19 Comments

Happy birthday whenever it may be and a healthy one too. October, as you reminded us, is not the cruelest month. But I find the closer we get to dying the more focused the mind becomes, like gallows sharpening the wits. Be well and enjoy.

Expand full comment

Stephen, I'm transplanted from New York City, my real home, to Boulder Colorado where my children live. I like that, "like the gallows sharpening the wits." Be well.

Expand full comment

Happy birthday month. I hope you have a long time to go.

Expand full comment

I was fearful you were angry at me. Thank you for your message

Expand full comment

Happy Birthday Alan. I too am a lucky Libra. On October 9th I will be 86. I create, celebrate & tell thoughts of death to drop dead. Surprises are still abundant. Shana Tova!

Expand full comment

Shana Tova and let there be peace in Israel.

Expand full comment

Happy Birthday!!

Expand full comment

Thank you

Expand full comment

Happy Birthday Doc‼️

It is not just a number. It represents the many many good things that you've done in your life. And continue to do.

You teach us, ground us, inspire us, inform us and help us lead better lives. Thank you!

Btw, I can count on my fingers the years ahead of me you are.

🥳🎉🎂🎈🙏🏻

Expand full comment

Susan, thank you so much for your wonderful words.

Expand full comment

I’m 74 and will be for 6 months to the day. ♒️ Tomorrow, I guess I’m 75 for insurance purposes. I’m retired enough that I can enjoy being around, and I actually appreciate the occasional surprise of waning (and occasional waxing) of facilities

Expand full comment

Allan, I'll be 68 in November, I find aging to uncomfortable as well. The alternative doesn't suit me either so I go with the flow, as I like to say, but adjusting into the physical changes of growing older has been challenging for my psyche.

Expand full comment

Yes, Pamela, it’s the physical changes that I do not like.

Expand full comment

82 is the new 40, and I've been told that it's a wonderful age to start, celebrate, and continue following that which sets our soul on 🔥 It might not be what other humans will want to hear, so what?

It's officially Libra season, and I'm here for it 🎂 Wishing you many more solar returns (and good health too)!

Have an awesome October, fellow Libran 🎃

Expand full comment

Hi Sandra, it's a pleasure to "meet" you. I have thought about a memoir and made a few starts but can't seem to stick with it. Procrastination. I agree with you about gentle voices. Anyway, thank you very much and let's continue to have a dialogue.

Expand full comment

Happy Birthday & enjoy all the days you can. I’ll be 64 on Thursday, & my Aunt Katie turned 100 2 weeks ago. She is lucid with some hearing & vision loss but other than that she is in amazingly good health. I'm a lifelong learner & hope I continue to learn & engage with others as long as I can.

Expand full comment

What day of the month? My birthday is the 21st. I’ll be 84. Yikes! What happened? I expect to see a 12-year-old person but instead there’s this weird old lady!

Expand full comment

I'm 81 and concur. There's a great deal of uncertainty in the air right now. The fewer distractions, the better. Worrying about paid subscriptions can be a distraction. Happy Birthday!

Expand full comment

Oh, to be 82 again! LOL.....although I know it's a gallows humor chuckle. First, Happy Holidays to you and your other subscribers. You come across as such a gentle soul and must have had a soothing effect on many over the course of your career. With or without financial consideration, gentle voices are much needed on this planet, so I hope your will continue to write and to share poems. I'm still pretty new but I remember you mentioning Poe as a favorite poet, which seems far afield from your personal style, but the poem you chose seemed more consistent with yourself. I have found old age not to be as miserable as I had feared. I haven't explored here much. Have you published a memoir here or elsewhere? Happy Birthday Libra.

Expand full comment