Always Glad To See July 26

Always glad to see the dawn of a July 26. I made it through another 365 days, a little wiser, a little more worse for wear ,maybe a wee bit disheartened but unfailingly optimistic.I enjoy the blessing of good friends who on occasion laugh at my jokes, being part of a family I happened into, a fair amount of good health and remarkably, I have retained my sanity though many might like to put that up for debate.

I'm still way to vain about age. The rational side of me knows it's just a number and people d0n't always judge  you based on the number of years you've existed, but you won't find any listing of the age I slipped into today and I don't think I will ever be comfortable discussing it.

I kept wondering when the years would start catching up to me. I was still active and not overly gray and involving myself in a myriad of projects that a younger person might avoid. But,this was the year age caught up with me.I  have arthritis and my mobility is compromised. A year ago I didn't have a handicapped parking sign or walk with a cane. Stuff that came easy for me is now a bit of a hassle but I have refused to let the handicap stand in the way and I do what I need to do even though it is uncomfortable. It would be easy to say that I am worse off as this birthday arrives than I was last year but I don't see it that way. I have had to retire and my time is my own now and I have begun a number of things to improve myself and my surroundings and it is an exciting time. I have had limitations on the way I could live and things I wanted to do. Thankfully, some of that has melted away and I intend to enjoy all the remaining birthdays and the days in between them.

Where I am worse off, like our country, is in our political climate. I am living during the reign of the worst president in our nation's history who has divided the country and with his party, brought misery to many Americans. Our health care is in as much danger as our freedoms. But with age comes wisdom and we've been in fixes like this previously and endured. I will never stop standing up for what I believe in and being the vocal opposition to oppression and injustice. And I won't quit being a smart ass either. I've still got some boat rocking in me (have you seen the shows I write and direct each year?) and sometimes I never know what I'm going to say and that's the way I like it.

I've learned patience and I have a loyal partner with a sharp wit all her own, a loving and amazing cat ,Bruce Springsteen on the radio and those aforementioned treasured friendships. Maybe I've become a slave to routine in some cases-I find that comforting-but it has not hampered me in any way.  I will never like talking on the phone but I will always enjoy texting and social media. Not much of a fan of writing or talking about myself but birthdays make me reflective so this one time,the word "I" has appeared more than either of us might like.Thanks for indulging me.

If you have taken time out of your day to read this,chances are you are one of the people who has made an imprint on my life be it large or small and that is a wonderful gift and I thank you.

I am going to get a glass of wine and sit in the yard.