Friday, July 20, 2007

OH NO, FIVE-O!

My name is Cathy and I'm a 50-year-old blogger. Waahhhhh!!!!! Birthdays come and go and I don't give them much thought, but this one is different. It's not the vanity thing... it's the living thing! I keep thinking, best case - I've reached the halfway mark. I remember my Dad saying many years back that time is relative and the older you get the faster it goes. Nothing could be truer and let me tell you, it sure seems as though the seasons are whipping by these days. What happened to summer? For that matter, what happened to the 2000's?

Aside from time passing too quickly, I actually like being older. I think I'm happier and more accepting of myself. I do detect an increasing impatience that's a little worrisome, but perhaps that is forgivable in light of my increasingly accelerated sense of time. In general though, life is good. Very good. I have wonderful friends and a fantastic family, good health, a comfortable place to put my head down at night, and not least of all this little blog which has brought me a sense of community and some friendships that I will treasure always.

There are certainly things I miss from my younger years, but then again I am SO much closer to retirement and the prospect of that thrills me to no end! I really can't complain about my job. People there have been good to me; I work in a place where I can feel that I'm contributing to the public good; and it has given me a comfortable life. BUT... the things I long to spend my time on are not the things I can make a living from and these days they seem to get bumped by work and general busy-ness: cooking, weaving, sewing, knitting, genealogy, etc. I will be able to do the job I wish most to excel at - being Aunt Cathy - so much better when I finally am able to step away from the more mundane work-a-day world! More time to bake cookies with Cassidy, sew with Christina, weave with Catelynn (yes, I've decided that 3-month-old Catelynn will be the next weaver in the family!), hug Tommy, and chase Brian around the house trying to plunk a kiss on his cheek.

But I shouldn't and I won't wish away the remaining working days, for at the very least there are evenings and weekends to be enjoyed: cooking in my little kitchen, catching up on hobbies, reading a good book, delving into a new weaving project, or simply enjoying the company of friends and family. There's also time to stay in touch here and I honestly look forward to that.

When I started blogging in 2004, I felt that I was an anomaly. It seemed to me at that time that every other blogger was at least 20 years younger than me. I suspect I was mistaken then and I know that's not true now - and thank goodness for that! Blogging brings all sorts of people together and the variety of ages is no less than the assortment of hometowns, ethnicities, or favorite ice cream flavors! Anyway, I have come to feel very much at home here, so I am finally ready (though still with slight trepidation) to post my picture here. Hello everyone!

me

I'm home from work today and since it's a weekday morning it's very quiet. A little while ago, I heard a rattling sound which was a little alarming. Leo (my cat) and I gave each other puzzled looks and then I heard it again. It was coming from this room. It turned out to be a goldfinch tapping on the window. There was a minute or so when I was able to look him right in the eye, but of course the moment I turned to grab my camera he was off. It was such an unusual and wonderful thing to happen on my birthday, that I have decided to take it has a good omen. I think the next fifty years are going to be great!

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

HI CATHY...HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM AN EVEN OLDER CHEF..YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY.LIFE BEGINS AT 50.SO YOU GO GIRL...

chuckless said...

Happy happy birthday Cathy. Your post is wonderful and you're an absolutely beautiful person (and I'm not just talking about the photograph!!!). I wish you only wonderful things for the future.

Anonymous said...

Happy Happy Birthday Cathy!

I'm fortysomething. You are an inspiration! So much energy!

Thanks for the picture. It is nice to have a face to go with the "voice".

-Lisa

Anne said...

Happy birthday!! :) I've been reading your blog for years, and I'm thrilled to see a picture, I love being able to finally put a face to the words. :)

Anonymous said...

Happy Happy Birthday Cathy! I saw the title and the first thing I thought was "She's posting on Jack Lord? Huh?!"

You don't look your age young lady, so it must really be true that life is treating you pretty good. (Or you've got some secret youth cream stashed away). On behalf of the food blogging community, I wish you a very fine day and look forward to what's next in the future!

Cerebrum said...

Happy, happy, HAPPY Birthday Cathy! I hope you had a fantastic day. And you know, I know the next 50 years will be incredibly cool - with your enthusiasm for everything LIFE, how could they not?

Like, one of the things you have to do is a return visit to Denmark - and how could that NOT turn out cool??:)

CONGRATULATIONS and big birthday hugs from the both of us!

Nupur said...

Cathy, the photo is so cute!! No, you absolutely do not look your age! I'm smiling to think how you were so reluctant in 2005 to even use your real name while blogging :D
Hope you had a wonderful birthday! The next fifty years are going to be better than great: and I hope you will keep sharing nuggets of your life with us through this blog!

Leigh said...

Happy Birthday Cathy! I can't tell you how much I have enoyed your blog. Thanks so much for sharing yourself with the rest of the world.

Cathy said...

Hi doverptchef! I will, and thank you!

Hello dear Chuck - thank you for these sweet thoughts and for everything!

Hi Lisa - thank you! I don't know about the energy part, though ;)

Hi Anne - thanks for the birthday wishes and for being a "regular" around here!

Hi Rowena! Leave it to you to make me laugh! The Hawaii Five-O angle hadn't even occurred to me! Thank you too for being here week after week and thank you for the birthday wishes!

Hello Miss Zarah!! I really do hope to visit you someday soon. Hmmm... maybe that's something I should do BEFORE retirement, while I still have an income, huh? Thank you and hugs to you and Martin as well!

Hi Nupur!! I'll never forget the look on your face when I told you how old I was - thank you for that! Thank you too for all your wonderful birthday wishes. So funny you mention about me not wanting to use my name originally - I was just talking about that with Bob and Chuck yesterday! I hope to continue blogging here for years to come and I hope to see you again very, very soon!!

Hi Leigh! Thanks so much! I feel the same way about you and your blog - I enjoy it so very much and am constantly awed and inspired by your amazing work!

Christy Woolum said...

Hi Cathy,
I have been reading your blog and decided to leave a comment. I also love food writing and love your site! Happy Birthday

Cathy said...

Hi inland empire girl! Thanks so much for the birthday wishes!

Jannett said...

Hi Cathy

I wish you the very best birthday. Fifty is pretty young these days. And you do not look your age for sure.

Cathy said...

Hi Hendria! Thank you! I have to say - I don't feel my age, I barely feel like a grown-up :)

Heleen said...

Happy belated birthday Cathy!! I for one want to thank you for the inspiration you're passing on through your blog, I hope you'll keep at it for many years to come :o).

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Cathy! It is so nice to put a face with the name. :)

Anonymous said...

Dear Cathy, Belated Happy Birthday to you! Like everyone else here, I enjoy reading your blog. Mondays feel off, almost, if I haven't read a "Mondays with Maida" post, and it is because of you that I discovered the lovely Maida. If I'm around, you know I'll be reading your posts for the next 50 years. :)

Anonymous said...

Hello there,

I have been reading your blog for awhile now, following along with your Mondays with Maida. Thought I would finally comment and wish you a happy birthday as you see the 20th of July is also my birthday. I turned 47.

Mary D in Texas

Cathy said...

Hi Heleen! Thanks so much! I can't imagine abandoning this blog anytime soon - I'm having too much fun with it!

Hi Ann! Thank you for the birthday wishes!

Hi Mari! Thank you so much for your kind words and birthday wishes. I look forward to your visit here every week and always enjoy stopping by your blog too. I am thrilled that you were introduced to Maida through my blog!

Hi Mary and happy birthday to you too! Thank you for the birthday wishes!

Lis said...

Happy belated birthday, Cathy!

xoxo

Cathy said...

Hi Lis - thanks so much! It was a wonderful weekend and still more celebrating ahead!

Caroline@Bibliocook said...

Happy birthday Cathy!

Cathy said...

Hi Caroline - thank you very much!