Gary,

God really knew what He was doing...the more candles on our birthday cakes, the less hair we have to burn...! LOL, Thanks,   Fran

Ice cream, birthday cakes and lots lof love and laughter for me!  I think 3 candles are enough -- and I love the reminder not to obsess when another year comes around.

Hi Gary, my 50th birthday is September 18th and I have way too much living to do still to even think about "retirement". I have always said I enjoy whatever I happen to be doing at the moment to think about not working. I guess what I am trying to say is, if you enjoy what you are doing, it's not work.

I specialize in senior tranistion home staging. I emphasize with the client that this is just the next phase to their life and to look forward to all the opportunities they wouldn't have had if they were to stay in their existing home.  New friends to make, new ideas to explore, learn new hobbies or sports activities. One of the best I have seen is the introduction of the sports WII in the adult lifestyle communities. I want to join in just to be part of all the fun. :)

Fran: Great line. God ALWAYS knows what He is doing!!

Joan: With age, and too many candles, the fire department has to be on alert.

Michelle: I think the Wii game is great. They have it for realistic golf and bowling too. Sounds like you are doing great working with the transitions of everyone with the staging.

Gary - I don't think a whole lot about age, although I am not yet 40, so that may change in a couple of years.  I figure every day is important, because we don't know how many we have left, no matter what age we are.

Gary - I've been thinking alot about this lately. They say 60 is the new 40. And, so will that make 80 the new 60? ...and so on. I see myself working into my 70's if I can - mostly for the stimulation. This past weekend my brother in-law age 61 was admitted into assited living when it was determined that he will no longer be able to take care of himself. He was found hitch-hiking one night recently at 11pm - said he was going to a meeting at the local church (boy scouts or alter boy practice). Apparently, it was a trip back in time. Very sad. He suffers from a hereditary condition of early dementia (3rd generation to go into a home at an early age - my mother in-law was 54). I will certainly work into my 70's if it means not wasting my mind.   

Birthdays just mean you are one step closer to infamy.......I am always in awe of the maturity of expereince of older folks. They teach me that I really do not know very much at all.

Thanks Gary

Bo

Loved your post -- you're right, age is always a state of mind, and I learn this every day while speaking with my 93  year old client (if you asked me, I'd say he was 70!).

Gary:  Birthdays are happy events.  They celebrate your life.  Another year of experience.  I've never gotten upset about any of them.  Of course, I'm also the person who has decided to stop dying her hair.  And I love the way the gray looks. 

OH how sweet - I love it!  Having recently turned 50 i won't say that age hasn' been on my mind.........but I love the Bucket List - movie........and created my own years ago, that I like to revisit now and again, and add to..........eat cake and icecream....seriously we need to get real and enjoy enjoy and enjoy ...every candle and every piece of birthday cake is a testimony to life!

 gary This is a wonderful post. When my Father turned 70, I aksed him how he felt and his reply was "Now i know what it is like to be middle aged?

And thanks because I am already "addicted to ice cream." Matter of fact it IS my favorite food!

Gary ~ My grandmother used to say that age was just a number when I would moan about a birthday, I have come to the point where I agree.  There are actually times when I have to think for a moment when someone asks my age, and it's not because my age is making me forget, I just forget about my age (hope that makes sense when read).

Gary,

I'm not sure, but I think retirement became popular during the industry revolution as people simply wore out from the life in the factory or workplace. I'm not a fan of the concept.

Steve

Just imagine how different life would be if we actually stopped taking the details for granted.

Comparing their prices to a funeral home...I just cannot get over that one!! GBU!

Gary...if I could get my mind and body together on an age, i think I would operate better.  My mind says, 25, my body says...I am out of my mind!!

Gary - Good outlook.  I'm probably one of the younger folks here and I hope to have a similiar outlook as I grow in age.  Carpe Diem!

Gary, I don't mind having birthdays!  I love my birthday!  I would like to live forever, but in a younger body!!  Now pass the cake and ice cream!  Thanks for making the day special.  xoxo

Great post, great reminder to keep positive! I just celebrated one and it was very enjoyable. That is an adorable picture by the way.

Hi Gary, a good message for those of us who do in fact think too much about those accumulated Birthdays. But I wish they could just slow down a bit. They just come too often. And some of the presents that come with those birthdays, just plain suck, lol. Regretfully, most of these presents we just have to live with and there is a strict NO RETURN on them,:-)

Gary...

All that I can say for certain is that I had a huge cup of  ice cream at lunch, so I'm good!

Gary - I completely agree with you that age is a state of mind. I am turning another year older soon and it causes me to reflect, but then I think, I feel great, and feel grateful for many things in my life.

Good post, Gary!  Enjoy life.  Laugh often.  Love much. 

Hi Gary, I plan to keep running marathons until I stop breathing. Ice cream is an after run treat!

Hey Gary - retire? What's that?  If you love what you do it's not work! As far as age, who cares?  My 85 year old mother just had knee surgery she needed from jogging in sand and she's still clear as a bell.  Stay current on trends, music, eat at least one new food a week, stay fresh, be interested and interesting!  Like You Gary!! 

Geezerhood?  LMAO. My husband is retiring and I switched careers...going into Real Estate...he can get old but I will stay young...can't think of retiring.

What would I do all day? Hang around old people to make me feel older....NEVER.

Gary,  I had to laugh while reading this, I used to DREAD birthdays!   I don't anymore (thank goodness!), now I just have FUN--maybe it's a benefit of age :)  I am addicted to chocolate so chocolate cakes are one of my favorites.

happy, happy bEARTHdays... every day is one...and once a year is an everyONE celebration...;-) with lots and lots of chocolate...

Jason Crouch: EXCELLENT perspective on living in the present. I know you had the event with your close friend so you know that lesson well.

Hi Carol: Sorry to hear about your brother-in-law and the dementia at such a young age. If we have our health we have much. Glad you won't be on the porch with the rocking chair anytime soon :)

Bo: I too think many of our oldest in society have great wisdom.

Li: 93, acting like a 70 yr old, that is very good.

Chris Ann: Gray can be very distinguished (and honest) on many. Birthdays are indeed a celebration of life.

Liz: I knew you would be into celebration. Cause you love life so much!!

Russell: Addicted to ice cream is the only way to go through life.

Kathy: Great attitude you have that it really is just a number.

Steve: I don't believe in retirement either because you have to keep doing something.

Hi Elizabeth: That funeral home competition advertising surprised me but I guess if many very older residents are pre-planning it is good information. I thought it was morbid on a billboard though.

William: That old mind - body disconnect thing. The bones and muscles say are you crazy for getting out here and running? Start slow and someday they both will be in synch.

Jason Sardi: Carpe Diem every day my man. Great attitude to have.

Hi Susan: Your body is great Susan. The body of a 25 yr old. Must be all that Latin dance and moderate wine. You're the special one who should have a special day every day.

Ilyce: Oh, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you Ilyce!!!

William: Maybe you can re-gift those presents you don't want to someone else on their birthday LOL.

Richard: Ice cream at lunch, you are doing quite well.

Sharon: Happy soon to be birthday to you Sharon!!

Kristina: Do those three and you're all set.

Craig: That's super you can do the marathons. I'm trying to get up to the half marathon level myself.

Alyce: You have a tremendous attitude. It's great your 85 yr old Mom is doing so well.

Nancy: I love your youthful zest for life. Keep that with you always.

Hey Carole: Pass the chocolate cake. Birthdays you are right, SHOULD be fun.

Hi Mara: I'm glad you know them as celebrations too. Chocolate is GOOD!!!

Right you are!  Age is just a number. Youthfulness is a state of being. Stay Youthful.

I knew Ice Cream was good for me!!! 

I've always loved birthdays! 

Richard-You are so right... You do need to live everyday to its fullest, because you never know what tomorrow will bring. Very uplifting and positive blog. Thanks for sharing it with us and reminding us what is important all around us.

Hey Gary,

Pass the ice cream and chocolate cake!  Then give me a big stick so I can stir the pot, life is to short to have a frown.

Thanks Gary for the refreshing perspective. Retirement does have some bad connotations, but then again it is all about attitude.

Gary - just turned 61, don't yet consider myself a geezer, ok, maybe sometimes a curmudgeon, but that is really age agnostic;^)

I think life only gets better the older you get and you become more established.  Age is only a number and should not define someone. 

Nice, Gary... 

So what that you've made another trip around the sun with your body.

Now that, is just plain right out funny.  Is that why I look like I've been run over by a freight train?   I think I'm fast approaching geezerhood but who the heck cares?  At a certain age you can get away with just about anything. haha

Gary, You are right. Age is just a state of mind.  I feel like I am in my 20's but my body feels like it is seventy.  So I guess my age is right.. in a few months I'll be turning a YOUNG 50, and I'm looking forward to it.

I like turning the next 10 stage.  Everyone looks at me and says why can't you wait to turn 50.. because, I say I'm 49,(9) I'm at the END of that decade..  I get to start all over again at 0 and work my way back up again.. .it is like being born all over,

I know this sounds strange, and I'm not sure how it reads, but when I verbally tell people they understand.

Awesome Gary! I know you can do it and I'll be happy to help.

Gary-I'm very happy to still be here to have birthdays. I'm a 5 yr breast cancer survivor and while it slowed me down for a while, it didn't keep me down and I'm loving and living life to the fullest. So bring on more birthdays and of course lots of cake and ice cream doesn't hurt either.  As always you have the most wonderful blogs. You have a gift. Thank you for sharing it with all of us on AR.

My husband and I just brought over a cake for our friend's birthday tonight.  It was very much appreciated since it was a Dairy Queen Mint Blizzard... Only the best...

Birthdays are great!  More cake, more ice cream (gotta love that Bluebell), and PRESENTS!!  That's right, I love to get presents... big or small, expensive or not.  (It's the thought that counts...)  It's fun when friends and family celebrate YOU on your birthday.  I'm over 50 and still look forward to my birthdays.  As they say, age is just a number and you're as young as you feel! 

With the ability to live healthily into the 90's these days with the right combination of diet, exercise and healthy living, 55 doesn't seem so old so the 55+ 'retirement' communities are rightfully being called 'active adult' communities in our area.  Like your term of 'transitional' too.

Gary- I have ice cream almost every night after diner- I may be apckig a few extra pounds, but I just love my ice cream!  I am now 3 years older than my mother ever lived to- which definiely puts life into perspective!!