Ms. Dee— I wanna be just like you. I’m going to wear my hair down when I feel like it, and I’m going to eat black plums (mmmm, so tart and sweet— my son and I were talking about them just yesterday)- I don’t think you have to fool anyone— I know everyone always asks me “Do you feel older” every year when the birthday rolls around— I have always said, since I was probably 12, “You know, in my head, I still feel like I did when I was 12, except I’m smarter and probably wrinklier now” — LOL I want to be the “crazy lady out back”— my kids enjoy it, they appreciate that I am silly and fun— Life is too short to act like a stuffy adult too much of the time. My horses and my dog love me, and most days my husband and my kids do too!!! Happy Day!

That is EXACTLY right— I was just talking to one of the girls at work today— and she turned 39 two days ago and was feeling blue. I just reminded her that you can’t stop time, and you must appreciate what you have while you have it, because if you think 39 is tragic, just think how you will feel when you ARE 80 and you look back at how silly it was to be so upset at 39— I am with you, there are two choices— and you know what you gotta do! I do think it is all perspective— I honestly am not bothered by my age— it is a reward, I feel I’ve earned it when my birthday rolls around. Celebrate!

Dona, I love your view on life— I too, have appreciated the many things of every age, and I always find that I appreciate the present more at I get older— I just turned 40 this year, and I know many of my friends find this age a “tragedy”— like the turning of a page that cannot be revisited— but I see it as another year smarter, more beautiful and more confident— I hope to feel the same when I am 77 (and by the way, that is NOT ancient— ) Kel