Fifty is fabulous, fierce, fiery and full of possibilities. Happy Birthday, dear Whoopi, Happy Birthday to you. And many more.

Now I can believe in possibilities and not just probabilities. What a wonderful post. My granddaughter, who is nearly two, will have no limits imposed upon her - where she is told she can be anything she wants to be but then hears that whisper underneath - “not really” because of the limits imposed by race. My husband, son, daughter, mother, stepfather, family, and friends - who are Black, White, Latino, Cape Verdean, Chinese all worked for this moment. Barack Obama is a special man with a unique background that prepared him to be the first African-American President and also to be the statesman that the world needs. And the first family - how astonishing an image is that! My hope is renewed, my energy is restored, and I know that all of us will roll up our sleeves and do what we can to restore the U.S. and to be part of the healing of the world. If the world lives long enough it will be a wonderful place for all of us.

Smart Black people are often called arrogant. Have you called George Bush - arrogant. What lies has Obama told? Are you counting Hilary’s years as a Presidential spouse as experience? Come on - be real. You have a right not to like Obama but your reasons don’t stand up.

Here! Here! I don’t remember anyone questioning George Bush’s experience or competence for that mattter.

Barbara Jordan was the woman! Thanks for bringing her to mind.

Reading through the various comments, all I can think of was Kanye West’s mother. I see photos of her and I see that she was a vital, voluptuous and attractive woman. She died in pursuit of vanity. It was her choice but I’m sure she wishes she had made a different choice. Corrective techniques for people who really need them are important. I also don’t know how people afford to do plastic surgery. I think of all the people I could help and experiences I could have with similar money. Let’s concentrate more on “being good” than on “looking good.” The standards of beauty that are most prevalent in this country fit only a narrow group of women naturally and while the notions of beauty are becoming more inclusive, the fashion magazines are still slanted toward a particularly narrow image of beauty. Believe it or not, some of us don’t buy into the hype! If I could twitch my nose and make my breasts perky (which they never really were) I would do so but, when I read about the fact that it could take away the sensation or that they could end up lopsided, etc., I decided I’ll keep these falajalapas that have nursed two children and pleased two husbands and some other lovers. Be true to yourself whatever that means for you.

Whoopi, I have so enjoyed watching you on The View. You bring a level of intelligence, directness and thoughtful candor that has made everyone on the show up their game in my opinion. Thanks for the Mother’s Day wish. Happy Mother’s Day back at you.

While I endeavor to be grateful every day there are times when you are on automatic pilot in life and so there are things you just expect to happen because they always will. So, I plan gratefulness and I do take the time to send thank you notes and e-mails to people right when I think of them (or I’ll forget). I take for granted my ability to deal with whatever life is cooking up for me…so far, so good. In the last three years, I’ve seen so many transitions among friends, family and colleagues - illnesses, death, births, marriage, loss of job, quitting of jobs, divorce - as well as changes in the world. I pray that I have the resiliency and energy to handle it.

Boredom is relative. A lot of the kids I know who are shuttled from activity to activity still say that their bored. They say this both between activities and sometimes during the activities when it doesn’t catch their imagination. I’ve learned that sometimes boredom in my life, means that there’s the blessedness of routine and no drama…yet. I have worked with lots of children and if parents are conscientious they can give them what many of us remember fondly from our childhoods - the gift of time, leisure. reading, conversation, and home-cooked meals plus the great new technology related things of today. For instance, there are two websites that allow you to build virtual bookshelves and list your books and opinions about them - that is something that children will like to do. We can’t turn back the clock but we can - as mother, aunts, grandmothers and allies to children - give them some of the time, attention and loving care that they need even if they don’t know they want it.

Dr. King’s assassination was a pivotal moment in my life and in the life of this country. Much has been achieved since his life was ended and much has been lost. If the world lives long enough - it’s going to be a great place - not a place where people are color blind but where we can see people as they are and love them even when we don’t understand them.

The only people who don’t get older are dead people. I have a few friends who died in their 30s and 40s and I bet you they would trade places to be here and proudly be in their 50s (like me). I got married for a second time at age 50 and, although searching for a new job after leaving my last one of 9 1/2 years is tough - I’m blaming it on the economy, on the fact that there are lots of jobs I don’t apply for now because I know what I’d be getting myself into. I figure - I have to work so I will find work. I’m trying to piece together a life and earnings that do not require full-time employment. I don’t lie - I dye.

I am so disappointed in the tone of many of your responses. In this country, it was law that if you had one drop of Black blood, you were Black. That may have been written in different times but it how I was brought up. If Obama was walking down the street and you or I didn’t know who he was, he’d be seen to be a Black man. (My son is his color and both of his parents are black.) Finally - what about Bush or Reagan? Bush was only able to run based on his whiteness and the legacy of his father. Reagan was an actor and not a very good one - what major credentials to he have? Sometimes people come along who are able to rise above the crowd because there is something that shines through them - vision and leadership despite their being young and inexperienced. I don’t count Hillary’s experience as a First Lady as part of what makes her an experienced candidate. Wow.

I have never understood the botox craze. It is a poison. What would happen if everyone would just learn to be happy with how they really looked and aged how they really aged? Even the best plastic surgery and other cosmetic techniques don’t erase the years of living we’ve done - they still show. So many medical procedures, like medicines, are rushed to approval, only to need to be pulled back or eliminated later. Word to the wise!

I love Whoopi’s intelligence and directness. She reminds me of most of the women in my family. She has elevated the view and is firm and fair in her comments. She and Barbara Walters are smart. I even find Joy better/more palatable since Whoopi’s been on. The other two hosts are air brains and limited in their thinking. I, too, think Whoopi, has shown an incredible range in her acting and I hope you continue to act. I’m enjoying this site. Candelaria

Most things in the supermarket are higher and the packaging is getting smaller. I look at unit prices and only buy what’s on sale. Luckily, I know how to stretch food and make it taste good. So glad my children are grown - I couldn’t imagine feeding my son in today’s economy. I’m recycling, reusing, and doing without non-essential. Movie matinees, free entertainment, and going to the library more than buying books. Necessity is the mother of inventiona and this mother is creating her behind off. Crisis touch everyone although joy and abundance does not.