Growing old is a privilege denied to many
WITH ever y milestone you take stock of your life. Are you where you t hought you’d be? Have you achieved what you set out to do? But most importantl y are you happy?
I think the last one is the only one that really matters.
Isn’t it funny that between the ages of 21 and 80 we really don’t make a big thing about celebrating our birthdays?
Some people have 30 ths, a few have 40 ths and you hear of some 50 ths but after that you don’t really hear of big 60 ths or 70 ths.
The first big one is really your 18th when you can have your first legal drink. I was from the old old school and actually had my first drink in Langs Bar in Grange on my 18th birthday. I remember being watched for my reaction, which with many things you place on a pedestal in life, was a disappointment. However a couple of drinks more and I could see what all the hype was about.
Then there was the spate of 21sts, at which stage I had made up for 18 years of abstinence and was now a seasoned drinker. They were great fun and I have many happy memories.
There were a few 30 ths but in the grand scheme of things they were mild as many of us were married, some already had children and others were saving to get married or go travelling.
Next April I will turn the big 4-0 and myself and many of my friends in the same boat have been discussing it. While some of them like myself don’t have a problem with it, some are saddened by the thought and are full of nostalgia. Others are planning to stay under the covers until the day is over. And more just don’t want to admit to it.
I never understand people dreading turning a certain age. Growing old is a privilege which is denied to many. I think being healthy and happy should not to be taken for granted and if you have these two things you have everything.
Another friend of mine will shortly turn 50 and a group of us are going off for a night to paint the town red. It’s a chance to behave like a teenager if only for a few hours. After all while the body may grow older, the mind is always young.
Both of my parents died too soon from Illness and as their milestone birthdays come and go I know they would have been only too happy to have been here to mark them.
For my mother’s 70 th we went to Rome and she got to see the Pope (although in reality it could have been anybody waving from that balcony we were so far away) but it is something I’m very glad we did as she did not live to celebrate her 80 th.
I think birthdays are important and should be marked even if it’s just with a piece of cake because for every year we get to mark one, there are thousands who won’t have that chance.