Day 5 - Boston: It's my Birthday!

It’s my birthday!! Wahoo!! I’m 60, can you believe it! I don’t feel 60. I don’t act 60. And except for a few grey hairs and some bonus pounds, I don’t look 60. Nevertheless, the Big Six OHHH! It has been a great ride and I have been fortunate to have had many memorable birthdays. Here are some of my fondest memories:

Day 3 – Coming home from the hospital in the floorboard of a convertible MGA with my mom and dad, and my brother sitting on the arm rest. Not that I remember this, but I am sure it is where my love for convertibles started.

6 – With the family at Astroworld where all of the women wanted to touch my blond hair. And, I saw my first “Angel.” I was quickly corrected that the proper term was “Nun.” Then, later that evening at the restaurant, I was offered Angel Food cake. I promptly corrected the waiter and said, ‘No, it is Nun Food cake.” My propensity to correct people started at an early age.

8 – My first bicycle and then, apparently, I joined a street gang.

10 – The ice cream cake that traveled from Somerset to Cincinnati in the trunk of the car. There are no pictures, as the cake did not weather the trip very well.

16 – In Switzerland with my Girl Scout Troop celebrating with my birthday sister Kim. The waiter didn’t speak English. He just kept saying “Hoppy Hoppy!”

High school years – Celebrating with Roni, Cindy, and Lori. One memorable birthday was when we were “old enough” to drive to Russel Springs by ourselves. Roni and I had so much fun being "grown" that we didn’t realize that somewhere on the way home, we lost the muffler from the car. We knew it got louder, so we just turned up the radio.

College years – Celebrating with Mary and Andy. Some of them are not so “REmemorable” but according to pictures, I had a LOT of fun.

Late 20s and Early 30s – Celebrating with birthday twin Sonya (I am one year older) and Leslie in Port Aransas, San Antonio, Hawaii, Disney, New Orleans, Greece, Spain, Mexico, Germany, etc. Let’s just say Summer Birthdays are highly recommended.

45 – Not my favorite. Maggie planned a wonderful surprise party and invited everyone in my rolodex (Rolodex!! How old am I!?!) Everybody came – so many people from so many scenes – by the end of the evening, I was looking for my second-grade teacher to walk through the door. It was great, but why was it not my favorite? Because of the little-known social rule that you don’t throw a surprise party for an Introvert!! After a minor panic attack, I pulled on my big girl panties and had a great time. However, there are no pictures as I wanted to forget that birthday until I was able to process it a few months later.

50 – Celebrating in Italy and Greece with Maggie on my very first cruise.

55 – Celebrating in Alaska with Maggie and my birthday brothers Jason and Reed, and many dear friends.

And now 60 – Looking forward to the Odyssey that Maggie has meticulously planned and celebrating again with my birthday brothers Jason and Reed and friends in Iceland/Greenland, and the Thompson Cousins in Ireland.

Here’s to 60 more!!