On the occasion of my 50th birthday, my 1000th post

I have mixed emotions. I'm glad I'm still here, I have my health, but I'm a vain woman. I'm aging semi gracefully but it's a drag to get old. :-(

Anyone else have trouble on their 50th?

Congratulations making it through half a century.

I can't say for sure because I'm just shy of 46, but IMO I got through most of my midlife crises around 41. The body continues to slowly deteriorate, I have a colonoscopy scheduled in a couple of weeks because of a family history of colon cancer, and I take Metamucil almost daily. But I can still enjoy most of the things I used to, and the sex, on the rare occasions it happens, is great.

WOW!
naw, 50 wasn't bad.
60?
Now THAT took some getting used to.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BAMADEMO!
and ROLL TIDE.
:hi:

Who are you pulling for in the Sugar Bowl?

When the Tide ain't involved, I'm not much into it.
:shrug:

I should root for the SEC but after Oklahoma fans starting chanting
"Roll Tide, Roll Tide" at Francione when they beat him 77-0 I became a
Sooner fan. :evilgrin:

Got a lot of cousins-by-marriage in LA.

Well, and at 60, to coin that old adage: If I had known that I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.

Have a very happy birthday.

:party: :toast:

and 60 will probably be hard to swallow if I'm fortunate to make it!

:toast: :toast: :toast:

DemEx

Here's to 50 more! :-)

Outside of the various appendages that succumb to gravity, it's a cake walk!

:toast:

I work out and that's kept gravity at bay.

Actually. I exaggerate for the purpose of a chuckle. It really has been okay so far...

Until 51 in April. Eeeek!

(actually 48, because I decided I would start counting backwards after 50)--

When I start to fret about getting older I remind myself of my mother's friend who's in her 80s.

She is beautiful, takes marvelous care of herself, and. most importantly, is extremely loving and takes infinite interest in the lives of everyone around her. Plus, she has always been an active left-winger.

She has been married twice-- the second time at 70--widowed twice, and now is in love again, and divides her time between their homes in New York, Florida and Fire Island.

When I grow up I want to be like Tess.

So Bamademo, hve a wonderful birthday-- the best is yet to come!

I think it bothers women more than men. Here I am, coming up on 58, like you I work out & keep in shape, and I feel pretty good. Gray-white beard looks good, bald spot doesn't look so good but I can't see it so that's only a rumor. I feel really competent in what I do; I've been at it long enough that my papers usually get accepted for publication and my grant proposals generally get funded eventually (the measure of your worth as an epidemiologist - grants & papers....~sigh~). My wife's Korean relatives are now more-and-more younger than I am and are actually defering to me, so I don't have to work quite so hard remembering how to speak high form Korean (note to self: be very careful in next life about marrying foreign aristocrats). And 60's really just around the corner, and that'll be, I think, kinda fun. Besides, I'm a Quaker, and for some reason Quakers tend to live very long, healthy lives. I used to be friends with a Quaker in Seattle, Floyd Schmoe by name, who was 51 years older than I. He passed away a coupla years ago, but he was the first park naturalist at Mt Rainer - only the second park naturalist in the whole system. He last climbed Mt Rainier to the top when he was 87, went skiing at his son's place in the Teutons when he was 90, and was quite vigorous almost till he died. Always full of stories, too. Part of what we miss in our society with its emphasis on nuclear families, is examples around us of how to grow old. There's lots of ways to do that, and most of us don't see more than a couple.

you're right - there are lotsa ways to grown old.

in many ways.

I came then too.

I am scared to death of the birthday, but will be relieved, I think, that I made it.

Try not to stress to much about 50. Treat yourself and do something you've always wanted to do, but never tried. Go skydiving or something.

Happy Birthday! :toast:

February 21st I'll join you at 50, a happily partnered, slightly vain, hopelessly lazy Mississippi guy (just hit 5000 posts)

The only birthday that was rough for me was 30. I was depressed for several months. I met my soul mate when I was 35 and I've never dreaded a birthday since. Life is good!

And, again, hope today was really special for you! :)

I'll be 48 in April...and I'm looking forward to 50.

Honey, I wouldn't trade this time in my life for anything. I think my best years are right now...and you should, also. :-)