I'm sixty years old today.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

I know that I should be posting this in the lounge, but GD is the place where I normally post and where most of my friends "live" so I wanted to share this post with you. Please, mods, be gentle with me and let me share this night with the people I have come to consider my friends/family.

Today my kids threw me a surprise birthday party and it included family and friends who flew in to the Florida Keys from Indiana and Michigan and Arizona. I was overwhelmed with blessings. They put together a special album with pictures and mementos of my life, including my birth certificate, baby pics, high school graduation stuff and wedding photos. And then they sang Happy Birthday to me, first in English, and then in Latvian, my first native language. My father, age 85 was there for the celebration, along with my youngest grandson, age 5.

My parents came to this country as immigrants after WWII, and struggled to put food on the table. We were lucky. Mom and dad got menial jobs at first, but soon after were able to earn college degrees to get into better situations. They sent for my grandparents who kept house and took care of me and worked some side jobs while my parents worked full time and went to school. On retirement they received a small social security.

I grew up, went to school and graduated as a nurse and spent thirty years nursing, and then went on to write three books for caregivers and families of Alzheimer's patients. Presently I run a resort in the Florida Keys. My daughter is a nurse/manager of an ER unit in a hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. My grandson is in pre-med at St. Joe's in Indiana.

Looking back, I see that my life is full of blessings, but mostly that these blessings came from a country that was eager and willing to invest in the dreams and hopes of a brand new struggling family.

My fondest birthday wish today is that we won't forget that our country is built on dreams. If we build a wall to keep them out, how can we ever hope to reach that magical Castle in the Sky?

[Monkeyman]

1. This Beer for you Happy B D

[tinfoilinfor2005]

24. Thanks, Monkeyman, for the beer!

but if I switch to beer (after wine) at this point, I may meet the porcelain god...

[Bluzmann57]

2. Well happy birthday young fella!

Here's to you!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

25. Sweeeeeet...but I'm a young (well...) lady...

No harm done, however... and

[Bluzmann57]

28. Oh good grief.

I am embarassed. Well (sheepishly), happy birthday to you. My apologies.

[RB TexLa]

3. Is this an indication that when I am sixty I will start caring about my birthday?

Happy Birthday to you

Just wondering if it means I will one day care about mine again.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

27. Got up this morning and just wanted it to be a normal day.

As much as I hoped that the kids wouldn't make a big deal, it was so special to see the looks on their faces when they saw that they had given me a special day. So it wasn't so bad. Don't worry, we all live through it.

[judaspriestess]

4. Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday,

Happy Birthday to you

[tinfoilinfor2005]

29. Thank you!

[jeff30997]

5. Happy birthday tinfoilinfor2005 !

[tinfoilinfor2005]

31. two pieces of cake for you...n/t

[MuseRider]

6. Happy Birthday!

Wow, that is a milestone. My husband turns 60 next year.

What a great story. We should never wall people out. The influences from around the world help to make our country interesting.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

32. But the Fonz is 61 today!

So how bad could it be? (Happy Birthday Henry Winkler!)

PS...And Elehhhhhna shares this b-day too!

[wicket]

7. Happy birthday!

And many more!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

34. Thanks!

for hugs and all...

[villager]

8. congratulations, happy birthday, and here's to 60 more!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

37. Not quite middle-aged anymore...

Is there a plastic surgeon in the house??????

[DearAbby]

9. Happy Birthday

[tinfoilinfor2005]

39. Dear Abby:

What on earth has happened to my sex life??????? Oh, never mind. I'll write again once the grandkids are out of college...

[CatWoman]

10. A fellow Scorpio

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

40. Hey Cat!

Free smoochie treats on the house for all the kitties!

[CatWoman]

64. that's so sweet

sounds like you had a very good day

[shanti]

53. hey catwoman!

didn't know you were a scorpio too

[CatWoman]

63. I'll be 51 on Saturday

[tinfoilinfor2005]

75. Damn teenagers...

Someone hold my walker while I kick your butt!!

(Oh, and happy birthday... )

[wanpete]

11. Happy, happy birthday to you!!!!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

42. Awwww....

Thanks...

[Kadie]

12. Happy Birthday!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

44. Kadie...

Thanks!

[spacelady]

13. What a wonderful birthday! Wow you are doing it up real fine

Livin' in the Keys, Dad is there with the rest, just a real blessing of of love & good times had by all. Thank you for sharing - you keep on keepin' on! Happy Birthday!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

45. Weather is still in the eighties...

Sending warmth and sunshine out to you as well!

[peace13]

14. Sixty years young!

Happy birthday! Nice to be in the trenches with you! Peace, Kim

[tinfoilinfor2005]

46. Sixty...boy, seems like someone made a huge mistake...

Thanks, Kim!!

[spanone]

15. Not far behind....Congrats!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

47. Hey, jump in...the water is fine!!

(the wine ain't so bad, either!)

[rhiannon55]

16. Happy birthday to you!

Thanks for inviting us to your party! Your life so far sounds lovely and full of abundance. May all the rest of it be, as well.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

49. Wow. You are so right.

Made me catch my breath when you wrote "abundance"...so very much of that. I've tried to spread some around but need to do more...Thanks!

[Bozita]

17. THAT'S a birthday party! ... Have a good one!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

51. It truly was. And even better with your wishes.

Thanks.

[Mz Pip]

18. Cheers to you!

Sounds like you had a great party filled with awesome family and friends!

Here's to many many more!

Mz Pip

[tinfoilinfor2005]

54. Mz Pip, awesome family and friends

and the friends I have here. Thanks! Couldn't wish for more.

[bluerum]

19. Wow - what a great family! Happy birthday!

[Disturbed]

20. Happy Birthday.

Here's to many more.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

56. Aren't they? You all included. (oops, that's my southern coming out...)

Thanks, blue...

[AwakeAtLast]

21. Happy Birthday!

I am a transplanted Hoosier and live outside Indy.

Great post!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

57. Thanks, WakeMeUp!

My daughter lives in Shelbyville...drop by anytime; she is a great cook!

[mmonk]

22. Happy birthday. As far as your question goes,

my hope that this new nativist era will pass soon. But then, I sometimes don't know where I am any more. As long as we remember dreams, a better tomorrow is possible. It's only when we remember no more that it passes.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

58. Hey, mmonk!

I've always loved your posts...and I love the picture of our girl. Long live AAR!

[mmonk]

81. Thanks. Hope your birthday

was as you wanted.

[me b zola]

23. Happy birthday tinfoilinfor2005

[tinfoilinfor2005]

59. ...alright...but just bun more weer!

[me b zola]

78. Since we're having just one more...

Let me throw my cyber arm around ya and say that the beautiful lady who stands in the harbor of New York also believes that putting a fence around us goes against everything that we are.

[Benhurst]

26. Young people should speak only when spoken to.

Nevertheless,

Happy Birthday!


Many happy returns,
Benhurst
(more than 2 years your senior)

[tinfoilinfor2005]

60. Look out, old fart,

I'm going to soap your windows tomorrow night for that comment!

(Or maybe I'll hire some young hooligans to soap your windows while I stay indoors and enjoy some veal marsalla with a nice red wine...)

[BigBearJohn]

30. Mom always said, "It's better to be over the hill than under it"

[tinfoilinfor2005]

61. No, no...actually mom said,

"Look, you little whippersnapper, I'll beat your ass if you ever mention that kind of stuff to me again, and if you don't get up there and clean your room I will tell your father and he will cut a switch as thick as your arm and don't you roll your eyes at me because I will..."

[Generic Other]

33. Happy Birthday!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

62. Thanks...

[MzNov]

35. Happy Birthday fellow Scorpio

mine is Wednesday and I agree and very much appreciate your post.

[shanti]

52. hi!

scorps are special mine is the 17th.

[MzNov]

55. hi fellow scorp !!! yes we are!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

65. Well,

just in case you don't post a gratuitous birthday wish to yourself (the big 60 reserves that privelege)...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

[stevedeshazer]

36. What a great story

A life well-lived, with much more to come.

Your story is very inspiring. Keep living.

Congratulations. Ms. D and I are right behind you!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

67. Definitely not Sinatra's "My Way"...

Being a mom, there was a lot of 'their way' or 'his way' or 'family way' or 'work way' or even 'cat's way'. But it was by choice because I loved them all. But at the same time, there was also plenty of 'My Way.' Life is a give and take and I've done my share of both. And the only regrets are the times when I caused pain to someone else. Not often, but those are the only times I would take back. So lesson learned: don't hurt, don't regret.

Thanks for your kind wishes, Steve.

[Fovea]

38. Happy birthday to you

and my respect for your caregiving.
I gave 5 years to a trauma center ER and another 6 to Orthopedic Surgery.

I burnt out, so I respect your 30 year tour of duty.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

68. My husband said, "New Year's Eve you are allowed to remember."

So every New Year's Eve I would remember the people who left me that year. Finally I said, "No more lists." I prayed for a job where people were happy and weren't dying. The following year God said,"You will work in a vacation resort." The first day on the job someone said, "We have an emergency!" I went running to the unit with my stethoscope and discovered that the emergency was a burned out light in the vestibule. The people never did understand why I fell on the floor laughing.

[Fovea]

70. When I worked as a high priced software consultant

I had a saying that I would tell my customers.

"If no one is cyanotic, or exsanguinating on the floor, what you have is a problem, not an emergency."

[tinfoilinfor2005]

76. Wonderful!

One night we got an "emergency" call around midnight because somebody's brother had checked out (unbeknowst to us) and the other brother called because he wanted clean sheets on the bed. We have weekly maid service and I live seventeen miles away from the resort. We have since then always referred to that call as the "sheet emergency". Now, everytime the phone rings, my husband says, "Do you think it's another sheet emergency?"

[Canuckistanian]

41. Daudz laimes dzimsanas diena!

http://www.geocities.com/valtersf.geo/translate/sounds/...

Sorry, I looked it up!

I had a Lithuanian gym teacher, an Estonian childhood friend, but I never knew anyone from Latvia.

Sveiks!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

69. Paldies!! (Thanks!)

Aren't you a sweetie?!!!

Sveiks, right back atcha!

[Jack Rabbit]

43. Happy birthday

I'll be 55 on Friday.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

71. So I'm supposed to be impressed by some juvenile delinquent?

Happy happy, Jack!!

[NanceGreggs]

48. Happy Birthday!!!

And many, many, many more!!!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

72. Thanks for the many many manies, Nance!!!

Sure beats the alternative!

[shanti]

50. happy birthday, fellow scorpio

my ex-husband had a bd today too

the castle is within reach!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

73. From your mouth, shanti...

You are a good soul!

[WinkyDink]

66. HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY!!

(I'm 57 on Sunday!)

[tinfoilinfor2005]

74. Well, RUB IT IN!!

Rookie!!

Have a great one!!

[BlueStater]

77. Happy birthday, Grandpa

Remember, 60 is the new 40.

[dweller]

79. bless your dreams, tinfoilinfor2005

your's is the best thread i've read tonite, thank you for that history of your family and what this country once was built from, and could be again.

happy birthday! to many more years

off to bed with my self, perchance to dream again.
dp

[StraightDope]

80. My friend...

Brīnišķīgs!

Llaimīgs dzimšanas!

Sveicināt jo nākotne!

I hope I got that right... My Lithuanian isn't what it used to be, and my Latvian is almost nonexistant.

Oh, and incidentally, the character map is a wonderful resource. Let me know how poor or, God-willing, otherwise, my Baltic translation skills are!

[Terri S]

82. ooo, lots of Scorpios here!

Happy Birthday, luv! I'll be 55 on Sunday, and you give me good reason to look forward to 60! What a wonderful life you've had. Thank you for sharing it with your friends and this du newbie here! May the best be yet to come!!