Let us never know what old age is. Let us know the happiness time brings, not count the years. ~Ausonius
That sounds like wonderful advice, and advice I must be heeding. Somebody asked me how old I was the other day and I had to think about it before I could answer. And then I almost counted one year too many. I definitely think counting the blessings and happy times is better than counting years.
I’ve always liked this quote from Satchel Paige. “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?” But then when my mother had dementia in her last years, the saying lost some of its smiles since Mom often didn’t know how old she was. She floated in years, as first one age and then another. Most of the time she was a teenager or a young wife and mother, but never old in her mind. So maybe it is good to keep a count of those years.
But back to the fun of birthdays and the stories many of you shared with me. Your stories are such a pleasure to read.
Cheryl shared a story about her mother who had a very happy 80th birthday party. “My most favorite was celebrating my Mom’s 80th birthday. So many family and friends showed up but the best was her childhood best friend was able to come. That was heart touching. With invitations I asked people to send memorable pictures of the 2 of them plus write a story that was special to them that included my Mom or a poem that told what she meant to them. This is all in a scrap book and she looked at it all the time. My Mom is now in Heaven but I can still see her smiling face as everyone came and showered her with Love. She thought no one would come.”
Elizabeth tells how her family celebrates together with a Birthday Sunday. “My favorite thing about birthdays is the traditional family “Birthday Sunday” with my mom’s side of the family. Everyone–my parents and siblings, my mom’s sisters and their families, my great-aunts, and a couple of pseudo aunts–gathers at Granddad’s house on a designated Sunday each month to celebrate all the birthdays which are in that specific month. Our meal consists of mashed potatoes and gravy, roast beef, rolls, corn, green beans, and sweet tea (in the summer). At dessert time, someone (usually my younger brothers) places candles in each dessert. (Each “birthday person” gets to choose their favorite dessert to have that Sunday.) After singing Happy Birthday to each person (which includes some pretty awesome harmony), cards/presents are opened and read and then we all dig in to those delicious desserts. This tradition has lasted over 25 years and is one that everyone from oldest to youngest enjoys. This year has been hard without my grandma, but in the gathering of my family there is joy, love, and memories. “
We do miss those who go on before us, Elizabeth, but I’m sure your grandma would be very happy your family is continuing the tradition.
Rachel was happy for me to share about her special birthday cake. Not sure if she gets to have candles, but maybe the sprinkles make up for that. “My favorite thing about birthdays are the cakes. Only mine is no ordinary cake. Its 100% ice cream. Homemade VANILLA ice cream. With homemade vanilla whipped cream and multicolored sprinkles on top. Not only do I enjoy it so do all the guests.”
I have to admit this next story from Janet was not the ordinary birthday story, but it did make me smile. I don’t have a picture of a pet tortoise, so I put up one of a relative, the box turtle, that I am pretty sure has never had anyone celebrate its birthday. LOL. But Janet’s tortoise is a lucky one. “My favorite birthday story is about my pet tortoise, Chelsey. Since we bought her at a pet store we didn’t know her exact birth date. So we gave her one: January 1st. Every year (she’s now 14) we have a party and invite the whole family. We have a cake and ice cream, which she can’t eat, but we can. And of course we celebrate New Year’s Day at the same time.”
Sounds like Janet’s family knows how to make birthdays fun, no matter whose birthday it happens to be. It’s good to celebrate our pets too. Maybe I need to pick a date for Frankie’s and Marley’s birthdays and make them a dog biscuit cake.
Only a few more days to enter my birthday giveaway. If you haven’t entered yet and would like to, just say so in a comment on this post. First prizes is a Willow Tree figurine of a little boy and a puppy along with one of my books. Two more prizes of a couple of books too. Deadline to enter is Saturday, September 28, 2019 at midnight EST. So I’ll announce the winners on my Sunday blog post. You do need to be at least 18 years old to enter.
Cherish all your happy moments; they make a fine cushion for old age. ~Booth Tarkington
As always, thanks for reading.
Have you ever celebrated a pet’s birthday?
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I’ve never celebrated a pet’s birthday, but always keep up with their age. I’ve had fur babies live very long lives…Cookie was 16, Lucky, the one-eared beagle was 17 (her story is one I’ll share sometime), and good ole Sarge was at least 22, by the vet’s estimation! Now I have Ollie. He was a pup when someone dumped him on the side of the road, but he’s been making me, and my neighbors, laugh for 4 years now. I hope he lives a good long life too!
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You’ve had some furry buddies with long lives, Lavon. I’ve never been that fortunate with my furry friends. I’ve never had one make it past 12 or 13. And of course, some didn’t make it that far, including Oscar, my special dog friend who was surely a person in disguise, who only made it to 7. I do usually have the bigger dogs that don’t make it as long as smaller ones.
So glad Ollie is a neighborhood favorite and do hope he will bring smiles for many more years to you and your friends.
No I haven’t celebrated a pet’s birthday.
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Nor have it, Caryl. But I think it’s fun when other people do that.
I don’t think I entered the Birthday contest but would like to.
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Great, Una. I’ll enter you. I’m getting ready to draw for the winners in a few minutes. I was supposed to do it earlier but the grandkids were here this weekend and that has delayed me. But you were in well before the deadline.
Unfortunately we haven’t but I do keep in mind how old my dog, Xena is. Which she will be two this Christmas. Just the other day my neighbor had pictures of one of her dogs on Facebook. Had a little party hat on, he was turning seventeen. A little dachshund, she has three altogether.
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My poor dogs have never had a birthday party either, Joy, but like you, I do try to keep their ages in mind. My daughter keeps up with the birthdays on her pets, and I do think the dachshund they had for many years probably wore some birthday hats in his time. He even dressed up as Batman one year for Halloween. He was one spoiled guy.
Can’t remember celebrating a pets birthday.
My mom’s birthday is today.She is 81. My sisters, my granddaughter and I ate lunch with her at the nursing home where she resides.We all had a great time.I am so blessed to have her still.
Please throw my name in the hat for the contest Ann!
Have a wonderful weekend!
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I hope your mother had a wonderful birthday and many smiles from seeing all of you. I’ve got your name in my drawing hat. I’m getting ready to pick the winners in a few minutes before I do my Sunday night post. Or if it gets any later, it might be my Monday post. 🙂
Can’t say that I have, but it sounds like a fun thing to do! 😊
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You’d have to have lots of dog biscuits for treats, Karen, or maybe kitten treats. I know some dog owners who will make those treats homemade. My daughter is one of them! But my poor doggies just have to get the store bought kind and alas, never get a birthday cake. LOL
Our Schnoodle was our first “daughter”. Since she was born to the mother dog of friends of ours, we knew when her birthday was. Therefore, we celebrated her birthday. Our daughter’s pets came from pet stores, so we had no idea when the little pets’ birthdays were. As a result, we didn’t celebrate their birthdays.
I definitely want to enter your birthday contest. My birthday is October 2, so I’ll be celebrating mine soon too. In fact, it’s always fun to have friends invite me out to lunch to celebrate my birthday, and my family takes me out to dinner. The people I work with will celebrate too–especially since our boss has her birthday the day before mine. We’ll have a joint celebration.
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Glad you’ll get so many fun times to celebrate a new year coming your way, Suzanne. Happy birthday a couple of days early. You have an early month one so lots of month left to celebrate each day.
I don’t have any idea when Frankie or Marley were born. And I didn’t know for Oscar either. Frankie and Oscar were rescue dogs that were found on the side of roads. I might be able to find out Marley’s birthdate, but I think we’ll just let that go. They party enough already out chasing chipmunks and digging for moles. 🙂