Monday, January 14, 2013

1963

Are you tired of me turning 50 today?   I kind of am and am glad that it is finally here. 

At some point in your life, you realize you are the older person people are looking up to. It is a weird feeling, because you feel like you are still 14 years old, albeit a 14 year old that understands mortgage payments, how to make a good all-purpose sauce, that the recommendations to drink water during an evening of drinking champagne is what separates you from your mates who have to stay in bed with a bucket beside them, and who understands that family and friends are everything.

And you look at pictures of yourself at 18 and the person in the picture looks like your daughter and you just want to say "enjoy yourself and stop trying to be perfect!"

Anyone else have one of those frilly blouses in 1980?

One of my best friends gave me an amazing gift - a hardcover book, in which she had compiled all of the significant milestones of my life from birth in pictures and stories, with quotes by my closest friends.  It is quite amazing!  When you get a gift like that, you count yourself amongst the blessed and you wonder how you got so lucky.

what a great idea for a gift!

I read with interest, thanks to a card given to me by another friend, all of the folks who are turning 50 this year:

Brad Pitt
Johnny Depp
JulieStyles (Julie - wouldn't it have been funny if that had been on the card - you are a celebrity to me!)
Quentin Tarantino
Phoebe Cates (we were obsessed with her as a model when she was in Seventeen magazine in the 70s!)
Lisa Kudrow
Vanessa Williams
Jeanne Tripplehorn
and the list goes on.  Director Stephen Soderbergh and I actually share the exact same birthday and year.  Now doesn't that make you wonder how quirky he is too?

So I recommend turning 50.  You all have become very dear to me and I just love the conversation.  You have become the Helene Hanffs to my Frank P. Doel (look that one up for obscurity, though I bet some of you knew that right off!).  I consider myself blessed when I find friends and acquaintances wherever and however they pop up.  As I have said before, this is like a piece of fluff in the internet universe, but it is a piece of fluff where you all are and therefore, and therefore means everything.

Have a great day!  I will be eating a piece of cake for you all today.  I think if you share a piece of cake with dozens of people there are no calories, right???


Happy Monday and Stay Safe Out There!

Oh and PS - We need to talk about the very end of Jody Foster's acceptance speech at the Golden Globes Last Night!  I was with her till the end, then started to wonder what the heck she meant?  Thoughts??????







64 comments:

  1. Wishing you the happiest of birthdays darling!! What a wonderful and thoughtful gift, I just love it.

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  2. Happy Birthday and is that book not the most perfect present?
    My husband loves Jeanne Tripplehorn which please me no end as she's older than me!

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    1. It's kind of like my husband and Sela Ward - makes me feel young!!!

      thanks for the wishes!

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  3. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday WMM! What a fabulous gift from your friend! Definitely one that I know you will treasure for many years to come! :)

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    1. Hi FFM - I can;t believe the quality of the book - was done by Apple and it will be a real treasure to me (and hopefully my children!)

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  4. HAPPIEST DAY WMM, agreed what a thoughtful, marvelous gift to treasure. You also share your year with Mike Myers (equally hysterical Anglophile movie lover) and Jennifer Beals (smarty Yale grad who still loves to dance, just not in movies) as well as with Cleopatra, Lawrence of Arabia and To Kill a Mockingbird, so it all makes perfect sense to me. Glorious peonies. Looking forward to my just-right bite of cake (vanilla?) later. Oh and yes, I had pie-crust frilly blouses circa 1980s, the Lady Di meets Prince the performer factor.

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    1. Lady Di and Prince - killing me!

      Actually, is always the same cake: chocolate cake with boiled 7 minute frosting. My mother started making those when I was 1 and my husband has been forced to learn after we married.

      Cleopatra, eh? I really like To Kill a Mockingbird - nice to have same birthday as one of my favourite books!

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  5. Happy 50th Birthday WMM!!!
    I wish you the best birthday day you ever had and lots of gifts!
    Love the book you got-what a thoughtful gift.

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  6. Happy Birthday, WMM!!!! I'm wishing you the very, very best always! And, what a sweet, thoughtful gift--I love it!

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    1. It is a great gift! You should all steal the idea for your friends' significant birthday!

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  7. What a wonderful gift to receive! A very Happy Birthday to you, and yes, 50 is a milestone birthday and one to celebrated for awhile.

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  8. Happy Birthday!!
    I'm looking forward to our cake! I hope you have a gorgeous day my dear.
    I actually left the family room during Jodie Foster's speech, it was at that exact moment I lost patience for the whole thing. She wasn't making much sense, was she referring to coming out of the closet a few years ago? I dunno. MrBP thought she was hammered.
    I liked her hair-style!

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    1. I liked her prom queen, platform shoes comments. And those well-toned upper arms. But definitely a bit of a ramble that Jennifer publicist should haved edited before she got to snogging Cotillard and spanking Daniel Craig. Can't have been easy literally growing up in Hollywood, then Hinckley, and looking with her perspective on modern cult of celebrity.

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    2. I sort of thought the same thing! Sydney agreed with Mr. BP - think she got hammered on the champers!!! But those arms - wow - note to self - start working on arms...

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  9. Happy happy Birthday! May this day be a beginning of wonderful new adventures! Wishing you lots of happiness, joy, love an of course health!

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  10. Enjoy the day!! That is an awesome book your friend made for you. I definitely still feel like I am 14 years old. In fact, I think it was right about then that I owned that frilly neck blouse! Didn't watch the Golden Globes, Downton Abbey and the Good Wife instead. I never have patience for awards shows. I've usually never seen the movies and all the congratulating of everyone makes me yawn. Although, it sounds like I should have tuned in for Jodie Foster's speech? I do like to see the fashion, though, was there anything interesting last night? Happy birthday!!

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    1. Oh - I forgot - have to watch Downton Abbey this afternoon! Yippee - it's like another birthday gift!!!

      Lot's of nice dresses, lots of scary dresses!

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  11. Happy Birthday! I watched most of Jodie's speech, then fast-forwarded through it once the rambling really started (I had taped the show so I could watch Downton Abbey) ... Adele and Kevin Costner had the best speeches. Good for Ben Affleck that he won. Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell were hilarious, so were Tina and Amy!

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    1. Kristen and Will made me laugh out loud!!! I agree on Adele and Kevin Costner. Brevity!

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  12. Enjoy your treasure of a book and your 5-0 day. I'll have to see the GG dresses on Fashion Police , I guess

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    1. Oh - I have to look out and see when that is on - they always have some good thoughts!

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  13. I hear 50 is the new 21 :-)
    Party like it's... well, 2013!

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    1. Ha! I thought by the time I was 50 we would have jet packs and live on the moon!

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  14. Happy Birthday WMM...those flowers are poptastic!-thank you. As for Miss Foster, she needs a good smack with the gratitude stick. I loved your post because you obviously do not need said smack...I know all of God's children have their troubles but Foster needs to pick her moments. Especially in such a luxurious and opulent situation...just let go girl and celebrate yourself and your blessings. Thanks for letting me share this with you...Have a wonderful Birthday and talk to you soon...NJ

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    1. Yeah, I thought Jody was suffering from the "I think she doth protest too much" syndrome!!! And I don't like being lectured at! Thanks for the kind words!

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  15. Happy Birthday! Another night to party...excuses, excuses. Miss Foster's speech rambled a bit but I thought it was very candid and genuine. Not sure what the confusion is. Last part was about scaling back, not quite retiring, and hoping to find love again. Loved the Globes only wished we could of seen Taylor Swifts face after the " stay away from the the Fox kid" comment.

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    1. Blue Booby - I am so with you on wanting to see Taylor's face, since she didn't look really thrilled about the Adele win!!!

      Well maybe you have explained it all to me. I love Jody - she is one of my heroines!

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  16. Happy Birthday Wendy,
    What a wonderful friend to make suchan effort with the book. Very busy yesterday lazing around watching football, Golden Globes and Downton Abbey.Speaking of red heads I loved Julianne Moore dress. Thought Tina and Amy were fantastic as hosts .
    Enjoy the cake.

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    1. Marsha - am so with you - Tina and AMy rocked!!! still haven't seen Downton yet!

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  17. Happy Birthday, sorry I am behind in commenting, I had an exceptionally busy weekend and Monday morning. My two childhood friends gave me a similar book when I got married, it is a treasure indeed.
    I think you forgot Jodie, didn't she opened her speech saying the was 50? I like her very much and I liked the speech (rambling included), it was genuine. But my husband had the same reaction than you and went immediately on the iPad to see the comments and what was that about. I agree Will Ferrell and Kristen Wig were hilarious.

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    1. Jody is 50, but she is a '62 baby, like my husband! I doublechecked! She looks great for 50!

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  18. Happy birthday Wendy! So glad you are embracing 50 looking ahead instead of trying to go back! I was hoping that we would have Jetson ammenities by now as well. I could definitely use Rosie the robot maid and that closet that gets you ready for the day and brushes your teeth. Looking forward to your posts in 2013.

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    1. Thanks SC! I would like to ironing robot!! Oh wait, my husband is that... he loves to iron!

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  19. happy birthday dear wendy. now i know your name! 50 ain't so bad is it? i think the build up is worse don't you?

    xo
    janet

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    1. You are so right! I actually feel pretty darn good - but it is funny to be moving into that new decade! thanks for the kind wishes!

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  20. Happy Birthday Wendy-Thanks for the shout out :-)
    I'm delighted that you had a fabulous party and received such a wonderful gift.
    Jodie's dress was my favorite-her speech kind of rambling, but I appreciate her desire for privacy. The tribute to her mom was beautiful. More than anything I love that RDJ's did the intro-I love him no matter what. His talent is endless and I find it heroic that he turned his life around. He is one of my favorites.

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    1. Julie - I am so with you on her dress and the moment about her mom. RDJ is a real icon. One thing I admire about Jodie is that she is very loyal. I will not defend Mel Gibson, but I believe that once she loves you and believes in you, she will stand by you and try to help. That is the mark of a great friend in my opinion. The hamster moment was priceless!

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  21. Happy birthday, WMM! Enjoy your special day!

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  22. Hi There WMM I have never posted to your blog but I visit often. I too am turning 50 this year!! Hooray for us and feel your pain and joy at the same time!!! Happy Birthday to you and many many more healthy years to come!! All the best !

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    1. Yay MB! I think the 50s will be grand! I am so glad you left a message! When is your big day?

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  23. Happy Birthday Wendy! Hope you enjoyed watching Downton this afternoon. I'll watch it on Friday night with my husband.
    I loved the Golden Globes - favourite bit was Kirsten Wiig and Will Ferrell, hilarious! I was so glad that Ben Affleck won.
    I had one of those blouses too, circa 1980-81, was definitely channelling Princess Di!

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    1. I will not breathe a word about this episode! Send a note on sat and let me know what you think! Thanks for the kind wishes!

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  24. Happy 50th Wendy! Sending you warm wishes for a wonderful year! It looks like you are in good company at 50.

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  25. What a wonderful gift. Hope you are having a Fabulous birthday!

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  26. Happy Birthday! My rule is that desserts consumed on your birthday have zero calories. I hope that you have had a wonderful day.

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  27. Happy birthday, WMM! Hope you had a good one?

    I think Jodie Foster was finally coming out about her sexual orientation, and explaining (sort of) why she hadn't done it before (privacy).

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  28. Happy Birthday, WMM! It sounds like it was a splendid one. I didn't know all of those celebs are turning 50.

    Jodie Foster already acknowledged Cydney Bernard a few years ago at a Hollywood lunch. I guess it was a big deal this time because it was on national television. I was able to catch the speech on the re-run broadcast and figured out that her mom has Alzheimers or dementia. I looooved Amy Poehler & Tina Fey. I hope the return & that we see more of them next time!

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    1. Hey Gigi - I am with you - AMy and Tina were hysterical, and just the right kind of zingers. I thought they did well and had wished we'd seen more of them as well!

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  29. A belated but heartfelt happy birthday to you,WMM--as always, you are the gift! Hope the year brings you 50 wonderful things...

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  30. As usual, I'm late to the party, but now that I am here I can wish you a belated Happy Birthday. The book from your friend was such a thoughtful gift - your friend and the book are both treasures.

    Hope this year is filled with good health and many wonderful moments WMM!

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Kindness is a virtue...