Childhood's End - Addendum

Well, just when you're expecting one thing the universe throws you a curve ball. My boyfriend - who doesn't remember dates - actually remembered my birthday (or did he read my Blog?) and sent flowers and a balloon. He's also taking me out for a nice dinner. I also got a phone call from an old friend that I haven't spoken to (although we sometimes trade e-mails) in years. She called just to with me a "Happy Birthday". So, all total I got two phone calls, one e-mail, flowers, a balloon, and dinner. Not bad.

Just remember, when you think you know what's going to happen, expect the unexpected.

Childhood’s End

Tomorrow is my birthday and I’m in a rather down mood. No, I’m not hung up on the age thing. I feel that age has three categories: chronological, mental, and physical -- as long as the mental and physical are less than the chronological then you are doing OK. My problem is that I’ve no one left to celebrate with, or maybe I should say that there is no one who cares to celebrate with me.

Birthday celebrations are a thing for family and some friends. It’s generally a youth oriented activity with exceptions for special family members. Unfortunately, I’ve run out of family (no, I didn’t bump them off: cancer and heart attacks did it). I do have a friend who usually calls me and sends a card, but there is enough of the child in me still to want a cake and some balloons, maybe a party with fun activities. Oh well.

So tomorrow I will put a candle in a cupcake and sing “Happy Birthday to me”. I’ll probably treat myself to lunch out somewhere and maybe buy a book or music CD. Life is what you make of it. Even if there is no one else to party with, have a party with yourself. After all, you spend a lot of time together, might as well make the best of it.

When You Turn 75

The Beatles did a song called “When I’m 64” asking if that certain someone would still love them and care for them at that age. Well, I’m not to that age yet, but I am planning on doing something on my 75th birthday -- and you might want to consider it as well. Give me a minute to explain a few things and then I’ll fill you in.

Hopefully most of you know about the North Star. It is in a constellation called The Little Dipper. Do you know how to locate the North Star? First you locate the constellation The Big Dipper (it looks like a pot with a handle). You follow an imaginary line from the two stars on the far side of the pot up and you will find the North Star. The Astronomy Picture of the Day Web site has a great picture showing this. If you roll you mouse over the image then you’ll see what I’m trying to explain.

The Big Dipper is part of a much larger constellation called Ursa Major (the Great Bear). If you want to see what Ursa Major looks like, go to this Web site. The stars that make up much of the Big Dipper are 75 light years from Earth. Therefore, if you look at the Big Dipper on your 75th birthday, you will see what those stars really looked like on the day that you were born.

Everybody needs something nice to look forward to.