What a milestone arriving at Fifty was!
“When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was
Mark Twain
so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man
around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was
astonished by how much he had learned
in seven years.”
Do you like birthdays? I do, and you’ll never hear ‘argh’ come out of this mama’s mouth– not when I know how every year of my life contributed to a miracle my mother, with my
creator’s help, helped make come through. And as this chariot that is my body takes me
into another year, I’ll be reminiscing, embracing, and becoming my new year.
I still remember the many birthday eves I lived through– going to sleep early so that
my birth date came faster. And then to awake to a lovely homemade birthday cake
Mom produced while I slept. I do! And the addition of one more candle– pride-inducing.
IT made me feel as light as a birthday balloon.
The years between nineteen and twenty-nine had me already living on two continents,
so on my thirtieth birthday, I sent Mom an airplane ticket to Japan. She came, and I had
a homemade birthday cake with too many candles that year. I was satisfied.
From there on, life happened too fast. It felt like I’d just ended one birthday when
another timely phone call would come in to remind me of my miraclehoodness. (Please
click the link to view the essay).
Mom’s gone to heaven now, the last time I heard her voice was upon turning 52. I’ve
grieved, but her lovely words still float me every October and keep me afloat through
the year.
In time, I’ll be closer to where my higher power resides. I know.
Right now, I’m taking notes — lots of notes. The things I need to learn still rattle me to
my core. They frustrate me and bring out hot tears running down my cheeks. But I keep
going, seeped in the knowledge that it’ll all make sense one day.
Juxtaposed with trying to learn SMS, not to seek grandiosity but to allow me another
experience, I’m also keeping up with learning and trying to understand the state of my
soul. I feed it good and uplifting literature all the time. So much so that I’ve started to
learn how to navigate in ‘The Lightness of Being’ as I dance to parallel keys.
As for dreams, I still have them: the biggest being a book of poetry that I hope to bring
to fruition in the year of this birthday. So please lend me your support as I try to put
one together.
I want to contribute a verse.
O Me! O Life! BY WALT WHITMAN Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring, Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish, Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?) Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d, Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me, Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined, The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life? Answer. That you are here—that life exists and identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse Source: Leaves of Grass (1892)
What a milestone to be on the brink of sixty!
“…and the blue sky
was awash with
colorless peacocks,”
~ Kenji Miyazawa, Preface to Spring and Ashura
Happy October, everyone, and what a glorious season: the North and South
Hemispheres are experiencing seasons of Becoming.
How amazing is this about parallel living? I’m tearing at the seams over this: it has
been repeating for millennia; I just never gave it a thought.
Perhaps now, I’m becoming more rounded. *Wink*
May you, too, grow into the sum of you.
Thanks for reading. #iWishYouMiracles
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Happy birthday and October and may you have many more to come! (K)
Thanks, K. The actual day is the 29th. I’m going far out and celebrating the entire month of October!
Thanks for the well wishes. Yes, please. I want to see many more.
Blessings to you.
Happy Birthday to you 🎈. Wonderful birthday balloons. Cool light of colour. Amazing words use in birthday memories. Very inspiring written you.
so happy you liked, Raj. Thanks for reading about my birthday balloons and my memories. Bless you. xoxo
I always read your post .
Now how old you!
Happy birthday 🎊🎂🎈🎉
Ruth, sweet one. Thanks so very much. My month long celebration will culminate on the 29th (actual day) and I’m so happy to be celebrating with you. I wish you miracles.
Happy Birthday Selma. Is it today. It’s also my husband’s birthday. May you have a wonderful day 💖
Happy birthday to your husband, dear Sadje. My birthday comes the end of the month– 29th. But I’m celebrating the whole month. hehe. I’m a glutton. Thanks for the celebratory message. I bless you. And wish you miacles. xoxo
Thanks Selma. A great attitude my friend
Happy birthday in advance, Selma! May your book see fruition, may your mom’s words continue to guide you, may you continue to bring miracles to the blogging world! Stay happy, stay blessed. 🥳🎂🎈🎊🎁❤️
In advance. yes, thanks. And for the wellwishes on the rest, thanks so much. Hope to contaminate the world with happiness as much as I can. Spread it please. Blessing you. xoxo
Happy Birthday in advance Selma. I am also an October born. 😊Stay blessed 💕
October born– how very cool that we share the same month. When? Blessings to you and I wish you miracles and a happy birthday. xoxo
I’m one of those people who doesn’t like birthdays, but I found this a beautiful reflection
I’m so grateful you read and found my introspection to your liking JYP. All the best to you. Blessings. xoxo
You will contribute a verse and the world with sing it with you!! 💖
I hope I don’t sing out of tune when the world sings with me. hehe. Yes, I will contribute a verse of my very own. Thanks for believing in me, Tricia. Blessing you. xoxo
♥️🌹♥️
Happy Birthday, Selma! Your post is uplifting! I can relate to what you shared, and I’m excited about the book you are birthing to commemorate your 60th year. I will support your journey! ♥️♥️♥️
Thanks for the well wishes, Barbara. I so appreciate you. The last video you shared was phenomenal. I was so impressed. How very cool. Keep going. xoxo
Happy Birthday, Selma! May you always experience the “lightness of being” the one and only special YOU!
Aww, the only special ME. Yes. Thanks so much Lynn. Blessing you.
Ah, we are so close in our October birthdays and years…. I’ll be five years older one day after!
So Happy Birthday month to us!! May we continue to learn, explore and be healthy for those we love as well as for ourselves.!!
Birthdays were big on my side (but there aren’t that many left…) – now I might get a gift from one family member who is out of town…, but not on hubby’s – though sometimes we get a cake. The after 18 Rule exists on hubby’s side. No fuss after 18. Boo-hoo. I’ll be fine though. Just thinking of balloons and their lightness and being able to grow with the nature around me is my continual gift.
So, October 30th? Real close indeed. I just asked in my previous response. Now I know. Happy birthday to you. Whether you celebrate or not, it’s your birthday. Feel the lightness. Blessing you. I wish you miracles, my Scorpio sister. Yay!
While Marigold might be ‘our’ flower – I’ve always like Mums best (November’s flower).
Ah… A Scorpio Sister!! Yes,Yay!
Because in the US Beneifits arrive the first of the month of your ‘year’… I’ve started getting my benefits already! I suppose though I’ve paid for them throughout my lifetime as well as the supplemental plan I have… The Silver Sneakers gym membership is ‘free’, and my only ‘drug’ is now also free.
And I’m not shy about taking senior discounts! 🙂
Happy Birthday to you too!! 💕
Happy Birthday Selma – and wishing you many more candles on your cake and balloons for your special October day.
“her lovely words still float me every October” – what a lovely way to say how much you miss your mother and yet have her with you still
Thanks for this message, dear Laura. Octobers are special because of my mother. Thanks for the congratulatory message. Bless you.
I have a daughter born this month too 😉
A daughter?! how very nice. Congratulations to her and to you.
I also have a son born in October.
And a sister, and our father was also October-born. Always lots of cake in October. Blessings to you. xoxo
What a lovely post, Selma! Belated happy birthday; I loved this reading experience and its soulful tribute. <3
Hey, Jaya. Not belated. Early… I know that’s what you mean. The actual day is 29th, but I’m celebrating the whole month. So happy you enjoyed this post. Stay sweet and all the best to you. xoxo
I wish you a very happy birthday on the 29th, Selma. I think it’s so beautiful how you are embracing your sixtieth year to come. I love how you spoke of your late mother and loved the fact that you had such a close and loving relationship with her that continues to flourish and grow even as the years go by. I’m glad you still get to celebrate birthdays with those whom you love, too. I really hope your dream of publishing a book of your wonderful poetry comes to fruition very soon. I’m sure it will be very popular and enjoyed even more so. Have a wonderful birthday when it arrives, my friend. With my love Xxx 🎉💐💝
you say nice things to me, Ellie. thanks so much. blessings.
I love your perspective on birthdays and learning: ” The things I need to learn still rattle me to
my core. They frustrate me and bring out hot tears running down my cheeks. But I keep
going, seeped in the knowledge that it’ll all make sense one day.” There’s always something new to learn, or relearn at a deeper level. Life is a miracle. I’m thankful you are here. Happy Birthmonth, Selma!
Life is miraculous. Sometimes we miss them because they’re usually too small compared with the noise around. Thanks so much for being here, my sweet. Blessing you and wishing you miracles. More!
<3 Wishing you miracles!
Happy Birthday and good luck with your writing endeavours.
Thanks so dearly, sweet SuZanne. I appreciate your early birthday wishes. Love receiving them. And may everything align for me to contribute a verse of my very own. Thanks, the good luck wish is precious to me too. Be well. I wish you miracles.
Best wishes for your poetry book, Selma. Love the Mark Twain quote.
Happy, happy belated, Selma. I missed it😢💖
October 29th is the date– sorry I didn’t add that in this post. But I appreciate the congratulatory message tons. Thanks so sweetly. I bless you… xoxo
Oh, I thought you had already celebrated it. That’s my brother’s birthday too.
It’s a wonderful month still bright with sun and hope and chill to keep us well rounded. Happy Birthday Libra ♎️ friend. My Daughter just celebrated hers and we had a delightful time of sharing of the hearts and honesty. Love your mother in heaven in your ❤️
My son is Libra. I’m Scorpio ♏️ with 29th as the actual day. But I’m living it up the whole month— year really 🤣 as I consider this a milestone.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Cindy. Blessings to you and family and birthday people. XoXo
Oh yes… my husband is a Scorpio on the 5th. I love you take the month!!💕💕you’re welcome. Keep celebrating-:)
I’m a birthday lover. So often, we hear people moan about another birthday or refuse to celebrate because “It’s just another day.” Every day, every single day, and every birthday is a day to celebrate life and enjoy life around us. May all of this month and every day bring you peace and joy as you continue becoming your best.
Aww. Same same. Thanks my lovely. XoXo
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