I'm Fifty Today...How did I get here so fast?

[divineorder]

Yes, I'm the big 50 today. Got my AARP card two weeks ago.

I thought I would be more distressed at this age, no kids and hubby and all, but I feel surprisingly content and optimistic. You never heard about that when you were a kid feeling this way at this time of your life. Instead all you ever heard about was angst and growing into a cranky conservative. Instead, I'm pretty liberal, like rap and current pop music, don't care if kids are on my lawn (I don't have a lawn-and my condo caretaker handles that anyway).

So what's the deal?

[lizziegrace]

1. Happy Birthday!!

I'm not too far behind you, so if you figure out how we got here so fast, let me know. (


Hope you have a wonderful birthday!

:party:

[divineorder]

2. Thanks, lizziegrace.

I even enjoy my birthdays-was under the impression that that would end too. My mother promised me $50-next month (She's 86). If you had told me she would be still around and in fairly good health by now, I wouldn't have believed it.

As for something to do, there's this wonderful place that serves gourmet dinners. But I have only a modest sum, and no transportation. Well, maybe I'll just buy a birthday cake from the local bakery instead....

[lizziegrace]

3. I'd splurge on dessert

but that's me. :)

Welcome to DU! :hi:

You're in Cincinnati. I lived there through elementary school. It was a good place to grow up.

[divineorder]

12. Cinci's Too Conservative For My Opinions

But I think it's loosening up a little. The Hispanic immigation along with more open ethnic identity, gives me some hope. But the cost of living is fairly reasonable, I have a somewhat steady job, and the crime rate, while getting much worse, is not unbearable yet.

Of course I'm a lifelong Cincinnatian. I think the cure for Cincinnati would sometimes be an influx of New Yorkers or San Franciscans-like in hordes and hordes, enough to overwhelm that German strain of conservatism.

[lizziegrace]

15. It *is* pretty red down there

Fortunately in elementary school, I was blissfully ignorant of the political situation.

Hopefully, things will continue to loosen up there. :)

[bridgit]

4. happy b-day, divineorder...

:hi: :party: :bounce:

[divineorder]

6. Thanks, Everyone.

When I and it warms up a little, I'm going to the neighborhood bakery for a slice of their wedding cake, maybe even a hot meal and coffee. (I'ts too damnned cold to be October, dammmit!) 33 Here, and I hate it, even though it's better than Buffalo and their snow. I mean, I should'nt already have the heat on this time of year...grumble..grumble...

May stay in today, and go to the Fountain Square dedication tomorrow. Make it a Birthday Weekend, since I don't have to go to work Monday.

[zanne]

5. I know what you mean, divineorder.

When I was a kid, I thought 50 was practically dead and I dreaded the thought of getting that old. I guess it's our youth-loving society, but young people really do get the wrong idea about growing older. I'm so surprised that I like being 54! I don't have all the angst I had when I was younger and instead of becoming closed-minded, I find that I try to understand people more. Whoda thunk it?

[divineorder]

9. That's Something to Think About

Maybe it really was that way pre-boomer, that people felt that angst. But I grew up hearing "age is but another number". But wasn't the image of growing older pretty dorky? I mean, polyester pants and playing golf all day, and listening to boring music? I'll admit to a little nostalgia: I buy and collect all of the stuff I head when I was a kid, and have a taste for some jazz and classical as well. But I don't hate and fear contemporary pop, contemporary styles, or anything like that. I just can't wear fashions designed for a size zero anorexic with the belly out anymore.

Maybe meds help. I take a few without really thinking about it these days, but still no angst. Just, ok, I have to take this stuff, so be it. But it's just that.

And being single at 50? Where is that frustrated old maid business? I still look years younger, and I want somebody, but I have a few things I also want as well, and am very much into nesting now as well. But I don't judge people on their sexual expression or anything either.

[Phillycat]

7. Happy birthday!

:bounce:

[Mutley]

8. Happy birthday!

:party:

[BarenakedLady]

10. Happy Birthday!

Hope you have a great day. :party:

[regularguy]

11. "Hey you kids, stay on my lawn!"

Good for you and happy bday. I still can't believe that I'm already in my *extremely* late 30s (44).

[livetohike]

13. Happy Birthday divineorder!

:toast: :party: :toast: :party: :toast: :party: :toast: :party:

And many, many more!

I turned 54 this year and I feel physically, emotionally, and mentally better than ever.

[AirmensMom]

14. Happy birthday, divineorder!

:bounce: :party: :toast:

I beat you by a few weeks. I'm nothing like my parents were at 50. And I've been carded twice since my birthday! (My husband was with me and he didn't get carded ... teehee!) They say 50 is the new 40.

Have a wonderful day! And welcome to the half-century club! :bounce: :woohoo: :grouphug: :yourock:

[raccoon]

16. Happy birthday! Personally, I think I'm happier middle-aged

than I was when I was younger (I'm mid-50's). As another poster has said, I'm more accepting of other people.

Also I appreciate little things a lot more.

Only trouble is, time goes so much faster the older we get. Seems to me about age 50, time goes into warp speed. :-)

[MorningGlow]

17. Happy happy!!

I turned 40 this year, and while I was shocked at the number, I ultimately thought..."Meh." I still feel like a kid (and I get carded fairly often which is quite amusing). I remember as a kid calculating how old I'd be at the turn of the millennium: 36?!?!?! That's ANCIENT!

:rofl:

Hey, looks like it's time for one of my favorite poems! Happy birthday, DivineOrder! May it be a great one!

Rowing
by Anne Sexton

A story, a story!
(Let it go. Let it come.)
I was stamped out like a Plymouth fender
into this world.
First came the crib
with its glacial bars.
Then dolls
and the devotion to their plactic mouths.
Then there was school,
the little straight rows of chairs,
blotting my name over and over,
but undersea all the time,
a stranger whose elbows wouldn't work.
Then there was life
with its cruel houses
and people who seldom touched-
though touch is all-
but I grew,
like a pig in a trenchcoat I grew,
and then there were many strange apparitions,
the nagging rain, the sun turning into poison
and all of that, saws working through my heart,
but I grew, I grew,
and God was there like an island I had not rowed to,
still ignorant of Him, my arms and my legs worked,
and I grew, I grew,
I wore rubies and bought tomatoes
and now, in my middle age,
about nineteen in the head I'd say,
I am rowing, I am rowing
though the oarlocks stick and are rusty
and the sea blinks and rolls
like a worried eyebal,
but I am rowing, I am rowing,
though the wind pushes me back
and I know that that island will not be perfect,
it will have the flaws of life,
the absurdities of the dinner table,
but there will be a door
and I will open it
and I will get rid of the rat inside me,
the gnawing pestilential rat.
God will take it with his two hands
and embrace it.

As the African says:
This is my tale which I have told,
if it be sweet, if it be not sweet,
take somewhere else and let some return to me.
This story ends with me still rowing.

[divineorder]

25. I Did the Same Thing

44 at the end of the Century? Wow! Of course, I thought we would be a lot further ahead socially and technologically than we actually got. (No thanks to Ronnie) I don't drink or smoke, so I havent had to be carded, but when I told my boss why I was taking today off (before I found out I was laid off), she wouldn't believe I was going to be fifty. And I have a former boss four years younger than me, which is an unusual experience to have.

[MorningGlow]

26. It's good to look young! And better to feel young.

Just like you, folks here at work think I'm at least five years younger than I actually am. Works well when impressing and surprising people (like I have any say in the good genes from my mom's side of the family--my grandparents died at 96 and 94 and never looked a day over 80--AND had all their faculties right up to the end), but it doesn't work so well when the new boss doesn't know you, hasn't had time to look at your resume, and assumes you're far less experienced than you really are, based on how young you look. (I finally TOLD him I was 40 and I've been a professional writer for more than a dozen years. I wonder if it's sunk in yet.)

I find it hard to take the 24-year-olds dressed in power suits seriously around here. I must make an extra effort.

[divineorder]

30. Yes, So Earnest and Sincere

Older bosses are a bit more mellow, or bitter..depends on who you get. At least pretend to take hte 25-year old MBAs at least superficially sincerely. Even if you know way more than they do.

[miss_american_pie]

18. Happy Birthday!

:party:

[Haole Girl]

19. Happy 50th Birthday!!

:party:

I'm so happy you're content and optimistic!
You're as young as you feel!!
(and that would make me about 90 years old this morning..ha-ha)

[divineorder]

20. KC, Is it the Weather?

October snow sucks.

[Haole Girl]

21. No...I just got really stiff and sore working on my fence

...it was last Sat., though, so I was surprised my one hand was still stiff this morning.

I'm just out of shape..that's all. I need to get off the computer and get moving is what I need to do!

Oh, and, I probably notice it more since I weaned myself off anti-inflammatory meds so I wouldn't get ulcers. :-(

[divineorder]

22. KC, Fence Work Would Get Anyone Sore.

And of course, being outside doesn't help either. Good luck with your hand and probably your back too.

[edbermac]

23. I just got whacked with that last April...

Damn!! :grr:

Anyway...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

[divineorder]

24. Testing a Birthday Sig

A Little Bubbly

A Chinese Symbol for Luck


Happy Birthday to Me...



A Picture of Snow When and Where It Should b

http://d21c.com/aquariusmoon/endofworld.mid

[graywarrior]

27. Happy Birthday!

I will be having an "Attempting a Happy Birthday" in Nov.
57.
Jesus.

[divineorder]

28. Graywarrior I read about your move

Fickle, isn't he? But Happy (At Least Give It A Try) Early Birthday.

[graywarrior]

37. Thanks. I am also fickle, if you've read any of my Lukas posts.

I need a drastic change in my life.......

[tigereye]

29. so there's no reason to have a fear of 50!

sounds good to me, since I'm about 2 years behind you.

Happy Birthday!

All that stuff about growing older being a bad deal is a bunch of crap, IMO.

[divineorder]

31. Not at all

I've had a good year so far. I bought my condo, first computer, had a new floor put in, and two pay raises. I still have my kitty and job. Some regrets, but don't we have them all, I suppose. Am going back for my Bachelor's this year-for academic completion if nothing else. One advantage of this is being able to draw on the stuff I've learned about well just about everything to handle issues-I've either seen or heard about it before.

[bikebloke]

32. Happy Birthday

Did you know after 50, you can start counting backwards. This year, I turned 49 again.

[divineorder]

36. So I can be 49 next year

Great news, and then48...47..46. It's like the reset button on the Life Computer.

[greatauntoftriplets]

33. 50 is the new 40!!!

At least I have read that and keep reminding myself of it. Happy birthday.

[Arugula Latte]

34. Happy Birthday!

:toast: :party: :woohoo:

BTW, you an MiniMandaRuth share a birthday (it's just 35 years apart) ...

[redqueen]

35. Happy Brithday!

You're young at heart, that's the deal... be proud. :)

[cwydro]

38. Happy Birthday!

and I'm right behind you...:bounce: . I do know what you mean...I am actually happier than I've been at much younger ages...

[divineorder]

39. Well, I didn't do all that much.

I bought and cooked a steak, and key lime pie. Didn't do much housework, and I hate the results of that. But tomorrow's another day.

Thanks once again for all of the good wishes. I'll think of something better to do for Birthday Weekend!

[texanwitch]

40. A very Happy Birthday.

Welcome to the 50's club, it is great.:party: :toast: :bounce:

[mad-mommy]

41. 50 is the new 35....

happy birthday!