So last Friday (July 15) was the big 5-0 for me, and this year is the big 1-0-0 for our National Parks here in the US, so where else would you expect me to be on that day? Well, you might say I could have been in Maine with dh and the teenager at Acadia National Park, preferably on Machias Seal Island photographing the puffins. But alas, the unexpected 2 weeks in NC with the grandbabies meant that I had to stay home and catch up on a lot of work. Dh and the teenager, along with a friend of his, still went, which was the right thing to do, but oh how envious I was!!! Never fear, tho. Dh says he'll take me next summer, and I'll still get my chance to go photograph the puffins. The good news, I suppose, is that I did not spend my 50th birthday seasick, which will most definitely be the case when I DO get to take that cruise to the island!
So I spent the evening at Chincoteague. This huge flock of egrets, snowy ibis and glossy ibis were out feeding along with about 7 white-tailed deer. It was quite the sight, not one I've seen before, and drew quite a crowd. And then something spooked them. Don't know what it was, but this shot came from that spook. They were entirely too far out to get any kind of clear shot. In fact, they were so far out that people were asking those of us with long lenses if those were deer or horses out there with the birds. But, clear or not, I had to post the shot with all those yellow beaks and feet!
My thoughts on turning 50? If you've read some of my older posts, you're familiar with the story of my mother passing away when I was 11. (My adopted mother, that is.) She was only 37 or 38, can't remember. I always said that if I outlived her, I wouldn't begrudge the aging process. Sometimes when I look down and actually SEE the aging process happening, I have to remind myself, "Not gonna begrudge, not gonna begrudge." Haha! It certainly keeps things in perspective, that's for sure. I remember when I finally became older than she was when she died. A very strange feeling indeed. I still felt like I was young, which made no sense at all because I always thought she was old. Is that how we all look at our parents? But beyond that, it felt like life was now a very special gift, one that she had not been blessed to receive, so how blessed was I??? Turning 20 and turning 30 were tough. Both birthdays I lamented that I had not done enough, that my life was not going as I thought it should. But turning 40 and turning 50 have not been that way at all. And at 50, I still feel blessed to be alive. No black birthday party for me with all the tombstones and over the hill theme! I'm blessed to be alive! It does make me wonder if the difference in those milestone birthdays is due to the fact that I'm older than she was. I don't know, but I'm definitely grateful that I'm no longer plagued by those thoughts!
So Happy Birthday everyone, and let's live it up!!!
happy birthday! I love the black and white mix of birds; that's what jumps out about the picture. Can't run down to Chincoteague as tomorrow Joe is taking us to a childhood place of his (green dragon flea market in Lancaster...) and Saturday Terry turns 18. What started out as a barbecue with a few friends now has 18 people (just noticed the relationship of numbers there) ... and I'm kind of under the weather (some weird thyroid thing they think) and for a change not looking forward to preparing vast quantities of food. Sorry, I'm a bit whiney. I'd sort of like age 30 (old enough to have SOME scant wisdom but body still together in one un-noticed piece!). I heard the beach in chincoteague was totally re-configured due to a storm of some kind. Enjoy it for us!
@francoise Happy Birthday to Terry! Hope you feel better. 30 was definitely easier health-wise, no doubt about that. Don't worry about being whiney here! Big shoulders and all that. But do have a good time this weekend!!!
@shesnapped Tomorrow I am going to a birthday party for my best friend who is dying of cancer. Feeling lower than low - we have been friends for over 60 years.
@joansmor Joan, there are no words. My heart goes out to both of you. May you both find the blessing in today, my friend, wherever that blessing may lie. I'll keep you two in my thoughts and heart today.
