Monday, January 13, 2014

On Turning 51 with Panto, glitter and friends!


I love birthdays - mine and everyone else's. 

I am an equal opportunity birthday lover.

I even love my age now.  51 seems sturdy.  I have all my teeth.  I don't see as well as I used to, but then, that just makes everyone else look all dreamy....

I always think a birthday is a time to reflect on the year past and mostly, I think it is a time to reflect on how lucky I am to be here on this lovely blue dot in a vast universe.

I think of friends who didn't make it to 51.  I owe it to them to disco and do my Angus Young impression at parties and sing off-key very loudly when I listen to 80s on 8 on Sirius XM.

This past year has been about profound changes in my life and in me and the biggest of these is that I now practise gratitude on a daily basis. 

Yes, I still have my black moods, but I recover from them more quickly.

I can still be - ahem - prickly, but I apologize and try to do better.

And I no longer blame - myself or others.  I don't need to be right any more and I let sleeping dogs lie. 



What I know for sure at 51:

  • I'm not the smartest tool in the toolshed, but I get by
  • I'm as beautiful as I want to feel and while my belly looks remarkably like those geographic relief pictures of the Appalachian Mountains, I like to think of it as a scientific wonder now, not an item for derision
  • I want people to think kindly of me after they were with me - wasn't she fun?  isn't she joyful?
  • I love all of my friends and most of them love me back!
  • I love my family and mostly they love me too!
  • I do love attention.  I am pretty sure in a past life I was a showgirl!
  • That Tina and Amy may have joked on the Golden Globes that George Clooney headed into deep space to get away from a woman his own age, but I am convinced, and surely you must agree, that there can be only one truth: he has been searching his whole life for a geographic relief of the Appalachians! 
  • That everything in life can be summed up thanks to the Tao of Dr. Seuss: for some wonderful period of time we are here on this planet, today is part of that journey for me, and like those little Who's in Horton Hears a Who, I am going to continue to reach out: "I am here, I am here, I am here!"  Cause you know what? Here is pretty darn good!

You are lucky in life if you meet people with whom you connect.  One such person is my beloved Tabs over in Scotland, and I am convinced we are distantly related, if not by blood then by the fact that we engaged in the same tomfoolery in the late 70s and 80s! 

She lost her finger puppets in the horrid home break-in last year and I recently replaced them with some new ones. 

She has repaid that gift in spades with a special Panto just for me.  It has all of the hallmarks of a classic, eventually to be seen every January 14th henceforth, a modern Christmas Carol or How The Grinch Stole Christmas if you will, full of many layers of meaning that film historians will watch, rewind and then pore over for years to come.  Everyone will wonder "who the hell was Wendy?" and "What is a Schaeffer pen?", but I will know wherever I am and I will be drinking bourbon (and then probably being ill later!).  And you just know she is getting more puppets!  Thank you Tabs, my glamorous Scottish Queen!  Much love!



you know you're special if you get birthday greetings from Winston Churchill and Queen Victoria

So thanks to you all tonight and tomorrow for dropping in on the virtual party.  Take some cake and champagne and head over to Tabs' for the entertainment.  Mind the disco ball on the way out!  You are all why I am here, whether you chat or not, and I am grateful! 

Wonder what the 102nd birthday party will be like?  George will be 106 then, so it might work out...

Stay Safe out there!  And get prepared for tomorrow's Style Wednesday!







 

105 comments:

  1. I thought Tabs' post was soo lovely and you must have loved it! I wish you a Happy birthday and hope your birthday wishes come true and you get spoiled tomorrow x

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    1. Thanks Naomi! I am quite good about making sure that happens!

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  2. Dear Wendy I may have met you in the blog world but you have stayed at my house and I can vouch for the fact that you are the disco ball in any room you enter, thanks so much for lighting up our lives!
    (DId you notice the George joke got the biggest laughs? We know the truth, he is missing something... he can't find it... send George a map of New Brunswick!)
    Happy Birthday Darling Wendy!

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    1. I wished I had written that joke!!!! Though I am not partial to the image of my belly a topographical muse....

      thanks for the kind wishes! I wish I was in your kitchen now, watching you whip that new mixer into shape!

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  3. Happiest Birthday Wendy. I hope you enjoy a celebration worthy of your fabulousness...
    BTW-the GC joke was my LOL of the show.

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    1. Julie - it was fabulous, wasn't it?????? George and I were sitting on the couch and we laughed and laughed and laughed....

      Thanks for the nice thoughts!

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  4. Wow! you look utterly fabulous in this photo! Happy Birthday, Miss 51 and looks 21! I am so happy and somehow relieved to be in my 50's have at least realised there is not a damn thing you can do about it and now I do not try and be friends with everybody.... leaving me time to do my own stuff

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    1. I hear you Jody! You gotta pick and choose and if it isn't filling you up, it sure ain't worth it! Maybe I need to take up dance like you!

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  5. Wendy you look fab in the pic above!
    You look like you have found youself indeed ! I wish you the best birthday ever,hopefully you get spoiled big times.

    Do you know what happened to Montys blog?

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    1. Ina - she had a spammer and is now member only. email me offline and I can you the password!

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    2. p.s. thanks for the kind and lovely wishes!

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    3. Fred - send me an email at sydorry@Hotmail.com and I'll flip it to you!

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  6. Dear Wendy, happiest of birthday wishes to you! What you have given out you have received back in spades, as evidenced by Tabitha's post - how wonderful!

    I hope you have a lovely day tomorrow!

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  7. Happy happy birthday! I wish you a lovely, sparkly year where all of your dreams come true. Thank you for adding joy to the internet!

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  8. Happy Birthday Wendy. What a delight to be able to follow you. you look fabulous in that picture and George is a fool for taking so long!
    Lots of sparkle and cake tomorrow.

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    1. Marsha - I suspect that when history writes the story of one man's lost opportunities, you will see a photo of George looking at Wendy. In fact, I am positive of that fact, as I plan to write that history!

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  9. Happy Birthday Wendy! I wish you a year filled with laughter, love and happiness! Have the most awesome day! You deserve it!

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  10. Happy Birthday, my dear Wendy! I just know this is going to be a fabulous year for you!

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    1. Thanks MW! Hope we get to meet up in Beantown this year! I have "visit JFK Presidential Library" on the list, so will be going through Lane and MW country!

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  11. Happy Birthday, Wendy!!! You bring a whole lot of sparkle to this corner of the blogging community - I feel quite lucky to be a part of it. Tabitha's panto is one of the best things I've ever seen - who knew those finger puppets would be put to such good use! Best wishes for a wonderful year!! :-)

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    1. Louise - I swear that she and I are going to form the Finger Puppet Theatre, have our own You Tube Channel and go on to great glory and acclaim!

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  12. Happy Birthday, Wendy! And, I have to say, your makeup looks incredible!

    I love reading your writing every day (though I rarely tell you!). So, I hope you have a very productive year. ;-)

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    1. Thanks rcb! I will tell my makeup artist! ;-)

      Thanks for the kind words!

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  13. Happy Birthday Wendy! Love that Tabs has repaid your kindness in spades by sending you a panto across the ocean for your birthday. Have a wonderful day, and keep the disco ball spinning for the next fab year ahead. xx

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    1. Thanks Heidi! You will see I have added them to the wall beside, a permanent homage to some of the greatest theatre to come out of the UK since Olivier trod the boards...

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  14. I hope you have a glorious day. You spread so much joy in this little blog world. May you be repaid many times over on your special day. Happy Happy!

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  15. You can just tell by your pictures that you are a happy person. Love that! Have a wonderful wonderful birthday!!

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    1. Thanks Audreys! I am a pretty happy person! Well mostly anyway!

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  16. Happy happy birthday! Here's to a great new year and many many more :)

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    1. Thanks Laura! Am on day 14 of no shopping ban - how you doing?

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  17. Happy Birthday, Wendy! Glad to hear you are planning for your 102nd birthday!! Very positive outlook!!

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    1. Barb, I am convinced if I don't plan my own 102nd birthday no one is going to be on top of it in time to book Channing Tatum to dance. I mean, he'll only be in his 80s then...

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  18. Happy birthday Wendy!! It's been fun hanging out with you here this year! :)

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  19. A very happy birthday Wendy! I also loved Tabs' Panto and love the backstory of you replacing the puppets that were stolen. I'll stop in tomorrow for champers & giggles.

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    1. GSL, I have decided to start calling you Jimmy (until you change your picture and then we shall just see what I call you!) and I agree that Tabs' Panto will be a present for the ages!!!!

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    2. I've been called worse but that may hasten my upcoming photoshoot after I procure a bespoke lid about to be commissioned from a local hatmaker.

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  20. Happy Birthday, Wendy. May it be as spectacular and lovely as you. I love reading this post and your reflections. I think as we get older, the small things don't bother us as much. I often wonder why? Perhaps with age, comes the notion that we just have better things to be bothered with.

    I love your red hair. In my next life, I asked God to give me red hair in your hue. I had a high school friend who was half Chinese and hafl Irish. She has the MOST beautiful, rich hued burgundy head of hair. She was also voted 'Best Hair' in our senior year. Go figure, right?

    3 Cheers to you on your special day! It only gets better with age!

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    1. Wendy - you can have that hair in this life! I can just ask my hairdresser what colour it is!!! I only have a little red, but my hairdresser believes I was always meant to be a full-on redhead (I guess she knows me!) and so a full-on red head I am!!

      Thanks for the kind words from one Wendy to a lovely Wendy!

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  21. I wish I am going to be in such a good place as you when I am 51, it looks like you have found who you are and bringing joy to the people around you. Happy birthday Wendy, I am happy I met you (in blog life and real lufe). And you look gorgeous in that pic, with or without Appalachian!

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    1. Ema - I am quite sure you will be and lucky you you have plenty of time to contemplate this age!!!! I am so glad to have meet you as well and can't wait to see you again next time we are in NYC!

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  22. You look lovely, Wendy! Happy 51st! May this be the year you get the first book published.

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    1. Yay Team Cap! We Capricorns are slow and steady folks aren't we? I hope you had a fabulous birthday as well. I think Capricorns might be late bloomers...

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  24. You look fabulous on this picture! I wish you a wonderful day on your Birthday. Yes you do have wonderful friends who have wrote great posts to honor you today. I raise my glass and will not miss eating a piece of cake to celebrate with you.

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    1. Thanks Steph!!! Yes - I am a lucky gel as they say! I like to consider myself the George Bailey of the blog world - you aren't going to find expensive items at this blog, but you will be feted!

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  25. A very Happy Birthday to you dear Wendy. You are a delight and I'm so happy to have found you. Fifties are fabulous!! You look especially beautiful in this picture. Happy and glowing. xoJennifer

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    1. and I hadn't had a drink yet!

      thanks for the kind words Jen!

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  26. "She lost her finger puppets" That quote has cracked me up, I am never going to make it as an adult!

    Happy Birthday!

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    1. well me neither! I am convinced that it's going to keep us young!

      you know how much I loved the film - I keep telling you! and there will be a response - I promise you that! I am warming up the waters here in the pool for you upcoming blessed birthday!

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  27. Happy birthday Wendy! I'm so pleased I found your blog and 'met' you! Here's to a fab 2014 xxx

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  28. Well, hello sunshine, it's your birthday! And you're looking gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous!! The best wishes for a spectacular year, and many, many more!!!

    I will wear some sparkles in your honor today, wonderful Wendy, happy, happy birthday!!!

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    1. I am going to be happy, happy happy all day long thinking of the sequins and fancy pants out in California!

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  29. Well they say 35 is the new 18 so at 51 you are only 34. At your prime and ready for the big time. Cheers to your best year yet!

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    1. ha! I don't mind being 51 and when I see all those Hollywood women in their 50s whose faces don't move anymore, I am glad to have the sags and bags!

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  30. Happy Birthday Wendy,
    2014 is going to be the year; I just know it! I still love your blogs and our Wednesday morning coffee break, We are so fortunate to have the lives, families and friends that we have. Hope you have a wonderful day. One of your loving friends.... Ger

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    1. Thanks Ger! Love right back at you! Life is pretty darn good for you and I these days, isn't it?

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  31. Wendy, dahling, the happiest of birthdays and all good wishes for more luvly times and smiles and giggles all year long. Renewable on demand.

    PS, when are you coming back to New York?

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    1. Thanks Fred!!! Right back at you!

      I am hoping we will be in NYC this summer or fall. Barry is hoping to score Les Mis tickets! I just love NYC! We definitely won't be there in the spring as I will still be paying Mr. Disney money (supercalafragalisticexpialadoshus!)

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    2. Wow Wendy this really is your day, do you have spellcheck software for that word?

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    3. I wish I did and that I had a way to make my scales always read 10 pounds less! I looked it up!

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    4. If there will be a NYC club house meeting I would so love to join in for a cup of tea or cocktail. Please keep me in mind. Once again Happy Birthday Wendy!

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    5. Oh, that sounds great, we'll definitely set something up for Wendy's visit!

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    6. oh yippee!! Imagine meeting all of you at once!

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    7. I'm pretty sure that Blue Booby has put meeting a blogger friend on her list of 100 things. Perhaps we can coax her back to NYC to join in the visit!

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  32. What an amazingly, wonderful post! Happy Birthday! I share much of your sentiment on life and I too love ANYONE'S birthday -- just more reason to celebrate and be ridiculous. I'm so glad there are bloggers like you.

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  33. Many happy returns Wendy!
    Here's to a fabulous year ahead!
    Tabs did you proud all right.

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    1. Curator -tabs 's abilities shouldn't be a surprise to us - don't you see her and her beauty on stage? :-)

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    2. Oh absolutely!
      I know she says she's shy, but I'm sure she cold tread the boards with vim and vigor...being the doppelgänger of the young Elizabeth Taylor and all. Have you ever thought of writing a wee play for her?

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    3. Curator - you may be on to something!

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    4. Wendy, I'll need you to write me in as Stagedoor Johnny.

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    5. You're in! It is a little known fact, but I am in fact a produced playwright, having collaborated with a chum on our local Gilbert and Sullivan's fall production of 1993, a swell homage to Showboat called "Riverboat Revels"!

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  34. happy birthday dear wendy (fellow capricorn, yay!) and i adored tabs puppet show. i was out working in the garden thinking about her little bday greeting to you and just marveled at how blog friendships are just amazing. what a wonderful world it really is. xoxo

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    1. Hi Janet! Thanks for the kind wishes! My daughter always says that I don't do the internet "right" - that instead of spammers I seem to have found every sympathetic soul out there, and I think she is right! I think we attract that which we give and I am so glad to have attracted someone like Tabs (and you!) into my life!

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  35. Now how can you possibly have an Appalachian geographic relief and still have all your teeth? Happy Happy Happy Birthday! What a glorious day it is. You've done well baby. Much love.

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    1. THAT is a good point!!!! Hmmmmm...

      Thanks Miss T - much love right back at you!

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    2. Comment of the day Blue Booby!

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  36. Happy Birthday! What a gorgeous picture of you...making 51 look pretty darn smashing! Hip hip hooray!

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  37. Happy Birthday dear Wendy!

    I started reading your blog right around your birthday last year, and it has been great being along for the ride!

    Wishing you a happy and healthy year!

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  38. Wendy, Happy Birthday! You have gathered a loyal band of followers over the past year. We can't wait to see what you will accomplish in 2014.

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  39. Happy Birthday, I hope you've had a wonderful day.

    ...from a fan.

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  40. Happy Birthday Wendy Dear - hope you had a splendid day, and here's to a fantastic year ahead! Who knows, possibly one day all the lovely people who congregate here may end up meeting in person! How cool would that be? :)

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  41. Wendy, hope that you are having a fantastic birthday! Your blog is so much fun, honest and thoughtful. You deserve a great birthday and a great year ahead. BTW You look glowing in the photo.


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  42. Wonderful Wendy! Have a fabulous birthday! Tabitha's gift is fantastic! Love the blog and can't wait to see more in the years to come.

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    1. THANKS! I keep forgetting to go back ans comment as I loved your makeup post!

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  43. Late to the party as always after a loooong day of work but I wanted to wish you a happy birthday. Hoping that your 51st year is monumental. Your present (to us of course ) will be autographed copies of your first best seller! Better get that sharpie market warmed up cause you're going to need a lot of them this year.

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    1. thanks SC! You may have to wait a bit for the book, but not chapter 1...

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  44. Okay, really late to the party, but then birthdays are worth celebrating all week long! Especially since as we get older a day is a such a short time to celebrate all the fantastic things you've accomplished since the last one! Happy birthday Wendy! It's sounds like it was as special as it ought to be!

    Oh, and on my way to trying to enjoy cooking, I made some lovely olive pissaladiere tarts thanks to a certain cool cookbook I received last week. Thank you so much!!

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Kindness is a virtue...