Now that I have your attention, that was "0's", not "O's". "0's" like in "Zeros".

My wife, Tina was fine when she hit the big 2 0

a little skittish for the big 3 0

very quiet for the big 4 0

in denial about the big 5 0

and terribly depressed about the big 6 0

which she will hit on the last day of the month.

Tina says that she doesn't want any birthday presents, no party, no celebration, no dinner out and that we should pretend that she is not having a birthday at all.

None of the big 0's ever bothered me (except the big 3 0 and that was so mild as to be almost non-existent), so I really can not comprehend what she is going through or how to help her. The funny part about it is that I will be 62, 17 days later, but I look like 10 years older than her. When we go somewhere that gives senior citizen discounts (55 for the movies, some fast food beverages), they ask her for ID unless I order for both of us. She has about as much chance of getting a senior citizen discount when alone (without showing ID) as our 14 year old grandson has of buying cigarettes or liquor.

None the less, she still is in a funk about turning 60. Does anyone, particularly you women out there, have any suggestions? Before you answer, neither diamonds or cars will suffice as an answer. This is about depression; hers, not driving me to the brink of financial depression.

I'll bet you wish there was a way to skip April, for several reasons. Karen said it best and I reiterate her sentiments! And T.S. Eliot was a sharp dude.

My sister died on my brother's birthday and I am often so distracted by thinking of how much I miss her that I have actually forgotten that it is my brother's birthday.

April should be a season to celebrate all things good and wonderful in your life. I've had several very difficult deaths and miss them all so much to this day. The way I finally have been able to come to grips with their deaths, to be able to look at photos of them and smile over the memories we shared, is that I realize that death is just another part of life. We can't get through this life without experiencing it. It's always going to happen to friends and loved ones and even ourselves. We can't control it (mostly) and we must deal with it. So in our loved ones' honor, we should make the very best of the time we have here on earth. I am absolutely certain if I could talk with them one more time, they would give me that advice.

Celebrate your life, TOM! You're a smart, wonderful person and you contribute a lot and influence a lot of us right here every day. Thank you for that and please know that we care about you and wish you the very best.

April has been cruel to Carlene, T.S. Eliot and me. BUT:

Today, April 17th is the Birthday of Jesus Christ according to many Historians.

http://www.utopia-net.org/English/0417jesus1.html

http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2103143560086389096gLKCHE

http://www.eclipse.net/~molnar/

So Jesus and I share at least one thing in Common.

I'll bet you wish there was a way to skip April, for several reasons. Karen said it best and I reiterate her sentiments! And T.S. Eliot was a sharp dude.

My sister died on my brother's birthday and I am often so distracted by thinking of how much I miss her that I have actually forgotten that it is my brother's birthday.

April should be a season to celebrate all things good and wonderful in your life. I've had several very difficult deaths and miss them all so much to this day. The way I finally have been able to come to grips with their deaths, to be able to look at photos of them and smile over the memories we shared, is that I realize that death is just another part of life. We can't get through this life without experiencing it. It's always going to happen to friends and loved ones and even ourselves. We can't control it (mostly) and we must deal with it. So in our loved ones' honor, we should make the very best of the time we have here on earth. I am absolutely certain if I could talk with them one more time, they would give me that advice.

Celebrate your life, TOM! You're a smart, wonderful person and you contribute a lot and influence a lot of us right here every day. Thank you for that and please know that we care about you and wish you the very best.

Dear Tom,

I am writing to join with the rest of the gang by wishing you a happy birthday. Birthdays are pleasant when you are very young but there does come a time when they are not and I often wonder why we persist in celebrating them instead of ignoring them altogether.

Mine falls on the 4th of July and it is invariably hellishly hot, horribly humid and there is a smog advisory. My ideal way of dealing with it would be to wear a morphine patch and listen to the A/C purr. Nobody ever, ever gives me pharmaceutical assistance of this nature and so I spend a cranky, miserable day. Then it is all over for another year. Your birthday will soon pass for it is, afterall, only one day.

Birthdays were so much fun when we were small. Today I was listening to my physiotherapist describe his son's fifth birthday. There were a dozen kids and Power Rangers seemed to be the big item. Remember them? Well, they're back! The birthday food was the usual and there was a lady wizard who entertained the kids with tricks and jokes.

It was Bette Davis who said that growing old 'ain't for sissies.' She is right. I know that I said in an earlier post that the alternative to growing old is worse and that BJean questioned this. I replied with a flip answer. (Sorry, BJean, perhaps we should discuss how old is too old.)

Anyhow, you and your wife are in your early 60s, you still have each other, your son and his family, and you still have all your marbles, too. You and your wife also have your separate and shared interests and you, TOM, have your on-line family. It could be a lot worse and it will get worse as you continue to age. Enjoy what you have and where you are right now, and make hay while the sun shines, eh.

Oh and by the way, I am a depressive: the above is the pep talk I routinely dish out to myself.:phanvan

Happy Birthday, TOM, from Green

"...morphine patch and ....the A/C purr." My question is this: THERE'S A MORPHINE PATCH????"

Please promise me Green, that if ever you locate a free-thinking pharmacist who will dispense such an item, you'll give me a call!

BJean tends to be a bit of a depressive too in spite of her efforts to do the usual Pollyanna routine.

TOM, Happy Birthday and I want you to know that while I haven't done any previous posting in this thread, I've followed it and you and your wife are in my prayers. I hope that you can enjoy at least part of the day and know that even if she's depressed, your wife has one heck of a rock in you.

Love,

Wendy

"...morphine patch and ....the A/C purr." My question is this: THERE'S A MORPHINE PATCH????"

Please promise me Green, that if ever you locate a free-thinking pharmacist who will dispense such an item, you'll give me a call!

BJean tends to be a bit of a depressive too in spite of her efforts to do the usual Pollyanna routine.

Green thinks there is such an item. she is under the impression that her father may have been issued them at one time during his battle with prostate cancer. Of course Green's only patch experience has been with the nicotine kind and she only uses them when she is on an airplane.:phanvan

And BJean, if such a thing does exist and I can git 'em, you will be the first on my speed dial. :)

"...morphine patch and ....the A/C purr." My question is this: THERE'S A MORPHINE PATCH????"

yes, there definitely is a morphine patch! Hospice applied one to my father-in-law in his final painful days with the caveat to the family: "now, you know what this might do, right?" But he lived through that one and several others before he left us. Don't think I'd recommend it for the sane (or semi-sane) and relatively healthy among us...

On a good birthday note, I just got back from driving my 90 year old mother to Missouri for her best friend's 90th birthday party! They ahve been best friends for 80 years. Can you imagine???? AND at the party were 4 other classmates of theirs from high school, all born in 1916. And all looking great, like they just stepped out of a Dove pro-age commercial. Amazing. You can't make better memories than that.

Hi, everyone.

Things worked out nice on my birthday. Tina and I went to eat and we spent quality time together. In the evening, my son, DIL and and grand-children came over to 'cut a cake'. Rocky sang "Happy Birthday" with the rest of the family (or should I say barked "Happy Birthday"?) We gave him some vanilla ice cream because he can't eat the chocolate/vanilla ice cream cake.

Tina's mother is still the same. I do the best I can to keep Tina's mind off of her mother's health.

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

On a good birthday note, I just got back from driving my 90 year old mother to Missouri for her best friend's 90th birthday party! They ahve been best friends for 80 years. Can you imagine???? AND at the party were 4 other classmates of theirs from high school, all born in 1916. And all looking great, like they just stepped out of a Dove pro-age commercial. Amazing. You can't make better memories than that.

And may they all celebrate as many more birthdays as they wish!

I'm glad you have a good birthday!

Hey TOM,

Hippo Birdy Two Ewes

I'm missing hearing from you, TOM! You have such great perspectives. Two months is TOO LONG to go without hearing from you. Hope all is well with you and your family. Drop a note if you have a minute!

TOM, don't make me come down there! Take a moment (although I know you, like I, love to get a little long-winded in your posts) to tell us that you are still around!!!!!! I miss you dreadfully. Either I had fun agreeing with you or I had fun arguing with you. Either way, you are missed!