Yvonne, race car driving??!! Wow! I don't think I'd want to do that NOW, but I hope when I'm 80, I'll have a little of that same go for it attitude!

Patrish, thanks for the suggestion. Nothing like saying "Oh, we should have brought the camera!" or "Oops! Forgot to charge the batteries!"

kat, I agree with your mom. I've often thought that a wake should happen while the person is living. Most have no idea that they will be remembered with such fondness. Isn't that what birthday celebrations should be about? Really celebrating the person's life and "gifting" them with the words that let them know what they mean to us. The other day I was singing at a local restaurant and there was a middle aged couple and an older woman there. On a break I went over to greet them and when they asked me to guess how old the older woman was, I said, "70...72..." She proudly reported that she was 92 years old, and then, seeing the surprised look on my face, asked if I wanted to know how to live that long. I said yes, I did, to which she replied, "Keep breathing!"

Have a great day, all! KT