And you know what?
If you had talked to be me when I was 30, I would have told you that on my 50th birthday I’d be freaking out. What with looking right in the face of the grim reaper and all. But now that I’m here? Whatever!
It’s fine. It’s all good. I’ll take it. In fact, it’s kinda fun being OLDER and WISER.
I have always told my husband to save up for my 50th birthday because I wanted a red convertible Mercedes and my eyes “done.” He saved up for nothing, I guess; because now that I’m almost there, I don’t want either. Not the fancy convertible, not the plastic surgery.
However. I’ll keep covering the grey hair as long as I’m breathing. And I have been eyeing new vehicles. Just not cars. I’ve been eyeing trucks. I went to drive one recently and it was suh-weeeeet! Luxurious on the inside. It was, in fact, nicer than any car I’ve ever had. The salesman was such a jerk. Which turned out to be my good luck. (My Grandma used to say-“It’s hard to tell your good luck from your bad luck sometimes.”) You see, I didn’t really want a NICE truck. I didn’t really want a luxury truck. I want a truck I can stomp around it and haul hay in and tool around in with the windows down. And then. Love. I spotted the perfect truck online a few hours away. Guess what the color was listed as? Teal. It was meant to be. My husband surprised me with it and drove it down the driveway one day. He sold our Audi and bought me a 1995 Ford F250. I’m in heaven.
You want to see it?
OKAY!
What do you think?! I know, right! I’d rather have this truck than a brand new red Mercedes.
And yes, I still have Elvis, but he doesn’t have the pulling power or size I need. I’ll have Elvis forever.
I haven’t named this one yet. It feels kinda feminine to me. Maybe a chick’s name? Something like Wylene.
As I’ve thought about life and living and being 50, there are 3 things I know now that I’ve lived a little.
1. Attitude is everything. (I continue to thank my band director, Mr. Hall, for teaching me this.)
2. Love is always the answer. Being right doesn’t really matter.
3. Don’t wait until the “perfect” time to take a leap; the “perfect” time will never come and you’ll never leap.
James Taylor, my pretend friend, says it best: The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time. (Except he says the secret ‘o life. But, I can’t do the ‘o thing.)
The time is going to pass whether I like it or not. Might as well “enjoy the ride.” I have a friend who gets upset when her day is not perfect. Well, as I’ve told her, NO day is EVER perfect. That’s living. You’ve got to learn to enjoy the imperfect days. But her car needs repairs and her kid is in trouble again and she needs to lose 20 pounds and her mortgage is past due and she can’t find a good man. Yes, I know….that’s living. We have all that kind of stuff. It’s how you deal with it that makes the difference.
My 50th year has got me to thinking in terms of 50.
50 chickens? Yes, maybe. I’m in love with the 17 chickies we have. IN LOVE! Check this one out. Our little Black Cochin.
Do you see her (his?) feathered covered FEET?! What do you think?!
And check out this beauty. We think she’s a Buttercup. She is sweetest, most friendly chickie in the box.
50 horses? No way. Nuh-huh. Nope. 3 is good.
(kiss, kiss, kiss)
50 diamonds? Nope. Well, if I had ‘em I’d sell ‘em and use the cash for some farm equipment, which by the way, we still have none. I’ll take 50 ba-zillion dandelion blooms though. Picked them from my pastures and drying them in the dining room.
50 children? No thank you. One is the perfect number for me. We have so much fun together.
50 adventures? Alrighty-then. That sounds good! 50 adventures for my 50th year. Yes! That’s it! I needed a theme, now I have one. I’ll fill my 50th year with adventure. Hmmm…What shall I do first? It’s gotta be cheap and close to home. You know I can’t leave my farm for more than a couple of hours at a time. Wonder what it will be. Hmm. Let me find my first adventure. Adventure number one. I’ll keep you posted.
Now it’s your turn! Tell us what lessons have you learned in your years of livin’? (Share your age too, if you dare.)
Until next time, Friends, savor the flavor of life!
Lots of love, The City Farmgirl, Rebekah
♪♫ Happy (early) Birthday to You! ♫♪
Love your truck…you need it!
I am 55 years old this year and I take all of my learnin’ from my sweet auntie (who just turned 90)! She lives life to it’s fullest everyday!
I call her every morning just to chat a little. This morning she told me her son took her shopping for a couple of new britches and she found the most "darling" pair of capris…they had bright orange flowers embroidered all over them. She told me she stood there looking and loving these pants, but kept wondering if a 90 year old could wear them!? She had to have them so she said she bought a bright orange shirt to match and a cute pair of shoes with orange on them as well!! haha
I had to laugh…she has to live in an assisted living facility now. But I bet she puts a smile on everyones face when she dons her new duds. Age is only a number, your heart and spirit know exactly where you are at!
Glad the chickies are doing well. They sure are cute!
What I have learned is I may not be where I want to be in life but I’m making the most out of everyday! Sometimes things just don’t turn out the way you planned or dreamed but you are so right about attitude.
There is that saying, when you have made it to the end of your journey of life I want to slide in side ways, totally used up and shouting – WOW what a ride!!
Love the truck (especially the color), Wylene is the perfect name, and I need to do something about these grays, but I’m just too lazy!
I’ll be 54 in September….I have learned that if you can’t do the grand thing you want…do it on a smaller scale. My dream is like yours, a farm…the whole homesteading thing on 40 acres or more..but I have 3. I do what I can….and dream of doing more. But I’m pretty content..(Until I read your blog) 😉 BTW, I think your truck looks like a Melba. No idea why, but that name just popped in my head when I saw her.
Happy 50th Rebekah! I turned 65 this year — Medicare age — oh no! You’re right though, attitude is everything and how I fall short on this one at times! I appreciate your wisdom here — such a positive outlook I need right now. I have been a full time caregiver for my 95 year old mom in our home for 6 months now. It has been quite a life change for me and instead of seeing all that I’m missing by being home all day every day, I realize life is what you make of it.I’m going to enjoy every minute I have with her, because it could come to an end when I least expect it. I still have much to be thankful for and if I can’t go out, then I’ll just have to invite life’s adventures to come to me. Love you chickens, your beautiful truck, home and family. Such a joy to read your post!
You will find your 50’s to be the best of all your years I think.
I find myself settled in every way, independent of what others think or do or what they may think of me, and new freedoms I’ve never had before!
Even though rheumatoid arthritis has decided to come and live with me,
my 50’s are the best years of my life!
There’s time for what is the most important that I never made time for before, and you put on a new pair of glasses each day and see the world differently.
Blessings to you from the Ozarks this morning, its time to go plant our gardens finally, winter has decided to leave us finally!
Hugs, Diana from Noel, Mo.
What are you going to do with Dried Dandelions Blooms? I can’t imagine a use for them, but now that my yard is full of them, I should be collecting and drying them too.
I truly love your sense of humor and your outlook on life! You just crack me up. I, too, just bought a truck. Mine is a Chevrolet. I have never owned a Chevy before..I thought I was a Ford girl. Gotta admit, I think I am just a TRUCK girl, no matter the make. Mine is Red, really Red! She (definitely a she) is a dually, a 3500, and I named her-get this- Honey Boo Boo! She is meant to pull our stock trailer x country as we travel to Hereford shows with our daughter- I can tell I am gonna love the trips! Enjoy your new baby! And by the way, your horse looks great!
Howdy… little Black Cochin, what a sweetpea!
Was trying to think of something profound to say about aging, so in my opinion, just live one day at a time. Seems to be enough…
Happy Birthday Miss Rebekah
I turned 50 last year (will be 51 in June). I’m not sure I’ve fully embraced the number but I try to just not think about it.
As far as lessons I’ve learned in life, mostly just that you never know what adventure lies around the next corner.
Happy birthday you (very) young lady from 67 yo me! What I have learned is that first just put your trust in God and it will all work out in time. Also, it doesn’t matter if I tan or not, or if I wear glasses or not or if I have the perfect body or not. What does matter is love and loved ones. And fyi, gotta love those grandchildren!
Happy Birthday dear!
This year I am 65 – this month in fact – and I would not trade it for any time. Yes, the body does give one fits (keep the faith, the hot flashes doe eventually stop!) and one sometimes just does not have the "oomph" to get it all done at once, but hey!! we have love and so many blessing to count that we go way beyond 50 or 65 or ………..
Happy Birthday! I’m 59, and the bigest thing that I have learned is: what is going to happen, is going to happen. There isn’t anything you can do about it one way or the other. So get over yourself and just chill. The one thing you do have control over is your reaction to what happens. So get it right the first time or you will face the same test(s) over and over again until you finally get it right (like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day). Enjoy your birthday!
Do it right now! Before you know it, the body will no longer comply. Enjoy it ALL, because you can learn from ANYTHING! I will be turning 63 this week and I plan to do and be whatever I can fit in, while I still CAN. Good luck and I’m with you on the cats and the chicks.
50 you’re a baby. I just turned 60 in Feb. I am a 23 yr. survivor of breast cancer. I learned a long time ago that age is nothing but what you do with your time that counts. People never believe that I am as old as I am. That is partly good genes, partly haircolor and mostly that I never act my age. Not quite sure what a 60 year old should act like but young is it for me. I also like the fact that I can say that I am old and have some wisdom to pass on and don’t need to take any guff from youngsters who think that they are in control. Here’s to a life well lived and time worth living. Happy happy birthday! The best to you always.
You are gonna LOVE 50! I’ll be 53 this year and haven’t had this much fun ever. Betty White said it best – she’s been coloring her hair so long she doesn’t know what color it really is and she doesn’t plan to find out. Your new truck is beautiful – enjoy and thank you for your wonderful blog. You make me smile!!
When I turned fifty I experienced a quantum shift in the universe. I had been coloring my hair for over thirty-one years, and I eased into the land of silver-haired divas. I have never felt more authentically me before in my life and it’s a grand thing! To wake up at fifty and finally be at home in your own skin and in your own life is a remarkable thing. Now if we can only teach our children to reach that mark in their thirties…oh how much happier their lives and our world could be! So welcome to the club my beautiful friend….enjoy the view and keep tithing those talents because what you have to share with the world….is a priceless gift. Never underestimate the power you possess…at any age! 🙂 It just keeps getting better and better! I promise you that!
Will be 53 in June. Only a number I think, though somedays I wonder when I got this old, though my husband turned 64 this year, we still dream of living on our land 80 acres and having the animals we want.
Someone asked me the other day, "If you didn’t know your age, how old would you be?"
I am a 1963 baby. This is the first year I paid attention to my age. I suddenly stopped my rushing life and said, "Whah?? How the hell did that happen?"
Then I started thinking, about the next few years as I head towards retirement from my present all-consuming career. What do I want to do NEXT? What a wonderful, scary, crazy time.
The best advice? At least 15 minutes a day of sitting absolutely still, walking through the day in my head, and thanking God for the smiles, the touches, the ability of a leaf to gather sunlight, and another day of possibilities.
Happy Birthday.
Catherine
Hi Rebekah
Happy 50th birthday, belated by now I’m sure, love your posts, I’m 41 and really beginning to love life in a full way. I’m not where dreams are yet, but it’s all in the attitude as you say, and I want to be content wherever I’m at in my life, trying to teach my children tat one too, they’re 17,15 and 7.