allowing me to live and enjoy more than my alloted fourscore years and ten.

(Edit [since I am more awake]: as was pointed out in the comments by my blogger friend, rhymeswithplague, I should have said threescore years and ten. )

I don't put a lot of emphasis on birthdays, gifts and/or hoop-la after one reaches, say, 10 or 12 years old. I had a birthday party when I was 10 (during which I dropped my cake, upside down, on the floor) and didn't have another party until I was 50. That occasion was just a gathering for family and very close friends, but I did receive a beautiful floral bouquet and a Julio Iglesias record album (I had a crush on Julio at the time.) My children surprised me with a large, formal party when I reached the ripe old age of 65 (a good half of my church congregation attended) but the intervening years have been party-less, thank you very much.

For the past 10 years or so, my children have pestered me about birthday gifts. "What do you want? Would you like an XXX? Blah, blah, blah." One year, I wouldn't allow them gift me with a new lawnmower (too expensive, I said) and so they gave me a plastic pink flamingo, which has been the subject of many jests (to those who may enjoy having them as part of your yard décor, way to go! They are “not my thing.”) That event taught me a lesson. Since then, when asked, I usually mention that I'd like to have a specific thing to eat or drink, or some trinket -- just so it's something I don't have to dust.

However, at my family birthday supper the year I turned 73, I told them that I had decided what I wanted for my 75th birthday, should I live that long, and they could start making plans to make it happen. And, sure 'nough, they did!

Some time within the next few weeks, Good Lord willing, I will be experiencing my first, and probably only, HOT AIR BALLOON ride!

(image, Wikipedia)

The event was originally scheduled for this morning, with lift-off at sunrise, which would have been lovely, as it is officially my birthday. I’ve been up-and-at’em since about 3:15, awakening before the alarm went off. At 4:30, I was dressed, had fixed my second cup of coffee and was just ready to “fix my face” when I got a call telling me that, due to an atmospheric disturbance in the area, this morning's flight has been scrubbed, and will be scheduled at a later date. I’d been checking the local weather radar on my computer every few minutes since I awakened and was anticipating the call, so I was not surprised, and not overly disappointed. Better safe than blown into kingdom come! I have something to look forward to: an extended birthday celebration.

This afternoon, we will have a family gathering to celebrate the day with homemade-from-scratch German’s Sweet Chocolate cake with the traditional gooey, caramelly, coconut frosting. Elder daughter, at whose home this will take place, is an awesome cake maker!

In the meantime, I think I'll go back to bed, or at least take off my shoes and lean back in the recliner. At my now "advanced" age, I need all the beauty sleep I can get. Then, when it's daylight, and if the atmospheric disturbance doesn't cause it to rain here, I'll do some more yardening.

It's Labor Day weekend; y'all be careful out there!