There's an old adage that says "The only difference between men and boys is the size of their toys".
It might very well be true.
The only problem is that big boy's toys tend to be fraught with complications. There are many times that I yearn for the simple days when I had the Jeep.
When I was six years old I was diagnosed with leukemia by two doctors. One of them predicted that I would never live to be twelve.
To make a long story short (which has never been one of my assets), I outlived both doctors....by an enormous amount of time.
To be brutally honest (which is one of my few assets), life would have been much more sweet if my existence had been extinguished before I was twelve.
Anyone who says that life gets better with age - or that you're only as old as you feel - is.....
sensitive people, please hold your ears
........full of shit.
But another birthday has arrived like a runaway train and I couldn't find a way to derail it.
As for my age - the less said about it the better. In the past, I used to lie about my age so outrageously that there were times when even I couldn't recall the genuine number.
Finally I gave up lying about my age and simply ignored it. I suppose that's the most painless ploy.
As my life tumbles towards the inevitable reward of oblivion, the years seem to pass more and more quickly - and my astonishment is replaced by frustration....and fury.
One day I'm a sweet, innocent, adorable babe in the woods - -
- - - and the next day I'm a grotesque, disgruntled, decrepit hermit in the woods - trying desperately to hang on to past bouquets, despite the growing influx of weeds.
Don't put too much analysis into this post. It's merely a jumble of fleeting thoughts.
Oh, by the way -
Happy Birthday to Susan, who shares my birthday...
....and to Geo. - who was born sometime in December...
🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈Happy Birthday Jon 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂 I always tell everybody I between 30 and death. And you'll be like me...live a long life...only the good die young dear.
ReplyDeleteMany more happy returns. You still look like a rascal to me.....
If the good die young, then I definitely still have many years to go. And just for the record - yes, I still am a rascal.
Deletehappy birthday and may you have many more jon.
ReplyDeleteI'll probably have more - but I don't want any candles on the cake...
DeleteCute then ... and now! Happy Birthday, Jon!
ReplyDeleteI'll take all the compliments I can get. Thanks!
DeleteCute little car and cute little boy.
ReplyDeleteI still remember that little Jeep - it was really nice. Toys were well-made back then.
DeleteJon,
ReplyDeleteI demand you have a happy birthday! I share your cheap camera with the 10 second timer. Once wasn't a problem, but I don't move as fast these days and if I try I might trip over my walking stick.
Larry
At this point in my life, I think I need a camera with a 40 minute timer. At the very least. If you demand that I have a happy birthday - then I will! Thanks!
DeleteHappy birthday, Jon! Since you were saying how you used to lie about your age I thought we were going to get the big reveal. Oh well. It's never bothered me to admit my age. I'm 66--going to be 67 in March. I can't believe how close 70 is getting--LOL! ;) I always get myself a little something. Did you do that? I hope so. May the coming year be a really good one. :)
ReplyDeleteI always used to always get myself something on my birthday, but this year I didn't. Perhaps I will when I go shopping next week. Maybe some candy??
DeleteI'll admit that I'm way over 50....but that's as far as I'll go while I'm sober (*smile*).
Two elderly men are sitting on a bench outside a retirement home when one says," Ted, I'm 83 years old now and full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age, how do you feel?"
ReplyDeleteTed says," like a newborn baby?"
" Really? Like a newborn baby?"
" Yep, no hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants !"
*Happy Birthday,Jon ! Enjoy the youth you have at this time since it's the youngest we'll ever be ...
Thanks for providing me with some much-needed humor. It's the only laugh I had so far today. I suppose I should be thankful that I can still hobble around...and still have my sanity (that's debatable).
DeleteHi Birthday Boy. I can’t see too well in the photo above, but in yesterday’s photo I thought you looked very rugged. Wouldn’t have mentioned it otherwise but, boy, do you need some cheering up and the prospect of some joy in your life. Any possibilities of making any changes to help facilitate that? MaggieB
DeleteActually, I'm not a very rugged-type person, but I learned to be that way when I lived in West Texas. There are presently a lot of negative things going on in my life and I often use this blog to vent my frustrations (or indirectly vent them...) Often I sound more dour than I really am. Life here in the wilderness is fraught with complications - but I admittedly love being surrounded by the peace and beauty of nature.
DeleteMaggie, I've never been an optimistic person, even during the very best of times. I can probably blame my melancholic nature on my brooding Hungarian gypsy blood...
Thank you, dear Jon, for the happy birthday wish. Mine is within 4 days of Susan's and yours. I got a gift in yesterday's mail from Beautiful Chicago Daughter --warm snazzy socks-- and her card saying "Please use responsibly."
ReplyDeleteMy gift to her is this strange sense of humor.
Warm, snazzy socks always come in handy this time of year. I sleep with my socks on. They're warm but definitely not snazzy. I love the "Please use responsibly" sentiment. Humor gets us through these increasingly burdensome birthdays.
DeleteI'm one of those "full of it" people of whom you speak. I'm older than Geo, and I'm quite sure I'm even older than you, but I can honestly say this is the best time of my life. It'd be nice to have a lot less aches and pains, but I'm at peace. I wish the same for you, cowboy. I hope you had a lovely birthday. My hubby even let me beat him on the pool table, so life is good. :)
ReplyDeleteEven though I feel like I'm 90, I will admit that I'm younger than you and Geo. Life in the wilds of Texas aged me - and my existence here in the wilderness is putting the nails in my coffin. I don't really think it's age that's bothering me - it's all the problems I've had these past few years. But I'm surviving....
ReplyDeleteI love you Jon
ReplyDeleteI wish I was there
on your birthday
here's a lil pressie
from someone very close to me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOs-DR5jMYc
What an unusual and fantastic rendition! It puts a refreshing new take on an old tradition...and it put me in a snowy holiday mood. Thanks for sharing the link.
Delete"Aw that's lovely!"
DeleteI sent her your comment
Happy Birthday, If I had known then, what I know now!
ReplyDeleteWell, you have lived quite a life, so I'm glad you didn't disappear before 12. It is true that every birthday brings increasing surprise at how quickly time is now passing. My solution was to move my birthday from January to May. The main reason I did this was so I didn't have to have my birthday sandwiched between the dates on which each of my parents died, (which makes celebrating hard) but it also made me 5 months younger immediately, right? And by the time it gets to May I am too busy enjoying the late Spring to be bothered with it. I mean it isn't even my REAL birthday!!!
ReplyDelete