I am now officially calling myself A Woman of a Certain Age, or Une Femme D'une Certaine Age.
Today is my seventieth birthday! Boy does it look strange to see that written out. Birthdays have never bothered me but for some reason this one is pissing me off! Ridiculous I know.....you mean I'm not immortal?
It's raining and just barely 40 F....which in some ways is even stranger than turning 70....(70?!) Spring seems to have gone into hiding for the time being. Hey it isn't snowing!
Below is a picture of me at about age four or five. I know it was Christmas and I know we were living in Michigan, so I'm pretty sure of my dates.
I remember when my grandmother (paternal) was seventy and how she loved telling everyone she was old. To be fair I think people were more aged then than now, but this was a woman who decided she was too ancient to do anything when she was sixty-five and proceeded to live until she was into her nineties. So basically she wasted a third of her life.
Not for me! There's still too much to do and too much to explore. And lots of pots to make. And I've hardly done any traveling; hopefully I'll be able to do more of that. There are still lots more presents to open!
I remember what Maurice Chevalier said when asked how he felt about turning a certain age. "Pretty good, considering the alternative!"
P.S. I'm looking forward to a week end with Hayne Bayliss, our Earthworks juror.
This post can also be found at Mud Colony; take a look at the many ways of clay.
As always, thanks for stopping by............*s*
...traigo
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ESPERO SEAN DE VUESTRO AGRADO EL POST POETIZADO DE DJANGO, MASTER AND COMMANDER, LEYENDAS DE PASIÓN, BAILANDO CON LOBOS, THE ARTIST, TITANIC…
José
Ramón...
Happy birthday Suzi! What an accomplishment living 70 years with dreams still intact! Keep making pots, go traveling -- there's lots to do still. And I agree our parents and grandparents got old at a very young age.
ReplyDeleteCelebrate!
ps - I'm not far behind you -- May 31 I turn 63! And don't the years become a rapid train ride after 50!
When my mother turned 70 my sister and I made the horrible mistake of ordering her a birthday cake that said "Happy 70th Birthday"... she was a little pissed off about it! She said. "It's one thing to be turning 70, and another to see it in writing on a cake."
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say we never did that again.
Wishing you a very happy birthday, you've got a lot of living left to do, so live large!
dance,sing and laugh.
ReplyDeleteI am behind you by 10 but I know what you mean.
My mother is really pissed about having trouble walking and doing the things she use to love.
And with my family history I have to tell you that reaching 70 is a goal I want to have.
Happiest of birthday and anyone who thinks 70 is old can go Fu*k off.
Happy birthday!! Cannot believe your are seventy. If it makes you feel better my mom remarried when she was 78 and she is 83 now, got a speeding ticket a few weeks ago, haha! Seventy is young now, enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday. I wonder if "smartcat" should now be referred to as "wisecat"!! I loved the Maurice Chevalier quote. A wise old friend of mine used to say "Live 120 years", and he did so as a sincere blessing. Not only was 120 years a fine age, but the "Live" part was also just as important, so much better than "endure" or "exist"!!!
ReplyDeleteSo to you Suzi, Live 120 years!
Kind Thoughts, P xx
Many happy returns, indeed. I've passed the 70 mark just 6 months ago. It's kind of freeing me up, every once in a while I tell myself, hey look what 70 means now! Yep, you are your own message about what it means to you. Obviously we both love making pottery...and you have done so much beautiful work, just think what is still coming!
ReplyDeletehapppppppppy birthday! you and I have almost the same birthday, yaaaaay!
ReplyDeleteDearest Suzi,
ReplyDeleteWow, you keep surprising me BIG time. From your lively and often quite spunky writings and comments I would never have given you 70! So you have proven that you have a very young and feisty spirit. Nothing wrong with going on and aiming for lots more of good years to enjoy.
My next big number will be also the '7' but I'm lacking a bit behind...
You all made me laugh here; quite some spunk gathering on this blog!
Hugs to you and wishing you good health and happy weekend.
Mariette
Happy birthday dear Suzi and really love the quote from Maurice Chevalier.
ReplyDeleteIt is only a number and each year is really special.
Love the sweet photo and wishing you good health and happiness
Hugs
Carolyn
A very happy birthday for yesterday! You have the right attitude to getting older, I think. I'm not quite as old as you, but there's so much I still want to do and traveling is definitely up there! We had a saying when I was a child in Yorkshire : "You're a long time dead!", which basically means make the most of it now. xCathy
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to you! Keep making and exploring your creativity for many more years to come!
ReplyDeleteI like your approach Suzi. Hope you had a great day.
ReplyDelete:)
Hola! Jose Ramon.....Gracias. I wish I Knew more Spanish.
ReplyDeleteHi Judy....I agree. The older we get the faster the years go by!
Hi Michele....I know exactly how your mother felt!
Hi Meredith....We have to keep dancing round the sun!
Hi Tracey....Love it that your mother got a speeding ticket at her age. Way to go!
Hi Peter....I don't know if I'll ever be smart enough to be wisecat! I love the wish for 120 years!
Hi Barbara.....Really 70 is just another number, but I do like being a woman of a certain age!
Hi Gary....Go Aries!
Hi Mariette....What a nice compliment.....that I don't sound 70!
Hi Carolyn....I've always loved that quote! Old photos are great reminders that we were once young and foolish.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine....Love "You're a long time dead!"
Hi JB....We just keep on going or get stuck in the mud!
Hi Barbara....It's been a great many day celebration. One friend said birthdays should continue for a month. I think Gary said it too.
Thank you all for all the many kind thoughts and wishes. I feel like I have friends around the world.
A happy birthday! (sorry a bit late. have been busy and ill at the same time!) It's spirit and mind, which count! : )
ReplyDeleteHi Midori....Birthdays should last more than a day anyway! Hope you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!!! Sorry I have been missing you, I just realized you were not on my bloglovin - fixed that!!!! 70 is young these days, barely middle age anymore and you just keep making beautiful work....like the photo! xox
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a happy birthday and have a happy 70th year!
ReplyDeleteHi Corrine....Thanks for the good wishes and encouraging words.
ReplyDeleteHi Lori....It was a most enjoyable week end!