La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I suppose I should be grateful (I am, I am) to have survived another year. But it’s surreal for me to face the fact that I’m now 72, the reverse of what I was when I met San Geraldo. Granted sometimes I feel 72, but I don’t FEEL 72. When I hang out with 20–50 somethings, I think I’m still one of them. Then I look in the mirror and think, “Well, shit!” I hope that’s not what they think.
On this very special day, the first thing I did when I got out of bed (after being wished for the third time a happy birthday from SG), was throw in a load of laundry. SG said I should be on laundry strike in honor of my birthday but he acknowledged that the idea of him doing the laundry instead would be more punishment than gift. The two times he did laundry at our house in Connecticut (in the late ’80s), he flooded the basement (which didn’t happen before, between, or after). I would have accused him of setting that up so he’d never have to do laundry again, but he’s not that sneaky. Still, it worked. He has done it a few times since, but with a great deal of trepidation.
As for this week’s wedding, yesterday I found a belated birthday gift for 7-year-old Maria, a classy set of 40 double-tipped watercolor markers in an elegant zippered case, and a sketch book. The shop owner (a really sweet, helpful guy, although I didn’t really want help) suggested some fun coloring books but I wanted blank pages for Maria to express herself. I hated coloring books when I was a kid. All those outlines got in my way.
I went out a second time thinking the cool temperatures at that time of day (mid-20sC/high-70sF) would translate to a comfortable walk but the humidity was 54 percent. High for here which made it less pleasant. The body has adjusted to the climate.
Haven’t yet figured out what I’m doing today. There are the suitcases to get down from my office closet, maybe some ironing (ugh), organizing for the trip. Definitely some time in the sunshine. And a casual celebration dinner with San Geraldo.
I’ll see The Kid Brother tonight. I will tell him it’s my birthday. He will respond, “I know.”
Today’s pics are of me when I was adorable (possibly), beginning with my first days (below) being sacrificed to Fuhgeddaboudit, great sun god of Brooklyn. The above photo is with Dale after a night of celebrating my 13th.
Supongo que debería estar agradecida (y lo estoy) por haber sobrevivido otro año. Pero es surrealista para mí enfrentarme al hecho de que ahora tengo 72 años, lo contrario de lo que era cuando conocí a San Geraldo. Es cierto que a veces me siento de 72, pero no me SIENTO de 72. Cuando salgo con gente de entre 20 y 50 años, creo que sigo siendo una de ellos. Luego me miro al espejo y pienso: “¡Mierda!”. Espero que no piensen lo mismo.
En este día tan especial, lo primero que hice al levantarme de la cama (después de que SG me felicitara por tercera vez) fue poner una lavadora. SG me dijo que debería declararme en huelga de lavandería en honor a mi cumpleaños, pero reconoció que la idea de que él lavara la ropa sería más un castigo que un regalo. Las dos veces que lavó la ropa en nuestra casa de Connecticut (a finales de los 80), inundó el sótano (algo que no había ocurrido ni antes, ni entretanto, ni después). Lo habría acusado de planearlo para no tener que volver a lavar la ropa nunca más, pero no es tan astuto. Aun así, funcionó. Lo ha hecho un par de veces desde entonces, pero con mucha aprensión.
En cuanto a la boda de esta semana, ayer encontré un regalo de cumpleaños tardío para María, de 7 años: un elegante juego de 40 rotuladores de acuarela de doble punta en un estuche con cremallera y un cuaderno de dibujo. El dueño de la tienda (un tipo muy amable y servicial, aunque yo no necesitaba ayuda) me sugirió algunos libros para colorear, pero yo quería páginas en blanco para que María pudiera expresarse. De pequeño yo odiaba los libros para colorear. Todos esos contornos me estorbaban.
Salí por segunda vez pensando que las temperaturas frescas a esa hora del día (entre 20 y 25 °C, 75 y 80F) harían que el paseo fuera agradable, pero la humedad era del 54 %. Alta para esta zona, lo que lo hizo menos placentero. El cuerpo ya se ha adaptado al clima.
Todavía no he decidido qué haré hoy. Tengo que bajar las maletas del armario de mi oficina, quizás planchar algo (¡qué pereza!), organizar todo para el viaje. Sin duda, tomaré el sol. Y una cena informal de celebración con San Geraldo.
Esta noche veré a mi hermano pequeño. Le diré que es mi cumpleaños. Él responderá: “Ya lo sé”.
Las fotos de hoy son de cuando era adorable (posiblemente), empezando por mis primeros días (abajo) siendo sacrificada a Fuhgeddaboudit, el gran dios sol de Brooklyn. La foto de arriba es con Dale después de una noche celebrando mi decimotercer cumpleaños.
• Podría usar ese oso ahora.
• Mi padre no recortó la foto, así que tuve que hacerlo yo. (Ya me habían circuncidado una vez).
• Beefcake (pastelito musculoso) a los 15 años. En Host Farm en Lancaster, Pensilvania, en el corazón de la región de los holandeses de Pensilvania.
Happy Bloomsday
Karen,
I never understood why they called it Bloomsday and not simply Mitchell’s birthday.
Mitchell, Happy Birthday!❤️
Robin,
Thanks for the heart!
“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” – Mark Twain”
The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” – Lucille Ball
“You know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.” – Bob Hope
Happy Birthday, Mitchell!!
Jon,
Love these. Always Mark Twain. Thanks. I should have taken Lucy’s advice. Too late now.
Happy Happy Birthday!! You haven’t changed a bit. 🎂
Bob,
Since yesterday?
Happy Birthday. Wish we were all there to help you celebrate.
David Godfrey,
Oh wouldn’t that have been wonderful. Thanks.
Happy, happy birthday dear Mitchell!!! Sending you a big birthday hug. 🙂
I think your gift for little Maria will be perfect! I’m with you on the coloring books. It will be interesting to see what she chooses to do with a blank slate.
Oh, and your comment about the cropped baby photo made me laugh out loud!
Enjoy your day, sweet friend.
Love,
Jennifer
Jennifer,
Thanks so much. So grateful to know you even from this great distance.
I always love seeing that picture with Dale!
Happiest of birthdays to you, dear Mitch 🙂 It truly, truly is a better world, because you’re (still!) in it.
Feel special today!
Judy C,
It WAS a special day. Thanks. Your ears should have been burning yesterday. I’ll write.
Happy birthday! And many more. Boud
Boud,
Thanks!
Happiest of all possible birthdays, O Mitchell O Mine! This most auspicious of days, alas, only appears on the calendar on my phone and not on any other device, so I missed out on sending a more elaborate greeting. I hit 72 in November, and I don’t feel that age either–except on some days. (Did I know we were just about the same age? Probably, but I forgot, which is the clearest indicator of my antiquity.) Have a lovely day and know you bring joy into my life. 🎂🥳😘
Wickedhamster,
I well remembered that you are much older than me, an entire 8 months! Thanks for the wishes nd for bringing joy into my life, too. I’m so grateful to count you as a friend.
Hearty felicitations! And you haven’t changed a bit since you were 15 – well, only a teeny weeny bit. 🙂
Rybears,
Hey, what’s that about a teeny weeny?!?
That last picture reminded me of the very lean man I loved so very much when I was in my twenties. I think his thinness bothered him but he could not have been more beautiful to me. And you, at fifteen, were absolutely gorgeous.
You were a darling baby, too. Those eyes! Still the same ones you have today.
Maria will love her gift. That’s my favorite sort of gift to give to a child. “Here. This is yours. Do with it what your heart wants.” It’s like opening a door and inviting them to step through it.
May your day involve cake and wallowing in the love of your dear man and all of those who send you give wishes.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon,
I never understood why anyone found me attractive as a teen. Well, not much has changed, huh? Yesterday was a truly wonderful, simple birthday. And I did have cake. And cookie. And ice cream. And all with San Geraldo.
That’s the startling thing about growing older. The inside image doesn’t age nearly as fast as the outside image. Big jump there from 2 (?) to 15. A very cute boy unavailable to the girls.
Happy Birth Day!
Ellen Abbott,
Oh, I was available to the girls until I was 27. Poor things. What did I know?
Happy Birthday!!!
Rade,
Thanks.
Well, look at you! What a cutie!
The first one is lovely.
Now……get out there and enjoy your birthday.
Happy Birthday, Mitchell!!
Jim,
That photo with Dale brings back so many memories. The idea of lying like that with her hand on my forehead brought tears to my eyes all these years later. I was a sickly kid and she was my protector. It was la great birthday. Thanks!
72? No wonder your passed out on your sister Dale’s lap! The first picture might sum it up. But I wish you a very happy birthday nonetheless.
Mistress Maddie,
Remembering being that close to Dale really tugged on my heartstrings. Jeez! I didn’t start drinking and drugging until two years later. I miss the drinking!
Happy birthday, Mitchell! There oughta be a law against doing laundry on your special day. Great photos. You had J&B on your 13th birthday?! LOL
Steve,
Come to think of it, i don’t think I’ve still ever had J&B.
Hi Mitchell — Just popping in to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY! The world is such a wonderful place because you are in it! Remember that as you’re doing laundry, LOL. And the Double Circumcision photo made me laugh. Have a marvelous SPECIAL DAY!
Debra,
Thanks for popping in from your travels. It was a great day.
Happy Birthday, Scoot! Remember you’re only about 10 in dog years and old dogs CAN learn new tricks, LOL.
Tundra Bunny,
Yeah, but can old dogs still get paíd for turning tricks?
I said learn, not turn! LOL.
Happy Birthday! I love the photo of you with your teddy bear!
Michael,
I had two stuffed animals that i wish my mother hadn’t thrown away after Chuck had them, that and a sleeping dog with a music box inside
Codex
Happy Birthday.
Hope we get to the point one day where age is but a number.
Codex,
Thanks! I wonder how that would work.
Happy Birthday Mitchell ;-)!
this was Jan from Perth
Backatcha, Jan from Perth!
Happy birthday, Mitchell!
Thanks, Kirk!
Well…Happy Birthday young man!!
I love the way you think that mid 20s is cool……..my idea of cool is less than 10c !
Frances
Frances,
Less than 10 is our idea of arctic.