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BS: Turning 50
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Subject: BS: Turning 50 From: Peter Kasin Date: 08 Apr 03 - 01:04 AM Today (it's still April 7 here) I turned 50. more than any other birthday so far, this one leads to much reflection on life. Last week, there was a bash at a friend's house, with, among about 60 others, catters Melani, Radriano, Riggy, and Pam and Dave Swan. Today, then, the official birthday, has been a low-key day, with a good long hike, and dinner out with my 79 year-old mother. I'm curious how the over 50 catters experienced that time. A friend who is turning 60 soon told me he thought his fifties were his best decade. Did you feel you had somehow "arrived," or something else? IChanteyranger |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: mg Date: 08 Apr 03 - 01:15 AM I can't remember turning 50 but I know that I did...mg |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: katlaughing Date: 08 Apr 03 - 01:17 AM Same birth year, here, CR, but I don't *feel* any differently. I think I stopped at about 35-39 or so; honestly I just don't feel a specific age. Of course, the old folkies around here make me feel young, too, since they are all so olde!**BG** My day, 28th March, was very ordinary except that I started it out by having to take one of our cats to the vet to be put down. It was sad, but he was in a lot of distress, etc. Oddly enough, because letting him go was the best thing to do it didn't really ruin the day as one might have expected. It made me sad, but the rest of my b-days will not be scarred by it. He will always be remembered on my b-day, though. I AM looking forward to some good times this decade. I feel I am in a better place, balance-wise, than I have been for quite a while and because of that I look forward to what these years may bring. Happy Birthday to you! We do have a generic April b-day thread and I am pretty sure you are listed in it. kat |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: CarolC Date: 08 Apr 03 - 01:19 AM Happy 50th Birthday Chanteyranger! (I'll be facing that one in about 3 years.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: C-flat Date: 08 Apr 03 - 02:27 AM 50 is the new 30! (I'm hoping) Happy birthday Chanteyranger! C-flat. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: open mike Date: 08 Apr 03 - 03:02 AM it does seem like a significant milestone... and probably the last decade year that you could possibly hope to actually live for another period of the same length... meaning ? well -=- people have been known to live to 100--can you image that you might have as much living ahead of you as you do behind you? More than likely this is more possible at 40 than 50, but either way, i wish you many happy returns!! I will be there in a few short weeks myself, and plan to be around for a good chunk of time more!! so here's to the next decades! may you stay forever young!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: BlueJay Date: 08 Apr 03 - 03:43 AM Chanteyranger- Ah, six of one, half a hundred of another. I don't think it makes much difference. My daughter threw me a grand fiftieth BD party a few years ago. Friends in from all over, etc. Grand time, except I was only 49. Slight miscalculation. So when I actually turned 50, she threw an even better party, and I've rekindled some long-lost friendships as a result. I can't say I feel any older for being >50. It's just another year. But I am blessed, as never before, with an astounding musical environment. We play a lot, but it doesn't seem age related. It's not like playing makes me feel 35 again. I think music transcends age in that respect. When I'm playing, I don't feel like I am 30 or I am 50. I'm just playing. Makes me happy. Does this make sense? Thanks, BlueJay |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: mooman Date: 08 Apr 03 - 04:43 AM Dear Chanteyranger, Like you, I was lucky enough to celebrate mine last year in the company of a number of marvellous 'Catters who came over to Belgium for the 2002 EuroGathering. Most enjoyable birthday I've celebrated in the company of some smashing people! All the best, moo |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: Mark Cohen Date: 08 Apr 03 - 05:21 AM Hau'oli la hanau, Peter! I'll be there soon (January)... I'm looking forward to it, and at the same time I can hardly believe it. In the past three years or so my life has been getting better and better, so it feels like I have a running head start on a great birthday. I still remember my grandfather saying, "Life begins at 50." He was in his 70's then, and stayed sharp and content till he died at 92. Aloha, Mark |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: Jeanie Date: 08 Apr 03 - 05:52 AM Yay ! "The Big Hawaii" ! Many congrats, Chanteyranger, and to all of us celebrating our 50ths this Spring - (mine is in 4 weeks' time). We are in cool and illustrious company indeed. We are the people with that certain < ...hmmmm...well, I suppose I'll have to mention them : Michael Portillo and Tony Blair ! I certainly don't feel anything like I *thought* I would feel at 50, when looking ahead to this time when I was 20, 30 or even 40. Rather than it feeling like the start of the slippery slope towards hot water bottles, talcum powder, the Edinburgh Woollies Shop and seed catalogues, which I always used to categorise as the classic symptoms of fiftysomethings, approaching 50 feels like a whole new beginning, much more so than 40 did (which is always said to be "when life begins"). Of course, people's attitude towards turning 50 depends so much on their individual circumstances. It also depends on the particular chemistry of having grown up in a particular period of history and seen the events, music, humour, films etc. of the times through the eyes that only someone of your particular age could have seen them, and been affected and moulded by them. If I could describe in one word what I think marks us people born in 1953, I would say we have a certain "quirkyness" about us, and long may it be so ! It's going to be fun when we get to that Twilight Home. I'm going to be celebrating on May 10th by singing, dancing and downing as much Guinness as possible at Holmfirth Festival ! Many Happy Returns to everyone who turns 50 this year ! - jeanie |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 08 Apr 03 - 07:35 AM For those who think that the fifties are the best years of your life, you're dead wrong. The sixties are even better when you don't have to punch the clock (and keep from punching the boss.) As long as you have reasonably good health, life just gets better. I bet the seventies are fine, too.. I'll let you know when I get there. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: fiddler Date: 08 Apr 03 - 07:56 AM Congrats - Mines on the 29th - my philosophy - you cna't stop it enjoy it and as most girls will tell you little boys never grow up. Lets keep it that way I still behave and act as myself not a 50 year old!!!! A |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 Apr 03 - 09:58 AM been there - done that - last year! I like turning a year older as I've had friends & acquaintances who died before they got to 50. I'm not a party person so I just had a 50th birthday dinner & this year a singy-thingy, in the words of the friend issuing the invitation, as 2 of us were having what she described as not-very-significant birthdays (see above comment - all birthdays are significant) but as always we had a great singing session Chantyranger, I hope you & the other youngsters have great birthdays this your & in the future, with lots of fun & songs & music sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: Rick Fielding Date: 08 Apr 03 - 10:21 AM You CHILD!!! Happy B-day. Rick |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: Amos Date: 08 Apr 03 - 10:58 AM Buncha spring chickens!! No wonder this place is so juvenile sometimes -- everyone is so darn YOUNG!! :>) Congrats, Chantey - and yes, it is the finest decade so far. For one thing, you can stop worrying about impressing teenage girls! :>) A |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: jimmyt Date: 08 Apr 03 - 11:26 AM on the 26th I will be celebrating the 5th anniversary of my fiftieth birthday! It did seem to be a milestone one for me, but a very nice one!!!! I hope you are having the same feeling. Upon reflecting, I wonder if any of us ever imagined being 50 when we were young. Seems so impossible for a teenager to visualize being that old. Now that I am here, doesn't seem so darned impossible to be this old. OK I know I am rambling, but hell, what do you expect, I am almost 55! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: winniemih Date: 08 Apr 03 - 11:28 AM A few years ago, when I was turning 50, I thought about having a T-shirt printed up that said: HALF A CENTURY OF WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE!!! A phrase that I had come across at about that time stated: "You are only old when regrets take the place of your dreams". This is something I've been trying to live by, and systematically addressing those things that, if not accomplished or at least attempted, might cause regrets in later years. So, I have learned to play the fiddle, started learning Spanish, travelled to Costa Rica, and started a search for my true vocation..... Happy Birthday and may your journey be a rewarding one! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: MMario Date: 08 Apr 03 - 11:30 AM I will admit - I am not looking forward to 50; primarily because of the reactions of people at work. They hang black balloons for a person's 30th...I dread to think what they are going to do for my 50th. But I do have 18 months or so yet... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: Bill D Date: 08 Apr 03 - 11:36 AM on my 50th, (and my 55th) I stood on my head while folks recited "You are old, Father William"...had nice parties and just kept doing things. I started a new 'career' in my 50s as a woodturner, and am doing mostly just fine...yeah things do remind me...cataracts, aches...etc...but nothing serious, and I have taken to this new internet thing like a duck to water, so I can visit places and neet people I never would have otherwise. I don't know how long I will live and stay healthy, but I have to ASSUME it will be 30 40 more years. It would be embarrassing to sit down in my easy chair and quit doing fascinating things now, and then live till I'm 99! "Until my number's up, I'm gonna fill my my cup, I'm gonna live, live, live until I die" (Frank Sinatra or someone like that) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: Pooby Date: 08 Apr 03 - 04:16 PM Okay, okay, you beat it out of me. I turned 50 last year, and it wasn't so bad, apart from the fact that I can't hardly believe it myself. I mean, I look in the mirror and don't see someone who looks like what I think 50 looks like. I still feel frisky as a colt, and have a hard time thinking I'm out of my 20s, let alone 51. My 50th birthday was relatively tame -- no big "hey, you're over the hill" blowouts or the like. But I did go to see the "Down From the Mountain" tour on my big milestone day, so there! As for the 50s being a good decade, well, I sure hope so, but I kinda lean toward Jerry's notion that the 60s are even better. By then I plan to have a full career behind me, and one great big horizon spread out before me and my sailboat. Happy Birthday, matey! Pooby |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: Rapparee Date: 08 Apr 03 - 05:52 PM I don't remember turning 50. Heck, I don't remember my last birthday (58th). Whenever someone gives me a hard time about my age I just ask them to consider the alternative. That's not to say that there aren't a whole lot of people who are surprised I've made it this far, though.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: SINSULL Date: 08 Apr 03 - 06:36 PM I spent birthday 50 quietly reflecting. 30 was a trauma for me. I don't remember 40. Are the 50s my best years? I suppose you would have to define "best". Am I the happiest I have ever been? Hell YES! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: Joe_F Date: 08 Apr 03 - 06:45 PM "A man of 50 is responsible for his face." -- Edwin M. Stanton (ca. 1865) "At 50, everyone has the face he deserves." -- George Orwell (1949) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: katlaughing Date: 08 Apr 03 - 07:58 PM How old would you be, if you didn't know how old you were? Ruth Gordon, actress |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: vectis Date: 08 Apr 03 - 08:01 PM At 50 I got old enough to take early retirement. So I took it! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: khandu Date: 08 Apr 03 - 08:26 PM Chanteyranger, I hit fifty four months ago. I faced it with much dread, but since it happened, I feel better. Actually, I am enjoying it greatly. I did enjoy the first half-century a lot, but I intend the next half to be greater! Have a happy one, buddy, and get on with living life to the fullest! Ken |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: GUEST,Melani Date: 08 Apr 03 - 09:00 PM For my 50th, I joined the topsail crew and went sailing on Alma. Decided to please myself instead of my family, who usually insist we go to a restaurant and eat too much. Best time I've had on my own birthday--your party was even better! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: Paul G. Date: 08 Apr 03 - 10:14 PM Crossed that line about 2 weeks ago myself -- piece of cake. Celebrated with a night of wine and music at our house, the release of a new CD this week, and ordered myself a custom crafted guitar from Florida' finest luthier. Trust me -- it just keeps getting better! Happy birthday! Paul |
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Subject: RE: BS: Turning 50 From: Peter Kasin Date: 09 Apr 03 - 02:09 AM Thank you for your good wishes, and for posting your experiences in turning the big five-oh. I love that Ruth Gordon quote. Very wise. Thanks again, all. |