Words just don’t express all of the feelings that I have today, seeing all of the posts, comments, likes, presents, and joy that I am experiencing here on my 80th birthday.  Somehow I never was that sure that I would actually make this birthday a reality.  For 62 of those years I have been an adult, and just about everything that I ever really wanted to do, I have at least tried.  I have been married for 57 of those years, but it has taken three husbands to do it. Children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren have surrounded me most of my life.  I have lived in many different states, traveled whenever I had the opportunity, lived in mobile homes, apartments, houses, and even a camper during summer work in the Colorado mountains. My work usually took me to offices or banks or libraries, where I always enjoyed my work and the contacts with so many people.  For eight years I sold fruit at the Farmers Market with my husband, Bob, a lifelong farmer.  Now I am a writer, a poet,  a meditator, an avid reader, in love with my Ipad, and all of the wonderful things I can do with it, and the friends that I can meet. 

Having a major birthday is a great time to look around me, both to look back, and to look forward, and to see all of the blessings that surround me.  Thank you all my friends and family.  When I look at all of the names on the posts, I see all of the various stages of my life, and I wouldn’t get rid of any of them.  While there are always things that I could have done differently and much better, I am really happy to have arrived at this point, and know that all is well, no matter what.