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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Musings on getting older - knitting giveaway

My birthday was yesterday and I'm happy to say that this is one of the first birthdays I've not agonized over.  I generally don't want to celebrate the date since to me it's only a sad reminder that I'm getting older.

But I'm not sure why this year was different.  I wasn't upset.  I actually feel pretty darn lucky to be my age (64 !!!) and healthy, feel great and 99% of the time am very happy! I have wonderful friends and a beautiful family. I always love the expression, "this is as good as it gets" and it's really true. Who could ask for more???

I'm curious how the rest of you cope with birthdays.

I haven't done much sewing since we got back.  Best part of the birthday is that we got to have darling Emma with us for a few days by herself!  We are actually going to have the other 2, including baby Jack, tomorrow until the weekend. How lucky are we???

I've done some knitting, believe it or not... 
I have way more yarn than I will ever use so if any of you are knitters, drop me a comment with your philosophy on getting older and I'll draw a winner Monday and send off a bunch of yarn!!

36 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday! I am six days older than you! I really don't mind the numbers adding up but every once in a while I feel like there is now more sand in the bottom of the hour glass than in the top and I am running short on time. I have so many things left to do, I still feel young, and feel great most of the time but time is moving faster than I want it to.

    We just have to make the most of our time and enjoy what we are doing. I am not a knitter so don't put my name in the hat for the giveaway. I do have a baby quilt to finish for my grand daughter who is due in September, so I better get busy! Enjoy yourself.

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  2. A Very Happy Birthday Randy!! I just turned 61 in June. I am actually enjoying life now more than when I was younger! God has blessed me with good health which I think probably really effects how you feel about getting older. I am a knitter too. Have a wonderful time with your precious grandchildren!

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  3. A happy birthday to you, Randy. If I had known, I would have wrapped the fabric license plate I sent you yesterday in some pretty paper with a bow on top! : )
    I am around seven years younger than you--so far I am doing well health-wise and don't agonize over birthdays. Both of my parents are still alive and independent, so I guess I plan to follow their footsteps and have a long, active life!

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  4. Happy Belated Birthday! I share my birthday with my son and my granddaughter is only 5 days before mine so we always end up celebrating. It's funny because I don't like making a fuss over my birthday but having everyone else's around me celebrating takes my mind off of any negative thoughts I may have.

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  5. A happy belated birthday to you! With my 60th birthday rapidly, and I mean rapidly, approaching, I can say that I'm not to keen on this growing old-er 'stuff'. It has it's up side, to be sure. But I don't care for how much more quickly it seems time passes. Even the nights. Seems as though I no sooner go to bed when it's time to get up again. Fortunately for me, mornings are my favorite time of day.

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  6. I turned 65 last March and retired a little over 2 years ago. I've recently had some minor health issues (aches/pains) and in hindsight wish I'd been more health conscientious ... but ... my life is sooooo blessed in many other ways that I cannot question these few challenges ~ I just deal with them ;-) Birthdays are just a NUMBER ... it's what you do with the time BETWEEN those numbers that counts. You seem to be a very active, energetic person with your quilting, traveling and beautiful grandchildren ... I'm sure you're ticking items off your "bucket list". Belated wishes for a "happy birthday" and prayers that the blessings of the coming year are plentiful. Linda

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  7. I just turned 60 and celebrate still being here, with family and friends who love me and the time to make quilts and teach others the joys of quiltmaking. Life is good--happy birthday to you!

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  8. I don't need any more yarn. I am almost 20 yrs. older than you, and the main thing is to be active, eat right and get enough rest. I worked in a convenience store for 20 yrs. when I couldn't get a teaching job, and quit that job to care for my husband almost 3 wks. before my 68th birthday. Then he died, and I moved into a home provided my a son and daughter in law on the acreage where I've been since '57. Quilting, knitting, crocheting, gardening, reading, my church and deep faith are my outlets. My Drs. are constantly amazed how active I am, but then there is longevity in my family. I do a lot to help others, to help relieve some of the misery in my corner of the world. Grandchildren are grown and doing their own ting. It's how you roll with all the changes that matter. I do have some health challenges, mainly relating to what I eat.

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  9. Happy Belated birthday Randy! You know it's just a number and yes you are lucky to be where you are at this point in your life. I'm coming up on 59 in Nov. I just want to know how it got here so quickly?
    How fun to have the wee ones all to yourselves for a good amount of time, nothing can trump that.

    Yes, please add my name in the bucket for your excess yarn!

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  10. Happy Birthday! Actually, today is my birthday and I am now 71! I really can't believe I'm this old - I feel really good, live an active life and have a wonderful family. I'm fortunately blessed with good health. Today we are closing on our new home (new to us) in McMinnville, OR. Next week we will go back to Texas to get our household goods out of storage and drive it all back to Oregon. I'm so excited to be living near our oldest son and his family!

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  11. Happy birthday to you, Randy!

    My 63rd b'day is coming up in a couple of weeks and I'm pleased about it. My perspective is influenced by the fact that my mother passed away shortly after her 45th b'day. She never got to see her kids grow up, get married, or have children of their own. I have been blessed to be able to have all that and I am grateful to have been so blessed.

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  12. I have a couple of years on you and I can tell you for sure, I wouldn't go back! I have a good life and appreciate every day. I try to do something for someone else each day to make their day better and you know what...in doing that, my days are better too. I too have been going back to my knitting after years to try to keep myself from wasting so many hours on the computer. Make it a good Day and Happy Birthday.

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  13. Glad you had a happier then usual birthday:)

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  14. A very happy birthday to you! I turned 65 last March, and I think that keeping busy and happy is the secret to staying "young". Although my bones tell me I'm old and disabled, my mind is still like a kid. I recently found a t-shirt that I bought awhile back that said " Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional". I LOVE yarn and use tons of it for my charity projects!!

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    1. June, you are the WINNER. Can you send me your email so I can get your mailing address, please? I have yarn for you!! Do I ever!!!

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  15. Hey you, Happy Birthday! I hope you will at least let me take you out to lunch next week!!! As to getting older...I feel as you do; I'm pretty dand lucky!!! And I like to say I don't really feel old except when I look in the mirror (so I don't spend much time doing that) lots of love, cw

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  16. Happiest of birthdays to you, Randy! I am now 71--how did that happen?? LOL...I try to do something I enjoy every day--even if it's only gazing at a sunset..Somehow the only birthday that ever really bothered me was 40--?? who knows why...but I am not able to knit anymore-so as Seinfeld would say"No yarn for you!!" Only it's me!1 Ha Ha..When I visit my 94 yr old Mom in her nursing home setting, I come home and really appreciate the health and life that I am living right now. Remember, no regrets!! hugs, and enjoy...(waiting for the 301 to come...so excited!!) Julierose

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  17. Many happy returns of the day! I'm just a tiny bit younger than you are, less than a year. My philosophy is borrowed from bumper stickers --- age only matters if you're wine or cheese! My grandma used to say you're not old until you hit 100. Well, if you're healthy and happy that's probably true. I don't feel old unless I overdo the heavy cleaning so I try very hard to stay away from that. The secret to staying young is staying active, having hobbies and lots of friends. You're probably doing just fine. Happy birthday!

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  18. I won't say it because I know you don't want to hear it (I'm the same) but I will wish you many many more to come and plenty of health to go with the candles! I have more years with pain then years without pain. Since I am 21 years old my back has been a big problem and some days, I was completely unable to get out of bed. Now at 51, I have finally found out about osteopathic therapy and it works like a charm. Costs are high but I don't feel like 125 years old anymore. I can move again and even sweeping the floor by myself is pleasurable. Days when I have pain, I think it is only age and I count myself lucky. So many people didn't have the chance to get old. So I just smile and bear it all. I enjoy every day. You are not past your prime; you are on a different gear and on a different boat. That's all. So don't think I can't do this anymore, or this is getting harder and harder to do, just think of all the things you can still do and still enjoy. Eat right, exercise doesn't rhyme with exertion and laugh every day. It is good for the soul. Oh, yea, I am not a knitter just a talker LOL. Hugs

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  19. Happy Birthday. I will be 60 this fall and I am really freaking out. Probably because the DH seems to be talking about being 'gone' like any minute. I do feel like there is so much I want to do still.
    I think I need to adjust my attitude and tell the DH to shut up. ;)

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    1. Beth ~ I feel your "pain" ... my hubby ... who I do love dearly ... always sees the "negative" in life ... his whole family was that way ... doom and gloom. I see the opposite ... all the joy, light and possibilities. I've tried to "change" his attitude but it only lasts a short time. I've just decided that he's the way he is ... I will love him forever because he IS a good man ... but I will always be the "grasshopper" in the relationship and that's fine with me ;-) Linda

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  20. Happy birthday! I'll be turning 59 this fall, so I'm not worried yet about the big 6-0. Still, getting old is not for sissies! Grey hair is the least of our worries for sure! We have to do what we can and appreciate all the we have and have had.

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  21. Birthdays I didn't want to celebrate either a few years ago. When I turned 50 I didn't want to be reminded. Never bothered me till then I dreaded turning 50. When I turned 55 a friend told me you need to look at birthdays as celebrating another

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  22. Year of life that changed my whole attitude. Now I celebrate each one! Happy happy happy birthday!
    Kathie

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  23. When I was in my 30's, I couldn't imagine ever being in my 60's, yet here I am. I feel fortunate to still be healthy and active. I still enjoy my knitting and quilting. Happy birthday to you. Try to make the most of each day.

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  24. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, a day late... Whenever I hear people complain about having a birthday, I just look them in the eye and tell them my sister in law would have loved to have had her 44th birthday. I LOVE B-days, I actually have a b'day week. The alternative of having this day to celebrate isn't attractive. Plus we have so much to enjoy and way too much fabric that we must keep having birthdays. Life is GOOD Not a knitter, so please don't enter me in the drawing.

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    1. LOL Sharon ... birthday WEEK? I celebrate the entire MONTH of my birthday (March). Just little things ... sleeping in one day, lunch with a friend, quilting longer than I had planned to on a certain day, not scheduling anything for a Monday so that it can be a "me" day ... stuff like that. Try that this year ;-) Linda

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  25. Happy Birthday. I turn 65 next Friday. But I sure don't feel it. It's sort of a non-event since I'm not signing up for Medicare, not collecting my SS yet, not retiring. So what's the big deal? It's my grandson being in High School that makes me feel my age. :)

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  26. Happy Birthday! Don't need to start another hobby at this point, with the fabric I have know I need to live to be at least 110, so draw someone else for the yarn. Getting old is not for sissies, but I am still of the opinion old is preferable to dead. I may eventually change my mind, but right now my plan is to skid in sideways - martini in one hand, chocolate in the other - screaming woooo whoo! what a ride.

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  27. Happy Birthday! I celebrated my 64th on July 8th. I am happy with what I'm doing and not worrying about my age. I've made it further than my mother, who died at 63 and my older sister, who died at 65. I try to be positive about my age, eat a good diet, and exercise. I retired at age 50 and helped raise my 2 grandchildren. There are such a joy to be with. Last year I took up knitting again after many years of not doing it. I also quilt, and do needlework, e.g. counted cross stitch, needlepoint, applique, embroidery, etc. Because I retired early, I was able to help my daughter to fulfill the dream she had for her life...becoming a Doctor of Psychology and helping the handicapped. She received her degree this year. Looking forward to seeing her walk across the stage to receive her diploma in October. Oh, I am a knitter and thank you for considering me for your drawing. Joyce Barham.

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    2. What a beautiful person you are, Joyce ... what a blessing in so many people's lives. A belated Happy Birthday to YOU!

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  28. Birthdays have never really bothered me--maybe because I always feel young since my husband and I have the same birthday, but he's older, so he hits all those milestone birthdays first. Since I compete in triathlons, I actually like aging up to an easier, less competitive age group as well--I look like I'm pretty fast for the first year until all the faster women age up as well!

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  29. Randy, happy belated birthday. Whenever I hear of birth year stress, I think of this quote by an unknown author - - "Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many." My father and oldest sister both died at 55 and I often wonder what they would have been like had they grown older. I've got so many questions I'd like to ask both of them. (I was 15 when my father died). So my advice to you is to look in the mirror every morning and say, "Hallelujah, I've been blessed with another day!" :) Joyce in Oregon
    P.S.: I get to be 57 this year!

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    1. Joyce, I completely agree with your philosophy. I go to bed each night thankful for the wonderful day I'd just been blessed to have. Thanks for your story.

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  30. I know I am late to this party but wanted to chime in anyway! I never have or will lie about my age. I think it is ridiculous when people say I am not a day over 25 when clearly they are! I am 57 and a half and have enjoyed all the different phases of my life. This next phase will most likely be slower but I will go kicking and screaming! I also have a lot of quilts to finish.....

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