Thoughts about another birthday

Yup. Today is the day! Rather than another year down, or past, I see it as one year closer to the ‘next big thing’. You see, my life has sorta been one of unforeseen adventures - although I wasn’t always able to recognize them as such at the time.

Looking back, however, they’ve been really swell, and I know there’s more to come.

Yes, that’s me. Coral Gables, Florida. October 1953. I still have that satin quilt. When I’m feeling old, I get it out and roll around on it. Not really, but perhaps I should.

I don’t know about you, but birthdays are usually a mixed bag of emotions as we get further past 50. On one hand, I’m damn grateful to still be here. Things could’ve gone differently with the cancer, and they still may. You start thinking about the whole ‘mortality’ business, and it can be a little jarring at times.

You can wonder about the future. Watching my 93-year-old Mom struggle with age, you catch yourself thinking that old age ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.

But as much as I grouse about things, I am an optimist deep down inside. That optimism is a little deeper and harder to reach right now. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had more than enough of this horrendous campaign season.

But out riding my bicycle this morning, with a crisp, clear blue Nevada sky, the mountains dusted with a bit of snow - a promise of beautiful ski days to come - you can’t help but be inspired and renewed. It helps to know that whatever the outcome of this election, the sun will come up again, and the birds will chirp.

The other thing that I know, is that a lot of neat people thought of me kindly today. Wow. How cool is that? Facebook friends are actually friends - Thanks, Bob, Tabor, Thom, Sharlet, Lori, Greg, Judy, Casey, Charles, Susan, Peg and Simon (Long time no hear from you, Buddy) … I hope I didn’t forget anybody.

I also got a rousing chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ over the phone from my kids in the Bay Area, and best wishes in Voice Mail from Shelly and Suggi, also my cycling buddy, Dick. My sister-in-law checked in from her winter home in Florida yesterday to wish me a happy one.

Why not embrace the technology that gives so many smiles?

Mr. Maven asked me what I wanted for this birthday, and I just don’t need any more stuff really. Experiences are what I crave these days, so I went for some cooking classes at Jennifer Bushman’s Nothing To It culinary school, deli and retail establishment. I’d thought about doing this before but could never find a ‘Round To-it’ that got me into Nothing To It. LOL.

Last night was Moroccan. Oooooooh. It was very good indeed. There were two groups there. The one which I expected: ladies looking for a reason to get out of the house.  A few too many strands of pearls wound a bit too tightly. Somehow, I fell right into the other group, the right group - the real foodies. The ones that were there to get their hands all messy and have their notions challenged.

I highly recommend it.

But this is what makes life a grand adventure. Throwing yourself out there and seeing what happens.

Finally, tonight didn’t exactly go as planned. Mr. Maven wanted to take me out for a kind of romantic supper at a swank place. I had cousins show up from Little Rock, Arkansas for the day.

It turned out to be a reservation for five at a local upscale Asian place. It was fun watching my cousins, Dean and Virginia, try and get their heads wrapped around the idea of sushi - they’d never had it or Japanese food before. This was probably the first and last time, but they were troopers about it. They’d had a big lunch at Burger King with my mother. That’s her favorite place, too.

Sigh. We had a nice evening anyhow, ended it early dropping Mom back at ‘the home’, then we came home and watched a movie.

I count that as a successful birthday by any measure.

What would I still ask for, if I had some wishes left?

Just one thing.

A resounding, fist pumping victory for each and Democrat/Liberal/Progressive around the country - especially Harry Reid. Obama’s election was only the first skirmish in a protracted battle for our democracy. We need to rally once again.

I hope I’m not over-reaching.

-maven