Do you like celebrating birthdays? Or do you groan when a birthday comes around to add a year to make you feel older? I don’t groan. I appreciate every birthday. I just don’t bother counting them. In fact, since today is my birthday and I’m not doing any adding up, I’ve been asking people around me this question that Satchel Paige, the great ballplayer, asked. “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?” That’s an interesting question to think about. Note that it’s not asking how old you feel, but how old you think you are inside your head.
I don’t know what my answer is, but I’m pretty sure it’s probably at least ten and maybe twenty years younger than I actually am. So, I’m posting some pictures that were taken ten or more years ago when my grandkids were still all kids and some of them still little enough to be packed around. This picture up top even has sweet Oscar smiling in it too.
Another quote that is a great one to remember on a birthday or any day is this one from Art Buchwald. The best things in life aren’t things. A loving family is definitely on that best things in life list, and I’ve been blessed with wonderful children and sweet grandchildren. The picture above was taken on one of my birthdays when I got to enjoy a grandkid visit. This picture below is not one taken on my birthday, but it’s a time when I got to enjoy some of my other grandchildren.
My daughter and her husband don’t have kids, but it’s always a fun time when we can get together too.
Smiles are always good to share on a birthday. And so here are a few birthday quotes that might get you smiling.
~Old age is always 15 years older than I am. – Oliver Wendell Holmes
~Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. – Mark Twain
~Of course, I know how old I am. Well, I know when I was born. I don’t like doing the math, so I usually just ballpark it.
~Don’t let aging get you down. It’s too hard to get back up. – J Wagner
~The other day a man asked me what I thought was the best time of life. “Why,” I answered without a thought, “now.” (David Grayson)
I think Mr. Grayson has the right idea. Now is the best time because it’s the time you have.
~Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest. (Larry Lorenzoni)
~A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip! (Author Unknown) Love the thought of this quote.
~Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young. – Dorothy Canfield Fisher
One last thing:
I did send out a birthday newsletter this week. My regular newsletter service quit and I scrambled around to find a new one. In the process I missed doing some of the things that are necessary to assure a better delivery to those signed up on my email list. Some of you might be among those who may not have gotten the newsletter. Many of the newsletters ended up in spam folders, even the one that came to my email box! Very discouraging. But if you don’t see the newsletter in your email box or in your spam folder and would like a copy, let me know and I’ll forward one to you before I go back to the drawing board to figure out what to do next about sending newsletters. You may remember that I never send out a newsletter without a giveaway. Books this time since books are favorite gifts that I like to get and give.
Tune back in here on Wednesday and I’ll be sharing about a new book from Susanne Woods Fisher with a chance for you to win a copy of her book and one of mine too.
Now, back to that question. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
Comments 42
Author
Thank you all for your birthday wishes. I appreciate your sweet comments and kind words.
Happy Birthday, Ann!
I guess I feel like the age I really am. I’m just glad they are still coming. Happy Birthday to you!
Author
I think it’s good when you feel like the age you are, Connie, and that you’re happy there. I too love the idea of one more year to live, to enjoy my family, to walk out on the farm with my furry buddies, to read some good books and to have the chance to write a new story.
Well, I’d definitely not be as old as I am! LOL!!!
Happy Birthday and many Blessings, Ann!
Author
I do sometimes have a hard time wrapping my mind around how old I am, Karen. Sometimes it’s even harder thinking about how old my kids are. I sometimes joke and tell them I don’t know how they got older than me.
Happy Birthday Ann!! So grateful for the gift of you and your stories!
Author
Thank you so much, Barb for your kind words and for reading my stories.
Happy Birthday Ann! I’m a September baby, too. My birthday is September 25th. I’ll be 64 years young. I love celebrating birthdays. As a 19 years cancer survivor, each birthday is special. Have a glorious birthday!
Author
Sometimes having those birthdays is a reminder of how blessed we are to have more time to be in this beautiful world with our family and friends, Melissa. And to have the chance to link some more words together and enjoy writing.
Happy almost birthday to you!
I am not really sure how old I would be because my mind tells me I am way younger, maybe only 25, but my body tells me that I am much older. I miss being younger and being able to doing the things I could do.
I am simply grateful for the many (80) years the Lord has given me. He has blessed me abundantly.
Happy Birthday regardless of how old you are.
Keep those books coming, please.
Author
I always mention 35 as a perfect age to me, but 25 sounds good too, Sharon. But I’m far beyond either of those ages. One good thing about that is I’ve had time to write more stories and share them with great readers like you. Thank you so much for reading my books.
Happy Birthday, Ann! Hope you have another prosperous and fulfilling year ahead. God bless you!
Author
Thank you so much, Amy. I appreciate your kind words.
Happy Birthday, Ann!
Love those photos!!! My grandchildren are not little anymore either. I miss those days, I really do. It was far less complicated then. I have a birthday this week too, on Wednesday as a matter of fact. This is number 78, and as I told my Physical Therapist, I am proud to say I have the body of a 98 year old woman!! She laughed at the joke, but it’s close to the truth . I am really not sure about how old I would be if I didn’t know how old I was. That is a really interesting question. I will have to ponder that and let it percolate. The age I would like to be is not so much a number in years, but a date. Before the June day in 1990 when I “flew” my car off the Interstate. I would love a re-do, but that only happens in movies. Happy Happy Birthday to you!!!! I hope you can be a 98 year old woman some day, with the body of someone much, much, MUCH younger!!!
Author
I would definitely rather have the body of that younger woman should I be fortunate enough to live to bed 98. Your comment to your physcial therapist made me smile too, Marjorie.
I can certainly understand that your would like to have that do over on that day when you were injued in a wreck. So sorry you had to suffer through that and deal with all the after effects.
Happy, Happy birthday to you!!!
I’d be around 50 to 60 years younger than I actually am, which is 76. I love birthdays. Having one means I made it another year. When people complain about having a birthdayI, I like to ask them if they’d prefer the alternative. Happy Birthday, Ann! Oh btw, I’ve not received the newsletter.
Author
I’ll send you a copy of the newsletter, Lee. Wishing you were 60 years young puts you back at 16. Someone else said the same, but I’m not sure I’d go back that many years. Maybe I don’t really want to actually go back any years since that might erase some of the nice things that happened in those intervening years. Maybe it would be nice to go back for a day or two and then pop back to where we are supposed to be.
I stopped complaining about birthdays when my sister-in-law was killed in a car accident when she was only in her early thirties and I knew how much she would have wanted more birthdays to share with her children. Having birthdays is definitely a blessing.
I wouldn’t want to go back either. Well, maybe just long enough to do over a couple things. 16 to 20 or so is how I usually feel inside. Would be nice to feel that young on the outside sometimes. I’m sorry about your sister-in-law. I lost a brother when he was 19. Wish he could’ve had a lot more birthdays. Thank you for forwarding the newsletter.
Gosh, that is a hard one. I honestly don’t know. When I think back on all the milestones years, 16, 18, 21, the year I married, the year I had my first child, the years my parents died, the year my husband died, the years my grandchildren were born, the year my great grandchild was born. The year I was saved. All those memories are precious and I really don’t know what age I would want to be
Author
Your comment is pointing out the problem with going back in time, Linda. We would lose all those milestones and have to start over. We don’t want to wipe out those precious memories. Instead we want to treasure them. But feeling younger physically, such as no aches and pains and being able to do things as easily as we used to, might be fine. 🙂
I wondered why your newsletter ended up in my junk mail folder. Now I know. I marked it “not junk,” so maybe the next one won’t land there.
Author
I’m still working on finding the best newsletter service. I sent that one using a free trial. Not sure I’ll stay with that service, but the problems with delivery could very well have been mostly my fault in not doing one of the necessary steps when I used their service. Thanks for checking your spam folder and “rescuing” the newsletter.
Happy Birthday!
Five years ago someone said I was 16 going on 60, so I think I must be about 80 (I’m in my twenties).
Author
In your twenties, Marti, you should just embrace your age and look with joy at all the years that surely will come your way. Being the mixture of a giddy, hopeful, happy 16 and a mature, sensible and wise 60 sounds to be perfect. 🙂 Don’t be hurrying on toward 80. That age generally brings along some aches and pains.
Happy Birthday Month!
What could be better than having your beautiful family around you. Hugs!
Prayers for a wonderful year ahead.
Author
Thank you for the birthday wishes, Susan. Family is the best gift of life and it’s great to remember that on one’s birthday.
Thanks so much for your hugs and prayers.
I really don’t know. All I know is that each birthday is precious.
Author
You are so right, Deborah. Each year coming one’s way is a gift.
I worked for a doctor who had the most brilliant way of celebrating his birthday. Instead of just one day of celebration he celebrated for the entire month of his birth. We had so much fun during that month, decorating the office, and gained weight too with all of the sweets brought into the office by his patients.
Happy Birthday Month 🎂🎈🎉 Ann
P.S. I’m 70 with no gray hair. People say I don’t look a day over 50, some days I feel just that, so I smile and say thank you.
Author
Fifty is a lovely age, Adriann. We may not think so when we’re 35 or even 45, but when we get a bit beyond 50, it seems a very nice age to be. And I think you should be very happy with those wonderful compliments.
My son-in-law who had one of those zero birthdays this year embraced the fun of celebrating a whole month for his birthday years ago. And he has my daughter do the same. They do special things, eat favorite foods, enjoy favorite activities all through their birthday months. I have somewhat embraced their way of celebration. Sounds as if your doctor knew how to share the joy of birthday celebrating.
When I substitute teach most kids think I’m at least 10 to 15 years younger so I take that as a compliment ofcourse!
Author
Well, of course, Lynne. Kids thinking you look younger is a great complliment since most of them think someone 40 is ancient. 🙂
I feel like I’m still 44 .I don’t know why that number, but that is 15 years younger than I actually am.
I am just thankful to still be here to count my birthdays and the birthdays of those I love. I would come see you this Saturday at BG but it happens to my my grandsons birthday.
Happy birthday Ann!
P.S. Could you forward me the newsletter?
Author
Fifteen years younger is a good number, I think, Lisa. I’ve also heard or seen a quote that says an old person is one who is always at least ten years older that we are. Not sure if a person who reaches 100 still thinks that.
I know you have many reasons to be thankful for every birthday since you once faced the fact that a new birthday was not something you could necessarily expect. Of course, that is true for all of us. No one is guaranteed we will see another birthday, but most of us don’t have that truth thrust at us by this or that illness.
Oh, and enjoy your grandson’s birthday.
Happy and blessed birthday, Ann!