Thursday, October 11, 2007

Birthday Surprise

I spent all morning at a library leadership training, then took myself out for a burrito at Tacos del Rey for lunch. Tomorrow is my birthday so when I got to work this afternoon and saw this on the back door to the building, I knew there was only one person who it could be meant for.

Here's my desk. Note that my chair has been replaced by a walker and I have a blow up cane that says "Over the Hill." In front of my computer is a display of books on ageing and I actually checked one out. As for the Sixty Happens banner - here are some of the sentiments:

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. Groucho Marx

Be kind to your kids, they’ll be choosing your nursing home.

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. Mark Twain

Age is important only if you’re cheese or wine.

If you want to look young and thin, hang around old, fat people. Jim Eason.

You’re not old, you’re youthfully challenged.

We’re always the same age inside. Gertrude Stein

Old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative. Maurice Chevalier

Over the hill…and on a roll.

It’s sad to grow old, but nice to ripen. Brigitte Bardot

In dog years, you’re already dead!

After sixty everything that doesn’t hurt, doesn’t work.

The secret to staying young is love, honesty, eat slowly and lie about your age. Lucille Ball.

It takes a long time to grow young. Pablo Picasso

You’re not 60, you’re 28 with 32 years of experience!

You know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than the cake. Bob Hope

Eat right, exercise regularly, die anyway.

The really frightening thing about middle age is you know you’ll grow out of it. Doris Day


This is the entrance to my work area. It's pretty hard to not know what birthday I'm celebrating. In addition to the black curtain, note the vulture.




My cake is decorated with black roses and says, "Over the hill is better than under it." So why am I laughing?






My own Diana Ross-style chorus is singing Happy Birthday to me. Working with these wonderful people is a present in itself.

10 comments:

Tina T-P said...

Well, let me be "the first" to wish you Happy Birthday here! JP will be 60 next month - I still have a few years to go - I roll over to 56 in January - I hope you have a very great day! T.

Michelle said...

The reason you're laughing behind that cake is that you don't look anywhere near your age! Congratulations on celebrating another year and looking good doing it! May you enjoy many, many more!

margene said...

Happy Birthday!! You give many good reasons why growing old isn't old at all! May you have a fabulous year.

Jodi said...

Happy birthday! I hope you enjoy your day and get to do all your favorite things.

Hannah said...

Happy, Happy Birthday, Sharon!! See you tomorrow at the guild meeting. :-)
Hannah

Valerie said...

Happy Birthday!! Wow...Your co-workers must really love you to put so much effort into the celebration.

So,you had a holiday birthday too....until they went and switched it on you!! (My bday is New Year's eve and dh's birthday is Halloween. Ds was due on Valentine's day but made and early appearance...5 wks early!)

Beryl Moody said...

Happy Birthday --looks like your co-workers thought of just about everything to say! Here's my wishes for many more joyous birthdays in the future.

Birdsong said...

Oh, I love it! I have been aligned with Maurice Chevalier for several years now... You look at least a decade younger and will soon be able to recycle all those gag gifts to friends:) Happy, happy Birthday!

Leigh said...

Sharon, happy, happy birthday! Actually I'm not all that far behind you. I've always loved that Mark Twain quote, I just never realized it was him. It sounds like Mark Twain though!

~~Sittin.n.Spinnin said...

Happy Birthday!