It's as if the fates knew. I posted this rather 'OMG I'm 55 and not dealing with it' post and the text was magically deleted as I posted photographs. I can hear one close to my heart yelling "OFFS stop whingerating." He has a point.
No. I did not have a happy birthday (although I had a pleasant one) because I'm in total denial that the woman in the mirror has any semblance to me. I am not older nor wiser. In fact I'm less knowledgeable than ever, and the older I get...the less I know. But, my children took me out for lunch on what can only be described as an awesome spring day. Friends and family (well my sister) wished me well. I am not happy about my age or who I am right now. I'm in the wrong time, place, century, country. Not depressed. Just aware of my situation. But...I'm alive, clothed, fed, housed, working...nothing really to complain about and I must admit that when the sun shines here... all else seems to fade. Thank you my darlings for lunch and the gifts. Neither were necessary but both totally appreciated. I love you to distraction. You are my reason for being.
 |
| Mr and Mrs Bainbridge deciding where we should go |
 |
| Ripples Milson's Point |
 |
| Yes it really does look that awesome |
 |
| Random Wedding . . |
 |
| Sweet dessert . . is that an oxymoron |
 |
| Intrepid traveller . . off again on Wednesday |
 |
| Lovely homebody . . .total champion |
 |
| My family . . . like diamonds . . small but precious |
 |
| Single white female... rennovator's dream . . .for lease, great views |
 |
| Apres Lunch barista . . .all I have is a plunger :( |
smiles. happy birthday...you have a lovely family...i like you sales pitch...a renovators dream...smiles.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Baino. Almost each line touched me especially your diamond family.
ReplyDeleteaw. You are quite a lovely, no beautiful, woman; and fifty-five suits you. You can't be 39 forever, you know.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely view, even the Opera House looks great. Happy birthday dear Baino. Looking lovely. Cheer up about the age. At least you don't have to pay for the kid's college tuition fees any longer. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I forgot. I agree with the knowledge and wisdom! Hahaha. Same here.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday H! I was your age 5 yrs ago (as you know since you saw my quickie about going to NOLA). BTW, posted about the trip on my Women of a Certain Age blog. Verrry interesting.
ReplyDeleteYou will snap out of this. You have no choice. Remember what Dorothy Parker said,
Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.
Yowzer! (I don't recognize me either)
Happy Birthday anyway! Cheer up!
ReplyDeleteAh hells, new chapters are hard until you figure out the landscape. And until you figure out you get to rearrange the landscape.
ReplyDeleteI have every confidence in your future. I plan to be part of it. The word settling', I think, is an interesting one as I read this. I'm always near terrified of 'settling' and yet, there is something to be said when chards stop flying around and the tides relax.
I am happy happy to see you posting. And you know well I understand the happysad. but Don't ever give up and don't think this chapter is the finale. No way
I love you honey hells. That's one sure thing
xo
kj
Happy belated Bday, SWF Baino! :) I did have to laugh reading your post about the denial looking in the mirror. Oh dear me, I suspect many of us after 40 can relate to that.
ReplyDeleteBTW, wanted to tell you that I am closing Hot Toast and Jam so thought you might enjoy its last post and the lil suprise at the end perhaps. :)
I will still be visiting just not as much (as if I have been that frequent anyway) as one might expect when hosting a personal blog, verses an art one.
Let me just say then, thank you for your support along the way and here's wishing you the best until we chat again.
Thanks everyone. A new day today...all good.
ReplyDeleteYay!!! A post from you. I do miss your regular posts. How fun to see your birthday celebration, and I so understand the confusing experience of finding a stranger in the morning's mirror. Equally weird are window reflections. Anyhow, Happy Birthday to YOU.
ReplyDeleteI totally related to so much of this post as I am in a transition period and don't feel all that glamourous myself. Loved the line about the Diamond Family, so perfectly true. But Happy Birthday! And may this year bring you happiness and joy around every corner!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday and you look wonderful :)
ReplyDeleteI said it on facebook and I'll say it again - you look wonderful. and hey...ya got a hell of a family there - lucky girl.
ReplyDeletethat said..I wouldn't mind a body-time machine
Happy Birthday Baino - what I see is a gorgeous, slim and hot lookin' sheila enjoying a great view!
ReplyDeleteA very happy birthday to you, dear Baino. You obviously didn't get a whoopee cushion for your birthday ;-) Perhaps you should have. Good for some hilarious laughter, no matter how young you are. Hey! And I'm seeing the same as Kath Lockett and all the others see. And you're a beautiful person too. I've just read in a article that 50 is the new 30. So you're only 35 :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Helen! You're definitely lookin' good from here.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Helen!!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes you can be 39 and holding for ever. Jack Benny said you could. Since you look younger than that then just keep sticking to it. The family looks great and are now your brother and sisters. Looks like a fantastic lunch place too.
Very nice to see you all had a great time. May we see many more birthdays to come.
God bless.
Happy Belated, Baino! I love your photo and I think you look wonderful, as do your lovely grown ki..ds. Many more and much happiness.
ReplyDeleteLate, but heartfelt. Happy birthday, Helen! You look wonderful. Your family is lovely, all of you.
ReplyDeleteYes, stop whinging, woman, and enjoy yourself! Nothing wrong with being 55 if you're fit and healthy. Though I know what you mean about being in the wrong time, place, century, country....
ReplyDeletejust had one too but 2 decades older and still I moan hahah great pics
ReplyDeleteBelated happy birthday wishes Helen. You look like " a fine lookin' woman with a fine lookin' family" and a happy one into the bargain...and Sydney scrubs up well as a birthday spot, or wedding too judging by your photos.
ReplyDeleteGreat that you could celebrate with those near and dear to you.
Happy belated birthday. 55 is just a beginning to the good life. Wait until you add 30 years to that age before failing to recognize the woman in the mirror.
ReplyDeleteYour daughter has a beautiful profile. I am so envious. In fact, all of you are just gorgeous.
Awww... happy birthday anyway, Baino!
ReplyDeleteI had a birthday this month too, and I have to tell you I'm nearer to 60 than you are. Dammit. I'm not happy with me, who I am, where I live, my state of health etc etc either, but like you I also have much to be thankful for, and like you I have two wonderful 'diamonds' for kids.
Hello! Obviously I was in Fiji for your birthday! (Thank you for the comment.) ... I am also 55 ...leaning ever closer to 56 ... also a single white female and suddenly feeling that aloneness this week, since I returned from my fabulous adventure.
ReplyDeleteAn opening in my psyche seems to have appeared like a crack in a wall after an earthquake ..hmmm I think I might write that out.
If ever you want a weekend up my way ...you would be most welcome!
Happy Birthday ...go on I dare you ..make it your best year yet.
xx
hello there
ReplyDelete♥
Aw you, I hope you're having a merry unbirthday now then. And you don't look 55, and you'll feel much younger when you and I go tagging over your way! ;)
ReplyDeleteremember you are every age you have ever been... so have fun with that.
ReplyDeleteI'll be fifty next month,
how young are you? x
*rushes in, all hot and sweaty*
ReplyDeleteah heck! I'm too late! I missed it!
Happy Birthday anyway. I'll be sure and check my bloglist more closely from now on.
55? Are you sure? I would have thought 45.
I sometimes look in the mirror and wonder who that is there too.
Happy birthday to you! I love your quick wit and wonderful style of writing. Getting old does feel weird, doesn't it? I turned 50 three weeks ago and can't believe it. ha.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I just joined the 50s club a couple months ago. What happened? I don't look or feel 50 except when I have to "double click" on drop down boxes where I have to fill in my birth year...yikes. Happy Birthday and thanks for paving the way through the 50s land!
ReplyDeleteSorry I had not noticed that you had a post – and what a post – a birthday post – Happy Belated Birthday! You will see when you are another 15 years older – you will still feel the same inside –you won’t feel old and you won’t be. Time does take a toll on the joints in the body, but that is all, the good parts are still there.
ReplyDeleteA VERY belated birthday wish to YOU! BUT STILL WELL INTENDED. You look fabulous!
ReplyDeleteYour kids are always wonderful..."Mr. and Mrs. Bainbridge" sounds so dignified!
Now let's talk about that dessert...what the hell is the hairy stuff on top!?!?
O wow this has been here for ages. Just shows how little I have been online. About twice since you posted that...
ReplyDeleteHave you ever been in that amazing-looking opera house? I would LOVE to go there and to La Scala. Ideally to see a ballet. I have never seen ballet before and it's a bit more graceful than fat women shrilling at the top of their lungs... know what I mean.
I hope all is OK with you. I'm thinking of getting cheap satellite television as I got an offer through from the BBC saying I could have it for £67 sterling which is $100 US (ish). Then there's the small issue of that broken computer. Frankly I'd like to just get another one but my Dad thinks I should repair it. Who knows what will happen. I'm just stuck using public ones that don't work that well (won't even publish a blog post until I ask to switch machines) I mean how crap is that??
Hello Baino, how are you?
ReplyDelete