Three-Quarters Of A Century! Yikes!

AH, THE JOYS OF AGING...
Another year... this time a significant milestone.  So, instead of trying to flood you with verbiage about the joys of aging - it ain't fun, particularly when your body begins to tell you that you're not young any longer - I thought I'd just give you a photo array that pretty much covers big chunks of the three-quarters of a century of life that I mark today.  Enjoy...

So, we celebrated my 75th birthday last night with a couple dozen family members and friends... a perfect way to mark the day.   The group included some of our oldest friends, several neighbors and siblings and their kids - and grandkids.  It was wonderful.  I'm a very lucky man, who has been married to the perfect woman for forty-nine years and feels the love of supportive family members and friends every single day.  I'm lucky to have had a career that provided us with a comfortable life and, for the last dozen years, an avocation that adds value to our community.

At my age, when my peers and I are reminded of our mortality by the aches, pains and health scares some of us experience too frequently, life tends to take on a greater sense of urgency.  We know that we're much closer to the end than the beginning.  So, let us encourage you to not waste a single minute.  If you have a goal, get focused and work toward accomplishing it.  If you want to climb a mountain, strap on those boots and get going.  If you want to try a new career, go for it!  If you want to run for office and change the world, DO IT!  And, by all means, eat plenty of chocolate cake on the journey...

Uh, Oh! Another One! Yikes!

OMG!  NOT AGAIN!
By the time you read this I will be fully immersed in the process of celebrating yet another birthday, having every bit as much fun as the guy in that picture!

'TAINT EASY
Yep, we managed to make it one more year, although they don't seem to be getting any easier.  I mean, the process alone of celebrating is a pain in the fanny!  First my sweet and very patient wife must get the fire permit for all those candles - no easy feat in these times of extreme drought.

WHEW!
And then there's the whole deal about blowing them out, for goodness sake!  I mean, just how many huffs and puffs do you think this old guy has left in him?  And there's the very real possibility of torched eyebrows!

AND IT TAKES LONGER!
And, because of the number of candles on the cake - representing way, way too many years - the whole celebrating thing takes a lot longer.  Like so many things in life at this age, what once was a sprint is more like a stroll.

ONE.... MORE... TIME!
So, Happy Birthday To Me... one more time.  I plan to fully enjoy myself this entire weekend, allowing my sweet and very patient (I think I said that before) wife pamper the heck out of me!  It's only right, right?

JOIN THE BOYS...
Now, in honor of my advancing geezerness, please help us celebrate by joining these young fellas in singing to me...

Happy Birthday To Me - Again, And More!

YIKES!  ANOTHER ONE!
Every birthday is special, but when there are so darn many candles on the cake it's really special!  I mean, you know you're getting up there when you have to get a special permit from the Fire Department to light off your cake, for goodness sake!  Well, my sweet and very loving wife and I are far away this year, celebrating my birthday - as we did our anniversary last week - at an exotic location.  Tomorrow night I will look forward to slightly singed eyebrows and contributing significantly to the pollution of this planet with the smoke from the cake.

*****

AND HERE'S A WAY TO CELEBRATE!
After you've finished wishing me well on this milestone of advancing geezerdom, I have a suggestion for you.  How about joining those stalwarts from Costa Mesans For Responsible Government (CM4RG) at the General Plan Workshop they are conducting tomorrow night, Thursday, August 14th at the Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Avenue ( Lions Park) beginning at 6:30?  If you are concerned about Traffic, High Density Development and  other elements of the Plan, spend a couple hours getting answers.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME....
Now join me as I enjoy this very special birthday song to me - and all of us who celebrate today!  I love this version...