Woohoo! It’s my birthday and I am celebrating another year of life. I know a lot of women my age bum out at the enormous amount of candles on their cake. They may rush to the plastic surgeon at the first sign of wrinkles, but I’m different. I look at wrinkles as a reminder of the wonderful life I’ve had. It is one that has been full of all kinds of high and low points culminating one crazy Wild Ride. If my face reflects some of that ride, then bring it on life. I can take it! - Tilts chin up to imaginary ageing monster called life – Just don’t hit me too hard… Most of mine are smile lines anyway. Of course they couldn’t be symmetrical; life although precious and tenuous at times is rarely fair. Disclaimer – if I become as wrinkled as a Shar-pei or have to use Q-tips in order to clean in between the deep crevices, then I may consider doing something like using clothes pins to pull back the skin and hide the excess under a wig.
My birthday celebrations have varied throughout the years. When I was a little girl, they were simple and included cake, birthday hats, and bubbles. Most of them have been on the quiet side and celebrated with family, but a couple were over the top.
While in college, my friend had a surprise party for me. It almost gave me a heart attack since everyone dressed in costume and wore a mask. Talk about terrifying. I didn’t recognize anyone and the shock of it gave me my first white hair which I promptly plucked out!
Several years ago, my husband Danny sent me to the spa for the afternoon and told me to bring a dress for my birthday dinner. I chose a long gown. First he drove me home where my children had decorated the house in balloons, streamers, and posters. I thought it was the best birthday ever! Then he drove me to a Boulder microbrewery where my friends (most of them wearing jeans), hid in the back room for a really big surprise. I could feel my scalp tingle and a few more of those dang white hairs begin to sprout.
Another year, my book club took me out to lunch. I figured something was going on when my friend Karin who was driving me home, pulled over on the side of the road and said, “I hate to do this.” She began laughing and blindfolded me. Karin was still laughing when she guided me into the house, walked me upstairs to my bedroom and instructed me to stay there until I was allowed to come out. After about an hour, my daughter Courtney led me from the room and down the stairs where I found Danny and about 100 people. He had hired a DJ, a caterer, and had installed a dance floor. I felt a few more white hairs burst out of my scalp with this surprise. It was an amazing party and everyone wore a hat. I think some pole dancing went down that night even though it was really a support beam and rectangular…
Why would anyone get depressed about living another year? How totally lame is that and the ones that complain are usually much younger than me. Will I tell you my age? No. It is irrelevant because I don’t feel or act my age. It only reflects the number of awesome birthdays I’ve had!
This year I am looking forward to going out to dinner with my family. With both children in college, that is no easy feat. So what if we have to eat at 5:30 to fit a birthday dinner into everyone’s schedule. I will not be wearing a gown, or a hat, nor will I be blindfolded, but will look forward to celebrating another year of life because that is what birthdays are all about. I colored my hair just in case…
Now if this would get Freshly Pressed that would really be the frosting my candle-laden cake.
It would be such a great gift to leave a comment about how you feel about celebrating your birthday and even better if you followed my blog!
First two photos by Susie Lindau -That’s my little brother in the top picture partying down with me on my 11th birthday. Hey! That was my Golden Birthday – 11 on the 11th!
The last photo is by Google. That cake is for someone who is really old and still loves to celebrate!
Love your writing Susie! I’m a food blogger but it seems my favorite blogs are slowly becoming the writing and travel blogs. I had my 45th birthday last December and like you face each year head on. Or rather chin on.
Hahaha! Thanks so much Karista! It finally healed up… I am glad that you found me! I do use humor to get through life. I just finished a post about my war with ants. I will blog it Monday. I don’t think there are many out there that would admit the crazy stuff that happens like I do, but I love to laugh at myself! Happy belated to you!
Happy belated to the most fearless & beautiful lady!
” How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are ? ”
…
el
I celebrated mine this year on a camel riding into the the highest dunes of Sahara in Morocco and sleeping under the stars in the desert : )
Way to go girl! You really know how to celebrate! I can’t wait to see those pictures. Happy belated birthday to you~
Thank you beautiful!
Thank you so much Elena! You made my day!
I think I would be 35, but it would be hard to explain the fact that I have kids in college.
haha made me laugh! You should be very proud that you have kids in college.. some ( not going to point fingers ) never had the patience with college & had life do the rest of education .. : )
I can’t wait until my oldest graduates. He has one more year….. Fingers crossed!
Thank you Elena!
happy Birthday (~_~)
http://zendictive.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/happy-gravitational-upgrade-day/
Thanks Zen! I will check it out!
Those are some amazing birthday stories!
Happy belated birthday!
I have had a couple wild ones! Thanks so much!
I hope you will stop by again soon~
Happy belated Birthday, Susie! Sounds like you’ve had some pretty cool parties. While I’m glad to have a birthday every year, I don’t really do anything to mark the day. After 30 I just kind of prefer to ignore them…and the numbers.
Thank you so much Kristy for stopping by! This one was far more quiet. but wonderful nonetheless!
Happy birthday Susie! It’s also my birthday this month, go aries
. I love the way you see getting older… I’m only 29 and I already care about having asymmetrical laugh lines! I need to chill about it!
Thanks Cecile! There isn’t much I can do about it short of injections which I really don’t want to do. There is a movie star (Robin Tunney) on a show called The Mentalist whose smile lines are really unequal and that cured me!
Happy birthday month to you!
I completely agree with you about celebrating birthdays! They are a time to be happy and spend with the people you love. Not a time to be sad and wish the years away. There were a few years that were tough for me, birthday wise, but once I learned to just embrace my age, it’s like the number lost its power. It’s just one more amazing year to celebrate!
I like your attitude Emma! I think we are in the minority and it is so silly and illogical. Everyone should want to live another year. I hope to be ancient some day. I am still celebrating and it is Friday! Hahaha!
Thanks for coming by!
Happy Birthday! (Sorry I’m a bit late!)
Thanks Edward. I am still celebrating! Hahaha!
Happy (belated) birthday!
Thanks so much Laura!
Happy Birthday, young lady.
Thanks Cayman!
Happy belated birthday
Thanks Marcy! I am still partying!
Much happiness Susie! Love the photos
Thanks Coleen! I had a lot of fun going through all of them.
Belated natal day wishes for a year full of fun and personal satisfaction, Susie! I can relate to the public pressure to hide our aging, being in show business, it’s something I am constantly wrestling with. Whatever age you are, you look FABULOUS, so keep up whatever you’re doing!
Hey, thanks so much! There is a lot of pressure especially on women. I just try to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Wishing you a happy, wonderful birthday! May each one be better than the last! After all, we only get better with age… why shouldn’t our birthdays?
Yes, I say bring on the birthdays too! Why shouldn’t we celebrate another year of life? Bring ‘em on!
As long as there is cake, that is…. no cake… no birthday! That’s the deal!
I so agree!
Cake. Yes cake is very important! Hahaha! Thanks so much Veronica!
By the way, whose PJ’s did you steal?
Aww… the pajamas… yes.
That is kind of a long story. I will have to post it here.
Well Happy Stinken’ Birthday! xD
I admit – I don’t mind getting older either. For me it means getting told no less! However, I have a very large dislike for the parties. For me, if the day floats by without a whisper – It’s a successful birthday for me!
I’m am so glad to hear you fully enjoyed your day. Here’s to many more!
Thanks so much Blankenmom! It was a blast and I the best part was seeing my two children!
Happy birthday … here’s to another year of adventures and memory making.
Thanks so much Transparentguy! That is the plan!
Love that cake and you at 11! Happy Birthday, Susie!
Thanks Debra. There are a few years in between! Hahaha!
Awesome post, and happy birthday Susie
Thanks so much John. I am glad you liked it!
What a beautiful post.
Happy Birthday, baby.
Thanks for coming by! I think you owe me a birthday drink Pulpman.
Absolutely! You call it, I’m buying.
Fantastic and refreshing outlook, and Happy Happy Birthday!
Thanks so much Julie!
Happy Birthday Susie! I wish you a great one. I have nothing snarky to say about this feel-good birthday post.
My gift is a choice of new initalisms for you:
WT (Wild Thang)
WO (Wild One)
TOWDMWT (The One Who Does Many Wild Thangs).
One of those will catch on.
Thanks so much Corey! I LOVE all of them, but am sure that TOWDMWT is the one that will catch on! Hahaha!
I love that you embrace and CELEBRATE your birthday – YOU GO GIRL!!! Enjoy Your Special Day:)
Thanks Renee! I am working on it! I just took myself out for a pedicure!
Happy Birthday Susie! May many more “Wild Rides” be in your future!!
Thanks Tim! That would be AWESOME!
Happy Happy Birthday to you, Susie! What a wonderful attitude you have about aging. And all those awesome surprise parties! So much fun. I remember my 8th birthday, and I had my choice of having my first birthday party (inviting friends) or having the ugly mole on my neck removed. I chose the party and lived with the ugly mole for another 20 years! Haha! I just passed the mid 50s point, and when anyone complains about turning 50, I tell them that the 50s rock and to enjoy these years!
Aren’t you glad you kept your “beauty mark and partied instead?” They really came into style when Cindy Crawford came on the scene!
I think everyone should enjoy each year we get. I have had some close calls in my life and am very happy to be here!!
Thanks so much Lynn!
Happy happy birthday to you, Susie! Loved this post, you’re so full of life and fun! Hope you have a truly amazing day and many, many more birthdays to come!
Awww! Thanks so much Audrey. You are sooo sweet to say that!
I hope to be around for a long time too!
Happy Birthday! Instead of counted candles, the candle size increases for me, now somewhere just shy of redwood.
Have a great time, and here’s to you getting pressed. Um, uh… you know what I mean.
I love the cake increase idea! Redwood. Hahaha!
Wouldn’t that be so great especially since your avatar would be clicked on too!
I hope you do… never happen for me, some subjects get a tad too intense for the general populace.
Happy birthday!! Cause a little trouble, have a lot of fun, laugh until it hurts. You may not look younger, but you will definitely feel younger. Young enough to know better and too old to care!
Great advice! I will take it and run tonight!
Thanks so much!
I have what first name I can call you since I feel strange saying, “Thanks so much Ox!”
Wow – that cake has some serious candles! I’d love to see it all lit up!
I’m rapidly approaching the half century mark and not worried about it a bit. I dont look, feel, or act my real age so no worries.
When I was a child I wasn’t allowed to celebrate birthdays (or anything else for that matter) so when I had my first apartment and started observing my own traditions, I LOVED birthday parties. So much so that I had several a year just to catch up for the ones I’d lost. Now I have a week-long celebration and enjoy every minute of it.
My husband will take me on that Disney cruise for my 50th birthday if he knows what’s good for him. Again, a week-long celebration. And better yet, at sea! He’s got about two years to plan it all.
Thanks for sharing and embracing the real you. Happy birthday my friend!
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
That is so awesome Patricia! You rock! Birthdays are special and it is so great that you are looking forward to another milestone. I always will too!
Thank you so very much my new friend!
I’m glad you wear you wrinkles with pride, they are indeed markers of life lived (I certainly don’t want to give this body back without some signs of wear). A great spot in space to be born, best wishes for your next trip around the sun!
Thanks so much Noel! I really like the correlation with one year as a trip around the sun. That is so cool! It really does make it seem like a wild ride when you put it that way! Awesome!
Get back to me when you have grandkids in college, like I do. Seriously, how could you ever age when you live so close to ski slopes and, unlike Piper, know how to get there and what to do when you do.
You are way too young to have grandkids David in college David! Thanks for stopping by!
What a great post about your birthday
Happy Birthday!!
Most of mine are low key now, but I do remember the big and wild ones. I like that you enjoy the wrinkles you get and that you wear them like a badge on your “Wild Ride”. I tend to have that same view about gray hair.
You can check it out if you want to http://thewishfactor.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/this-gray-hair-belongs-to-tim-mcgraw/
Awesome! Thanks so much for the birthday wishes! Luckily, I go to the hair dresser to cover any wild white ones….the wrinkles? I don’t have too many, but the ones I have, I am very cool with. If they start coming in 10 at a time, then I will pull out my handy clothes pins! Hahaha!
I will read you post when I have time tomorrow! Thanks for sharing~
Happy Birthday, Susie! I’ve got one son in college (the other two still at home), so I know what you mean about schedules, haha! Enjoy!
Thanks KB! You are in the thick of it!!
Happy birthday. Wonderful read.
Happy Birthday! I think that birthdays should be seen as a marking point of how many great things you have done and experienced in the last year. Keep the numbers out of it, no one I know “acts their age” anyway. =)
Happy Birthday!
Thanks Cowgirlz!
I’m with you, Susie. Aging means we move forward better, thanks to the experiences and lessons we’ve gained. I embrace the lines around my eyes–evidence of smiles!
Happy, beautiful birthday to you!!!
Thanks August! I like your attitude too!
We get smarter with each passing year, so embrace them all until you are a genius! Happy Birthday and enjoy all you have to celebrate : )
Hey that is a good one! I will look forward to that. Thanks so much~
Hahahaha, have a blast & have a wonderful birthday!!!
Thanks for the wishes M!
Happy Birthday Susie!
Thanks Ginger!
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah… it’s all over facebook too… everywhere you go… it’s Suzie’s Birthday! Congrats and lots more!!! Pretty as a Pic in that beautiful dress.
Hey! It should be a national holiday! Thanks Ted!
Susie,
First of all, happy birthday! 2nd, please tell Danny to stop showing up every man who reads your blog.A DJ, and a dance floor? Che Palle! I would love my birthday too if my family rocked it like this. At my 40th bday my brother and I got in a shouting match in a restaurant and he stormed out and left us all there eating in silence. I would gladly take the DJ. Happy Birthday to one of my favorite writers on the web and one of the luckiest
Cheers,
M
You are so sweet Michael! Danny has had the best parties ever! Sorry about your 40th. I hope your next birthday rocks! When is it???
Dec 19 -
Awesome! You should have an Un-birthday on June 19th!
Are you going to the blogger convention in Keystone in June?
I didn’t hear about that. I would love to!
check it out. I will post about it today!
Hi Susie, I see you’ve solved the secret to eternal youth already: A smile and clothes pegs. I really hope you get freshly pressed and also like the change of scenery. Well done you and very many happy returns. xx
Thanks so much Linton! I have a few of those clothes pins on hand just in case!
Susie, I’ll let you into a secret, I look like a Sharpai in the mornings and have a plentiful supply of dog biscuits and clothes pegs.
Hahaha! Good to know!
What a great B’Day post Susie, fun and full of lovely stories
Wish you a very happy birthday
http://www.glitters123.com/glitter_graphics/Birthday/Birthday-Glitters-72.gif
Thanks for the fab birthday glitter! You rock Soma!
I need to dye my hair hahahaha
NO pole though.. Last year when I turned 60 I said if anyone did anything I would scream so they did not.. I like to suffer in silence hahaha
HUGGGGGGGGGGGG
No suffering here… You will have to try the pole on your 61st! Hahaha!
Thanks Linda!
Happy Happy Birthday!!! At first I thought the last cake was yours! I did not know you were a pole dancer! LOL
Thanks Domestic Goddess! Nope I am not that old…yet! I am not a professional pole dancer, but had a whirl on one of my birthdays! Hahaha!
Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Suzzzziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeee. Happy Birthday to you. You’re a wonderful celebration of life. (Oohwee, I’m hoarse and still out of breath from singing that last note. Phew!)
Thank you so much for the birthday serenade Neville! You made my day!
hippy bathday you !!!!
Oooh! That sounds like fun! Thanks Kyle!
Happy Birthday Susie,
The best part of “Susie’s Wild Ride” is that I get to go along!
Love Danny
You sure do! Hahaha!
Thanks Danny!
Happy Birthday, Susie!
Thanks Nick!
Great. Happy Bday! My best surprise was for forty…Sat. morning in bed my husband said hurry MB/my sister has to go to the hospital. So I raced to the basement to see her and lo and behold 30 people are staring and singing to me in my bathrobe, thankfully my hair looked good from the night before, else I would have smacked Mike a good one.I am better than ever and I’m only 37, well maybe 38…who cares my grandmother always quoted Jack Benny and he never aged.
Our husbands are well-intentioned anyway! You must have gone from panic to shock with that birthday surprise. Wow!
Gotta love Jack Benny’s ageless humor..Thanks Gardenlilie!
Good morning and a big Happy Birthday hug to you, Susie! You’ve had some wonderful birthdays through the years and I’ve no doubt this will be another one of them.. gown or no gown! xoxo
Thanks Smidgen! Now if I could just have one of your delicious cakes!
Happy birthday, Susie! I love the hats in the one picture. I need to borrow your attitude about aging; I am totally freaking about turning 30 on the 30th (never thought I would care this much)! My husband is surprising me with some sort of adventure on the 28th, but I’m not allowed to try to guess what it is… pray for me!
You’ll have a blast. I am way older than you, so party like a teenager. That was only a couple of years ago for you. I plan to and it was a long time ago for me!
Thanks Jules!
Congratulations! I enjoyed this post and am wishing you more sprouting of white hairs–if it’s associated with huge fun and merry heart. Many more years ahead. Have a Blast!!!
Hey wait a minute Charles. I don’t want anymore white hairs…Hahaha! You are right and that was my point.. My goal is to be ancient so that will mean I will eventually become a white haired lady (or at least my roots will be….)
Thanks so much Charles!
Welcome, Susie!
I love this post and happy birthday you young thing!!!!
Thanks JM! I like the sound of “young thing!”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Yes, I screamed that, because not only are birthdays worth celebrating, but you are as well!
Thanks so much KD! That is so sweet of you. They are worth celebrating! Woooooohooooooooo!
Happy Birthday, Susie – enjoy an extra special, awesome day!
Thanks Julie for your kind wishes! You made my day!
Happy Birthday! Wonderfully positive piece about ageing, I agree it’s better to appreciate the length and enjoy it while it’s there! Here’s to many more candles on your cake, and to more good times to come.
Oh, thank you so much! Bring on those candles!!!
Happy Birthday Susie and don’t ever lose that positive attitude. It fills in those litle potholes of life that we seem to experience every once in a while.
Thanks Wally! I try to see the humor in almost every situation especially if it is at my own expense!
I love your metaphor. That is so true!
Happy Birthday!!!
Thanks La La!
i’m not good with attention. i don’t like birthdays or getting christmas gifts. it must have been something from my childhood, barely ever getting any attention, so i’m not accustomed to it. you have been warned to never give me a surprise party. ok?
Okay I won’t……..but watch out about three days later for your surprise Thursday Party!
dangit! i’ll get you for this!!
happy birthday & happy always!!!
peace & fun,
laurie
Thanks Laurie! Have a great day!
Great attitude.
21 again eh?
By the candles on the cake I’d guess at 221!
I think there have to be at least that many! That is dang old!
Hahaha! Every year!
It’s just the way I roll! Okay now I am dating myself! Hahaha!
Hi,
A very Happy Birthday, I’m sure you will have a heap of fun, and really enjoy the day.
Isn’t it wonderful to look back on past Birthdays and the memories come flooding back, where would we be without our treasured photos.