Bonus Time
I've only had a few birthday parties in my 60 years on this earth. Birthdays weren't something my parents made a big fuss over, although the celebration was always enough. Hamburgers on the grill, chocolate cake with white frosting. "Milestone" birthdays are usually a bigger deal (until they aren't). Although this year, celebrating with my two sisters, brother-in-law, and husband was one of the best days ever.I've never liked having my picture taken, so I don't get the obsession of some people with selfies. I see myself in photographs and cringe - bad hair, fat face, goofy look, whatever, I could always find a flaw. Adding three pictures of myself to this blog post feels self-serving.
Through the years, I've celebrated my birthday with family and friends, most of the time. In 1981, I was working as an au pair in Switzerland, living with an unhappy couple and their badly behaved little boy. On my birthday, I broke a lamp in their house. It was an accident, but oh. Not a good day. She was much more forgiving than he was.The year I turned 40, my husband and I went to Boston, and, as it turned out, we were back there for my 50th ( I spent my birthday facilitating a roundtable discussion with fellow fraud investigators). But, our hotel room had a view of Fenway Park and I ate chocolate-covered strawberries.I've lost some friends over the years. By the time you reach this age, it's not completely unexpected, although I do expect to attend wakes and funerals for the parents of my contemporaries, not my contemporaries. Still. Jeff, Steve, Lucy, Kevin, Sue, Paul, Kathy, Jack, Patty, Susan, Michael, Andy, Danny, Carole, Tom, Pat, Karen, Joe, Tim. Always remembered.My friend Tommy Hobin (we're going on 48 years now) says we're living in "bonus time." How many of us can say we're still alive thanks to good fortune or dumb luck - those narrow escapes we reminisce about but don't want to share with our children or grandchildren. Bonus time.This year we won't be in Boston, but I'll be somewhere near the Atlantic Ocean. I had a new headshot taken, by my dear friend Dianna Solimeo of Vee's Photography. It's me at 60, with my Coke-bottle eyeglasses and lines on my face. It is a true photo of the real me. Maybe, finally, I'm okay with it.
BONUS!
If you've read this far, you deserve a reward! Every single one of my books (all eight) are discounted to 99 cents for the digital version. Seven novels, including my Swiss Chocolate trilogy, and one nonfiction. I'll keep the prices low for a week or so. 💛💚💙