I posted some of this previously:
On this day in 1967 the mother of my best friend said to me: “Ross! It’s your 10th birthday! You must be so excited!”
I thought a moment before responding. “Well, I’d rather be 40.”
She shrieked a little. “No! No! These are best years of your life! Cherish them!”
Best years? WTF? My childhood was horrible due to verbal, physical, and sexual abuse. I often thought: It has to get better at some point.
And, even at 10, I somehow sensed that Get Better would come after I was 40.
As such, I couldn’t wait to be 20! Then 30! And then the magic day happened in 1997: I turned 40. Squee! And, like magic, my life did get vastly better. The ensuing 26 years proved soooooooo much better than the previous 40.
I was excited to turn 41. Then 42 43 44 45 and 46. Thrilled.
Then 47 arrived. And I freaked out. This was a bridge too far! While 46 seemed perfect, 47 was…old.
With each subsequent year I’ve mourned getting ever older, a feeling assisted by the decline of my ever-aging body.
I look back and deeply, powerfully regret rushing through my youth.
Sigh.
And today I turn…fuck…66. How is this possible?
I began this blog when I was 57, and felt very old at the time. But, oh, 57 now sounds like a spring chicken!
I await the day when Apple announces a new App: You can order a new 20-year-old body, but download your wise old brain into it.
Buon Compleanno, Ross. Und…. Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, mein Mensch!
Wishing you a belated birthday. May you have many more! Seeing one of your posts in my inbox always brings pleasure.
Happy birthday! Let me know when that app is available.
I hope you did something to commemorate the day! You’ve had a crappy year, but this is a new year! Society sees us as old but you are taking an old house you fell in love with, as well as old light fixtures and making them beautiful again! And in my 60’s I get to “work” in the gardens at Botanica, The Wichita Gardens doing what I love! We are living our best lives! I’m anxious to see what beauty you create this year! Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday bday Ross, intending lots of healthy happy days ahead for you!!!!
Happy late birthday! I was always a “I can’t wait for…” person too! Where did the years go! But you have such meaning and purpose in your life and are strong because of your trials. You’ve also built a family with this blog and we love you. Looking forward with you to your progress on you and the house. 🥰
Hear, hear!
LOL – my 67-year-old brain has a hole in it. Literally. But indeed I am quite fond of the journey and what it has become.
So, youngling, happy birthday! And thank you for sharing your journey.
Happy Birthday! I have a strange feeling that this is going to be a great year for you and your plans for the house. Best Wishes.
I agree with Laurie. Every word.
As long as you are doing something that is worthwhile and fulfilling to you then your age is just a number. Five years ago I gave up a 40-year smoking habit and took up woodturning and taught myself to knit. I’m 59 years old and I’m having a ball creating fun and useful items with both my wood lathe and my knitting needles… and I seriously regret not doing this earlier in my life. I feel like I wasted so much time. But when I’m truly honest with myself, I know that I couldn’t have done it earlier. My mind and my body weren’t ready yet. I have limitations now. My aching back lets me know when it’s time to stop working at the lathe and my swollen hands tell me to stop knitting and pick up a book instead. I could accomplish more if I were younger, but c’est la vie! I do what I can, when I can. I hope I have at least another 25-30 years left but if not, so what? I’m enjoying my life NOW… and that is what counts. Happy birthday, Ross. Thank you for being an inspiration to me and, I’m sure, to others.
Happy birthday Ross
Happy late birthday Ross. 57 is like a spring chicken. But 66 ain’t so bad. I too am 66. You are doing what you love, with cats you love. It’s good.
And just remember, old is better than the alternative.
And when you’re doing such interesting and lovely things, how are we defining old?
And if you really need comfort, think of some former clients (pick a client, any client) who you don’t mind not working with anymore.
Myself, I turn 65 this year and I am really, really looking forward to not having to get my health insurance on the self-employed private market. (Dances little jig in anticipation.)
You’re still a youngster! I have the big 7-0 this year!
The way I look at it, you can add those digits numerologically and I’m 7 again!
My condolences, Ross, on the wistful march of time. I felt “old” when I turned 60, perhaps because of all our cultural baggage and how we treat our older members. Take heart, though, whatever we lose in our physical prowess, is more than made up for with our increased wisdom and the fuller stature of the wise adult within. I can say all this, since I am 75. The trick to staying young, I’m convinced, is to keep looking forward to new horizons, engaging with life as fully as possible ( and only allow sitting around to savor a good day well spent! ). That’s my 2 cents ( and with inflation maybe not worth even that much ! ). :>)
Ross, I’m so sorry that your childhood was so crappy… but you are obviously loved and so productive now! You are doing – in your 60s – what my husband and I attempted (and notice I say “attempted”) in our 20s through our 40s, when we were just too young and (cough cough) poor to do as successfully as what you’re achieving with your gorgeous house. I wish we had the guts to take on such a project now in our 60s, with the kids grown and time on our hands… but, no guts – no glory! You are creating such a lasting legacy. 🙂
66? I’m two years older than you but you easily have four times the energy I do. I could never do all of the physical things you’re doing now, even with your health issues.
I feel so old now. I get tired just reading some of your posts.
I never did want to hurry up and get old. For a long time I didn’t want to be younger either. I celebrated my 40th birthday for a month. But when my 50th rolled around I was instantly old. Appendectomy and shingles took up my entire birthday month. Then doctor said I had hypertension and acid reflux and suddenly I was taking a bunch of pills. I have a pill caddy now and added are osteoporosis and cholesterol.
I don’t mind the gray hair and I’m not that wrinkly but I miss the energy I used to have. I used to be able to work 16 hour days. Full day at work and then another 8 hours working on my house. Now I’m hard pressed to get in four hours stretched over the course of the day. I used to be able to plan a project and get done early. Now not only can’t I get it done in the time I expected but I have to break it up and do it over the course of several days.
Thank you for giving me the gift of watching the transformation of the Cross House without having to so much as break a sweat or pant in exhaustion.
Happy Birthday Ross. For my 60th next month, I want 1/2 of your drive, determination and talent. You rock. Cheers to many, many more, with plenty of good reasons to show off to the world just how wonderful you really are.
Happy belated birthday!! Thank you for sharing with your blog family. You are truly an inspiration 🙂
Belated happy, happy birthday my fellow Aquarian. I am a few years older than you and actually, I like it!
The saggy skin, not so much. The flat shoes and pockets, yes! (For me those were a silver lining discovered during the pandemic.)
The freedom to be the nosy old lady in the neighborhood, love it! Age does come with a lot of freedom.
If we can keep our health, we are blessed.
Wishing your every happiness (and a move into Cross House) in the coming year.