234. REFLECTIONS ON MY BIRTHDAY

234. 

REFLECTIONS ON MY BIRTHDAY

I forgot the pot of mums they gave me

so Billy dropped it off 

along with an old Cool Whip container

crammed with leftover party goodies:

tiny cream puffs and 

three different kinds of cheesecake

wrapped in ruffled papers 

so they won't stick together.

From my chair on the porch 

I watch thin rain drizzle down,

a cube of raspberry cheesecake

and mug of tea on the ledge next to me.

I reflect on the day and my party,

remember other birthdays.

Then I think about next year,

a major milestone.

I refuse to be thought of as

used up or irrelevant. 

I want to age with grace,
to own my wisdom
and embrace new challenges.

I'm more aware of my mortality now,

there's a sense of urgency to do

all the things I want to accomplish.

Age doesn't make someone 

less interesting. Wrinkles matter.

They're the patina of a long life. 

I don't know what comes next. 

I just know this isn't an ending.

I'm still here, I'm still me.

*comments welcome

Old age is daunting and scary.

Just for today, I'll savor being 
right here.

REFLECTIONS ON MY BIRTHDAY

I forgot the pot of mums they gave me

so Billy dropped it off 

along with an old Cool Whip container

crammed with leftover party goodies:

tiny cream puffs and 

three different kinds of cheesecake

wrapped in ruffled papers 

so they won't stick together.

From my chair on the porch 

I watch rain drizzle down,

a glistening cube of raspberry cheesecake

and a tall gin and tonic on the ledge next to me.

I reflect on the day and my party,

remember other birthdays.

Then I think about next year,

going from sixty-nine to seventy, 

a major milestone.

I refuse to be thought of as

used up or irrelevant. 
I want to own my wisdom
and embrace new challenges,
I want to age with grace.
I am still here, I am living.

In my mind I haven't aged.

I'm still 35 or 43, even 61, but not 70.

Seventy is daunting and scary.

I'm more aware of my mortality now,

there's a sense of urgency to do

all the things I still want to accomplish.

But just for today, I'll savor being 
on this side of the seven.