On Birthdays, Socks and Underwear

faywray

Not another birthday!

I often hear people moan about birthdays. Don’t you? It is s conundrum. If you want to live a long life, you have to weather milestones and put up with a few gray hairs. I tell people to suck it up! Smile! Be glad that you’re around for another year. Many don’t have that luxury.

And then mine comes around.

When I was a child, my special day was celebrated with family, a few friends, cake and ice cream and bubbles. Adriaen_Hanneman_Two_Boys_Blowing_Bubbles

When I became an adult it meant going out at night and partying at the bars, shots of tequila and morning-after headaches.

When I became a parent, it meant a night on the town with my husband while we paid someone to watch the kids.

Now, the trick is to take responsibility for my own birthday. But what does that mean?

How about splurging?

Hmm. I could schedule a massage, get a facial or go shopping. Sheesh! I have a shirt to return from Christmas! I do need basics. We are talking socks and underwear people.

How about relaxing for a day without the internet?

I shudder to think about avoiding my blog, Facebook or Twitter. I don’t think I could do it. That wouldn’t make me happy and this is all about me, right?

How about taking a day off from work?

With a lot of professions, you leave your work behind when you leave the office. As writers, we take our job everywhere we go. Forget the computer. While in a traffic jam yesterday, I jotted down notes for this post on the back of a scrap of paper! I’m always on the clock. Writing is my passion and an obsession. I…can’t…stop…myself…

How about engaging in a crazy adventure?

Cold weather will prevent me from hot air ballooning, learning how to fly an airplane or jumping out of one. I will wait for a warmer day…

hot air balloon

Now that my kids are in college, my birthday has come full circle.

I look forward to a day spent with family, cake and ice cream and bubbles. I have already heard from a few old friends through Facebook. I’ll share a meal with my family and order dessert. Then I’ll poke around my favorite shops and purchase a few pair of socks and some cute panties. Afterward, I’ll slip into a tub full of bubbles. I’ll look back on this year’s accomplishments and smile.

hot tubbing

 

A Colorado bubble bath

It will be a perfect day after another wild year. You have come to expect no less from this Wild Rider, right?

What would your perfect day include?

Do you look forward to your birthday?

Wikimedia Commons

Soap Bubble – Wikipedia

Fay Wray photo copyright-free

167 thoughts on “On Birthdays, Socks and Underwear

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  1. You are a Wild Rider Indeed – Happy Birthday – Celebrate Your Special Day!!! My birthday usually gets shuffled into Thanksgiving or even the Christimas Holiday celebrations. I remember having the flu when I turned 18 and then the flu and food poisioning when I turned 21. Really know how to celebrate my special day – ha! Happy Thursday:)

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    1. What a bummer for a 21st… I hope you have had many great celebrations since then!
      Shuffling gets to be routine when family is spread out. As long as you make time for yourself on your special day!
      Thanks so much Renee!

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    1. That is exactly what the day is for! I think the trouble for so many is when they depend on others to make the day special.. We need to eat, drink and be merry, right???
      Thanks so much Bill!

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  2. First, Happy Happy Birthday!

    Second, for a good birthday you should do whatever it is that you love. For me that means, taking a walk with my hubby and pups, maybe getting a massage or pedicure and of course eating a really nice meal.

    Third, when you look in the mirror and you see a grey hair or a wrinkle or something that would normally freak most women out do what I do. Look it over and say, “I earned that sucker!”

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    1. I have earned a lot of those suckers! Hahaha!
      Thanks Emily! That sounds like a great way to celebrate. We all owe it to ourselves to plan something special for our day even if no one else does! 🙂

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  3. Happy B-Day to you! Here’s my birthday gift for you…I’m going to continue to follow your very funny blog and follow you on facebook and twitter because I appreciate your creativity, your fearlessness to put it out there, your love of animals, the many laughs you give me, and because I love Colorado. And if I don’t comment it’s one of those crazy days when I scan blogs, tweets, posts and just take it in, but have no time to put out cause I’m busy painting and tending to life in general but today is your special day so I’m commenting cause I have a minute to do that and you were on the top of my list. So CARRY ON Susie, even when it’s echos-I’m listening, laughing and appreciating. Have a shot of tequila for me.

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  4. First of all happy b-day. I hope you get the socks and underwear of your dreams.

    My perfect day I don’t have to go to work. I sleep in with a companion and engage in morning (or noonish recreation), eat brunch with her and then go home and write for a while. Later, I hook up with Milton. We catch a play and then have a late night meal and pound some beverages afterward.

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    1. It does sound perfect and so leisurely! I hope you live “the dream” for your next birthday!
      I did buy some great socks and fun colored undies! Stopped at the mall and took back that shirt from Christmas… Hahaha! I can’t believe how long it has been since I shopped! Sheesh!
      Thanks so much V!

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      1. I hate shopping in stores for clothes. I especially hate dressing room mirrors for they hate me back. Glad you avoided the post-Xmas returns crowd when you finally unloaded that shirt.

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                1. I love gnomes!
                  I didn’t even notice, since I am so exhausted from celebrating! It’s not that it was excessive. I think it’s the sensory overload factor….must take nap…

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  5. I recently had my palm read. The woman told me I have a very long life line. Something tells me that you do, too. Way to make the most of it, girl!! Have a fabulous day! 😀

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    1. That is so cool. I hope so Mary! I sat down and recounted the plots of all of the books I want to write with my husband this morning. I have a lot to do!
      Thanks so much!

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  6. Happy birthday, Susie! I’m like you, my birthday is never that big of a deal to me. With one coming up in just a few weeks (my, how the year has flown by!), I find myself in no need to celebrate. I thought about taking the day off, but I’d rather use the vacation time for something a little more worthwhile than the anniversary of my entry into the world. But with all the fortunate surprises of 2013, maybe there will be some birthday-related fun in my future. Enjoy your special day!!!!

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    1. It is a big deal to me, but I don’t need to do as much to celebrate. Having lunch with my family was fantastic yesterday and considering where everyone had to drive from, it was no small feat! I am so thankful for them!
      I think we do need to find some way to celebrate even if it is in stopping at a bakery to buy ourselves a special treat!
      I hope there is a lot of birthday-related fun in your future too!
      Thanks so much!

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  7. My perfect day would be a day with a real camera so I could take real photos. Not that I’m not greatful for the one I have…I am. As far as looking forward to my next birthday, that’s a year away. However, I will look forward to it like the last…it’s just another day. 🙂

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    1. It’s not just another day. It is your special day!!!
      I know what you mean about a good camera. I take the majority of photos on my phone and would love a digital SLR, but hate the size of them!
      Happy belated birthday Jerry!

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      1. Thank you Susie. I’ll be getting a new/used Canon EOS in about a week. it has hardly ever been used. It looks like it has not been out of the box three times. I tried it out and for what I could test there at the pawn shop it worked beautifully. A late birthday gift but very thankful and grateful. I’ll be happier than a North Alaskan well diggers butt on the Serengeti. 😉

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  8. BUBBLES! If there’s anything I like more than glitter and sparkly things, it’s bubbles. I love the way you think! And who knew you were a fellow Aries? Well, that’s just super fabulous.

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Happy, happy, happy Birthday darling. I hope you spend it doing exactly what you want to be doing and if that means shopping, then go shopping, if that means watching trashy TV, then do that. It’s your day, so do whatever YOU want to do! And hey, you can always hot air balloon ride in the summer and celebrate your UN-birthday!

    The important part is to just enjoy life. And I think you’ve got that part down, my friend.

    I wish I was there to give you a huge hug. Big birthday kisses and hugs to you. Mwuah!

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    1. Thanks so much Tameri! I did get to see my family and it was fantastic! I do think it is important to celebrate no matter how big or small the celebration, take stock and be grateful for friends like you! **muah** right back!

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  9. Happy Stinken’ Birthday! 😀 I for one love getting older (and hopefully wiser), but loathe parties. I think your hot tub looks like the perfect way to spend it though. Hope this year is even better than the last!

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  10. Many Happy Returns! Hot tub? How unadventurous! Surely while waiting for summer you should have found some ice to break allowing for a place to swim? (The hot tub would be twice as nice after that!)

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  11. There you go. Do what YOU want, not what anybody else thinks you should do for your B-day. Now that’s a seriously wild thought, and I like it. I’m trying to decide what to do for my 50th B-day. Probably just go hiking in the park, take a bunch of pics, and watch a movie packed with awesome visual effects. What could be better than that?

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    1. That sounds perfect! I think they should at least be memorable and have some time set aside to think about the past year. Happy almost 50th birthday to you!
      Thank you so much!

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  12. Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀
    Looks like you enjoyed your day. Took the time off and relaxed. Very nice. You have lots of great ideas. I may have to link back to you next week. Maybe I should do a Bday post. What do you think? Hmm.
    I normally don’t look forward to my birthday, but Tameri is taking me for tea and I suspect it will be ridiculously AWESOME! Oh, wait, I’m supposed to say HIDEOUS! Maybe I’ll bump next Thursday’s post and make it my birthday Thursday Tea. I totally forgot about my birthday. Wasn’t going to post a thing about it. If I don’t say anything will I never age? Maybe I can be immortal! LOL.

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    1. Love it! Definitely post about your birthday! I write about my wild life, so I had to include it right??? I think we have to shout out to everyone out there who doesn’t want to acknowledge another year by CELEBRATING LIFE!!! It doesn’t get better than that!
      I will look forward to your post and time with Tameri! You lucky ducks!
      Thanks so much Debra! I am especially grateful for friends like you!

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  13. Happy Birthday!

    Hey, having a birthday beats the heck out of the opposite, right?

    Enjoy a great meal, b-day cake, and a bottle good wine. Doing it all in a hot tub is winning!

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  14. I do look forward to my birthday, but not particularly to getting older. So I decided that I was still going to celebrate the day, but not get any older. Now that that has been decided, I love my birthday days.

    Happy birthday you special wild lady you! I hope you enjoy everything on your list of pleasures. I don’t suppose we’ll see any pix of the new panties though. Some things are better left to the imagination.

    Have a good one!

    Patricia Rickrode
    w/a Jansen Schmidt

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    1. Thanks Patricia!
      I had a really great day and did find some really cute panties and agree about the imagination… 🙂
      I think we should embrace all of our years and be grateful.. It is all in the interpretation like you said!

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  15. Happy,happy,happy,happy,happy,happy Birthday!!! I celebrate somewhat you do…Birthday cake and ice cream with the family..lately though I’ve been in Florida on my day, and I told hubby what I’d like to do next year is be HOME on my birthday.

    Enjoy! Celebrate! Congrats!

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    1. There you go! It is good to plan ahead. This year was the best because I made a plan and Danny really helped to make it come together. There is nothing better than celebrating with the ones you love!
      Thanks so much!

      Like

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