Happy Birthday to me!  An hour ago I turned...nevermind how old.  Not a glass of water big enough to swallow that pill!  But wait a minute...what is a number, anyway?  Society and Hollywood would have us believe that the best numbers are in the lower range, and when those digits get up to a certain point, look out!  BAM!  Honey, you're TOO old! And the moment we glimpse our first wrinkle in the mirror, we are dooooomed!
     What's wrong with our culture?  When did we start believing that life is only good until you hit 30?  I regret to say that when I was in my 20's I started to buy in to what "they" told me.  That I had to look this or that way, wear these clothes but for Pete's sake never THOSE clothes!  I didn't act on what "they" told me and everyone else to do ...but I caught myself thinking I SHOULD do all "they" said I should do.
     I should be saying "forget Hollywood, what's wrong with ME?"  I bought into all those lies for all those years. Whenever I looked in the mirror I told myself I was allll wrong. I believed that I didn't measure up because I was this and not that.  That I wasn't this but was that.  Oh brother.  All that wasted time worrying about what other people thought.
     I read this somewhere:  "wrinkles are merely memories of where smiles have been."  I love that.  My mirror tells me that I have smiled a lot in my life.  And I like that.  Poo on vanity.  I'll take wisdom, insight, and friends I've known more than 40 years.
     OK, in the spirit of REAL vulnerabilty and honesty....here goes.  I am now 60 years old.  Eegads.  That didn't even hurt....too much!.
     Happy Birthday, Baby!