Hurrah! At Last I'm 50!

[On the Road]

Trying to make the best of it, anyway.

I went out with my 13-year-old daughter tonight to Adams Morgan in DC to eat. We ended up at some new tapas place (all the places I picked out originally were closed or out of business). We had a really nice talk -- she's developing into a funny, mature, and thoughtful girl. She and my ex-wife bought me all kinds of gag gifts, and she made me drive into town with "Big 5-0" signs all over the car.

My parents and my brother and his family actually drove four hours over the weekend for a surprise celebration. My girlfriend invited them. Even though they're fundies, and are always gently evangelizing, they do care for me.

I have all these parts of a life that don't really go together. And I don't even know exactly what I'm saying here. It's a milestone and I wanted to share it.

One thing -- whatever you're worried about, don't worry about aging.

[Armstead]

1. Congratulations

I reached that little milestone a coupla years ago.

Like Ellen Goodman says; "Maybe you can't play squash like you used but the consolation is you start to have a historic sense of memory."

[On the Road]

6. "Historic Sense of Memory"

Boy, I know what that means. I'm really starting to sound like an old person to my daughter with all the stories and "when I was a kid" stuff. The 50's are starting to look awfully ancient, too. We're as far from my birth year (1954) as 1954 was from 1904. That's frightening.

I do try not to be completely out of it for my daughter's sake. I can tell Green Day from System of a Down even if they're not my cup of tea. And I can put on a Rolling Stones or They Might be Giants CD that we both enjoy.

[northofdenali]

2. Age is in the mind! I'll be joining you in July and

I'm actually looking forward to my "milestone"!

Happiest of days to you, ribofunk!! It sounds like your family - even an ex-wife! - think as much of you as we do. What a great kid!!!

:toast::loveya::toast:

[MuseRider]

3. Welcome!

I turned 50 last December. It is great, it really is! For women age is very liberating. For any of us it is a real milestone and one to relish I think. COngratulations!

[woofless]

4. Welcome to the club!

I'll be 52 in a couple months and no regrets age-wise. This is truly a fine time in life and I for one am enjoying it immensely.

[icymist]

5. Happy Birthday!

:party: :toast: :party:

[roguevalley]

7. Congrats! I'm fifty-one and I love it.

[ModerateDem]

8. Congrats

I'm 54 myself. Welcome to the 50+ club, I guess. :)

[RandomUser]

9. Congrats!

You only turn 50 once in your life :)

[VOX]

10. Good going, ribofunk! I'll hit the "double nickel" next month...

55, and I get more fun out of life now than I ever did. I find myself laughing more, and enjoying the silly situations we humans have a knack for falling into (sometimes literally).

Welcome to a cool decade in your life -- you've got the knowledge and experience to know how the whole mess works (good and bad), you're not dogged by futile expectations anymore, and you can really enjoy the smaller, beautiful pleasures out there.

Congratulations on doing so well, and for having a great perspective on things! :toast:

[arwalden]

11. Congratulations! --- Aging Is MUCH BETTER Than The Alternative...

... so enjoy life and enjoy your milestone. Happy Birthday.

-- Allen

[Rowdyboy]

12. I turned 50 on 2/21/04 so we're in the same age group!

"Wise beyond our years"!. Congratulations and hopes for many more.

[Hand]

13. Welcome to the club!

Turning fifty is great--a lot easier than 40! I'm... 54 now, and so far it's been a wonderful, rich decade!

:toast: :party: :yourock: