It’s time for another Global Writing Challenge prompt. Our current membership consists of Deb’s World, Suzy Turner, Within a World of My Own, Once Upon a Time, Happily Ever After, Cat’s Wire, Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa, and me. Amy picked this month’s prompt, and I’m guessing it’s because she has a birthday. Guess who else does? Yes, little old me! So, get ready for a little reminiscing. Please do visit everyone’s blogs. I really think everyone does such an amazing job with the different prompts every month. We get a wide assortment of perspectives, too. As we consider ourselves a global group, if you’d like to join us, please let one of us know. We’d love to have more people from all over the planet! There’s also a link party at the end of this post!
If you’d like to join us, here are the prompts for the coming months:
- November – Superstition
- December – Why I Blog
My generation…
Bonus points to you if you sang that! I’ve lived a few years, my friends. I’ve seen the memes listing all the different things my generation has seen. It’s kinda mind blowing when you read them. I, personally, have lived through eight different decades, two centuries, and two millenniums! My dad worked for the phone company so our phone line was free. Long distance phone calls were not. Today, we casually make long distance, cross country and even over the pond calls on our smartphones. My generation (and the ones before it) wrote letters, listened to music on vinyl, cassettes of different kinds, and had to schedule our lives around watching a particular show on television. If you weren’t there for a specific episode, you just missed it. And, our televisions were black and white. We learned how to type on manual typewriters that gave a little ding when you threw the carriage back. We went from knee length skirts to minis as well as maxis that drug in the dirt and frayed from wear. We rode bicycles, powered by our own muscles. We played marbles, checkers, and pick up sticks as well as jacks. We drank water out of the garden hose and lived to tell about it. We grew our own vegetables. We also lived through polio, meningitis, tuberculosis, swine flu, and COVID-19. In addition to all this, we went from computers that took up entire buildings to holding one in our hands. We saw the birth of molecular biology, the discovery of DNA and RNA as well as the rise of gene therapy. We began with an analog childhood and are living in a digital adulthood. “We have faced more change than any other generation in history – and we made it through! To everyone who belongs to this very special generation, congratulations. We are, and will forever be, unique.”
First birthday memories…
When I was a kid, I had a couple of birthdays that stand out. I remember going to my Grandpa and Grandma Rose’s house in Michigan one year. I don’t know if my birthday was during that time or not, but Mom baked me a birthday cake. Grandma’s birthday was also in October so we probably did have a small celebration. I can’t remember the exact colors, but I do know the cake was chocolate. For some reason, green and orange play a huge part in this core memory. I think Mom frosted the cake in orange and decorated it with green. I’m not sure how old I was, but I vividly remember that cake. We didn’t have big birthday parties when I was a kid, but I did have one when I was six years old. And, that’s truly all I remember about that party. I don’t remember who came, what we did, or even what the cake looked like. We never had store bought birthday cakes, but Mom was a really good cook! BTW…this is an AI generated cake and not the one my mom made. It wasn’t near this fancy. She could cook, but decorating was not her forte (just like me)!
A surprise party…
When I was eighteen, my good friend, Kathy, threw me a surprise birthday party. I’d never had one so I didn’t suspect a thing. Nigel delivered me to her house and left. Inside, several of my high school friends were waiting with presents, a cake, and all the trimmings! I won’t forget that afternoon and night, either! I honestly don’t remember celebrating my birthdays after that for several years. Nigel and I worked different shifts for a few years right after getting married. Then, along came the kids. As I’ve mentioned in other posts, money was always a bit tight as I was a stay at home mom. So, birthday parties were for the kids only!
Another surprise party…
When I turned 50, I celebrated with getting a tattoo a few weeks before. I’d always said I wanted one before I hit that milestone. Nigel reminded me of that so when he was in Las Vegas for work, I got one! On my 50th birthday, he took me to my favorite Italian restaurant. The hostess led us to a private room which kinda surprised me. Inside were all my kids, their spouses, and my siblings! My daughter and her husband had driven from Charleston, SC all the way just to celebrate me! I was so happy, I cried buckets! Oh, and I paid the bill!
Smaller parties…
Sixty-five was another birthday celebration with just my small family. Again, we celebrated at a favorite Italian restaurant, and again I paid the bill! Nigel rarely carries his wallet! Last year, I took matters into my own hands and ordered an ornate birthday cake. It was delicious, and I ate quite a bit of it but only after sharing it with my family.
Another milestone…
So, next year is another milestone birthday. I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact I will turn 70 next year. It’s not that I have a problem with turning 70; it’s more I don’t feel like I’ve lived that many years. Does that make sense? So, I guess I’m copying Jodie in that I want to come up with 70 things to do before turning 70. A good friend is doing the same thing. She’s about six weeks older than me so she’s already begun. I’ve got a few ideas, but it’s just about time to start, so throw me some (reasonable) ideas in the comments!
A birthday tradition continues…
Before I end this, I have to write about one tradition in our family. My mom used to call us all early in the mornings on our birthdays and sing “Happy Birthday” in her rather horrible voice! When she passed, I decided that wasn’t going away. I call my people on their birthdays, but not early in the morning, and warble “Happy Birthday” to them in my rather horrible voice! Everyone, from my great-nephews to my little brother, laughs and (almost) always answers!
Thank you!
I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, subscribing or emailing! It truly means so much to me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
What others are saying…
Suzy “writes about the joys and challenges of having a Boxing Day birthday.”
Cat “doesn’t celebrate birthdays, so she had to drag out some ooold memories.”
Sally “Sally considers birthdays and unbirthdays from the perspective of a December girl.”
Amy “loves celebrating birthdays of family and friends and wants to design her own perfect day!”
Leslie “is sharing the birth-days of the 2 babies that made her mommy.”
Debbie writes, “Debbie seems to be attending a lot of birthday parties lately!“
And, now, it’s your turn!
If you’d like to link up your posts about poetry, you may link up here or at any of the other blogs!
Those are some nice memories, thank you for sharing them with us. I hope you’ll add a fantastic one this year and an amazing one next year! Cake for everyone and let someone else pay!
Thanks, Cat! I honestly pay the bill because I tip better than Mike does! I’m hoping for a good birthday this year, and next year will be a big one so we shall see!
I shall look forward to hearing about your 70 ideas!
Thanks, Rosie! I need to get started on that right away, or it will be here before I know it!
This is a lovely post Marsha and I laughed at you paying the bill – I do that too!! I did 65 things before turning 65 last year and it was a fun list so good luck for your 70 list. My husband will turn 70 in January as you’ll see in my post and it will be a fun event I’m sure!
Another great prompt for our group of bloggers!
Thanks, Deb! I always try to get the bill because I’m the bigger tipper! I do remember your 65 things…I have to come up with five more than that! We celebrated my husband’s 62nd birthday in a big way because so many people in his family died during their 61st year. He felt like it was a curse or something.
Loved reading this Marsah. Some wonderful memories. I remember lots of mine are similar xx Jacqui
Thanks so much, Jacqui! I’m glad you enjoyed the post and that it reminded you of your own.
I did enjoy reading about your birthday memories Marsha . I too will look forward to your 70 things for your 70th. Have a wonderful birthday .
Thank you, Jill! I need to get started on that list pretty quickly! Seventy things is quite daunting!
Such fun memories! My mother in law calls all her grandkids to sing happy birthday to them on their birthdays though since they are all teens/young adults now she no longer calls them early in the mornings either.
Thanks, Joanne! My mom didn’t care! She was up early so that’s when she called. And, it really didn’t matter…we all just enjoyed hearing from her, especially in her later years.
This was such a sweet post to read, Marsha, and I found myself taking a trip down memory lane as I read so many of your words! My mom, too, would call and sing to me and, thankfully, I have a recording of her doing this as well as my father-in-law. I’ve kept them and listen to both each year. Each year I think that each is a special birthday hug from above! Enjoy your birthday month ahead! Let the celebrating begin!
Thank you, Laura! I really wish I had a recording of my mom. I have absolutely no recollection of my dad’s voice as I was only 16 when he passed. My mom had left me a voicemail on our landline when we lived up north. Unfortunately, we had no way of getting that recorded. It’s such a special thing…to hear their voices, right? I will start celebrating soon!
Loved reading your memories!
I don’t know what should be on your list! I can only think of some sort of art trip where you go to a museum you’ve always wanted to visit?
Thanks, Amy! Oh, there are probably 70 museums I would want to visit. I think I could do 70 places I want to go quite easily…paying for them is quite a different thing, though!
I laughed hard when I read about you paying the bill for your own surprise party! 😀 Glad someone brought their wallet!
Thanks, Sally! The second biggest reason is that I’m a much bigger tipper than Mike is. He expects me to carry his wallet…uh, no! It’s yours, dude!
I love how you pay for your own parties, LOL….
BUT HEY…I just thrifted a great t-shirt that says “The Queen Turns 70″….I was thinking of sharing it with friends until I need it in 9 years.
Want it for next year?? Email me if you do and I’ll get it to you.
It’ll be like the travelling pants….
XOOX
Jodie
Thanks, Jodie! I tip better so I grab the check first! I would love to do that, but I also know me and know I would probably put it somewhere and discover it when I turn 80!
I love that your birthday memories are tied to such different stages of your life! The tradition of calling everyone and singing Happy Birthday is especially sweet—and definitely one worth carrying on. I can’t wait to see what makes your 70 before 70 list!
Thank you, Laura! I didn’t even realize that, but you’re right. I really love calling my people, and I think they secretly like it, too! I really need to get started on my list…yikes!
What fun to read. I celebrated my 60 birthday a few weeks ago with a bbq with friends and family, and I loved it. The number though……… it sounds so unbelievable lol. And yours too!
Thank you, Nancy! I know, I know! I cannot believe 70 is next year. I really don’t feel it (except for some early mornings). I used to think 70 was old, but now I have decided 95 is a good number for old.
Thank you for sharing your birthday memories. I don’t think I have very specific memories about birthdays! I don’t know why that is, because I’m sure they were celebrated. But somehow they’re not very visible in my ‘memory bank’.
You’re welcome, Nicole! It’s funny because my older sister and I will be talking about something, and my memory will be completely different from hers. So, mine could very well be dreams!! But, I’m almost positive they’re not…at least the early ones. The later ones really did happen.
My parents both sing happy birthday to me on my birthday.. I am so glad I missed their call this year because they left it on voicemail instead and I got to save it so I can listen to it on the years they aren’t here anymore. I think I will continue that tradition for my kids as well.
Thanks, Lisa! You are so lucky to have that voicemail. I just commented that my mom left me a voicemail on our landline up north. When we moved, Mike called the phone company to see if there was anyway to save it for me. Of course, they said no. It was just a little thing, but it meant a lot. My people love it even though they may deny it!
I love this so much, Marsha!! And happy birthday for this month!! Have we missed it, or has it not happened yet? It’s my Dad’s birthday this month too, on the 23rd. He’ll be 74! It’s so weird that he’s in his 70s already.
I have one very important thing for you to add to your list before you turn 70 and that’s to come and stay with me for a few days!!!
I love that your family all came to surprise you when really did not expect it all. I did laugh when you said you paid for it all though LOL! It reminded me of a birthday I had in my late teens—I’d forgotten about it so didn’t include it in my post. But a few of my friends and I went out for a Chinese meal, and after the main course, I decided I really wanted to have fried ice cream for dessert. But everyone kept insisting that I really shouldn’t. I got a bit annoyed and said well then I am definitely going to have it!! Of course you probably know what happened next. I ordered the ice cream and then the lights went out and in came a birthday cake they’d all arranged for me LOL! I was so stupid not to have realised LOL!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
Thank you, Suzy! Well, depending on when you read this it may have already happened! Let’s just say your dad is five years and a few days older than me! Mike is 73 which totally blows my mind. I mean I can see the aging in both of us, but I still feel like we’re in our 30s-40s. Suzy, if you really mean that, it’s going on the list!
Oh, my gosh! That night was something because Mike is really not one for huge gestures (except for the brand new convertible one year for Christmas and the big diamond earrings for no reason), but this was so special because everyone was there! Well, I didn’t want them to pay for it, and I know I’m the better tipper so I always grab the check! Oh, I would have been totally like you…I wouldn’t have expected a cake or anything like that, either! Isn’t it good to be loved and surprised?
Your take on everything is always so authentic and heartfelt. I really enjoyed this post. Look at all we have lived through. I am right behind you in birthdays and will be 69 this April. We sound pretty amazing, sturdy and strong to have withstood so much during our time on Earth.
My mom and dad always called us early on our birthdays. And my dad always recanted the details of seeing me for the first time. How I wish I could hear his voice tell that story one last time. I think I will follow your good lead and start making those morning birthday calls. My son-in-law Francisco wakes his daughters and my daughter with Las Mañanitas every birthday. So sweet.
I am glad you were born, my friend. And that we have become friends across the miles.
Thank you, Leslie! I didn’t come up with all that on my own, but I’d seen something so I took a little from this and a little from that. But, when you think about it, we really have seen so much! I wonder what our grands will experience in their lifetimes (let’s hope not another pandemic).
My mom left me a voicemail on our landline up north. When we moved, Mike called the phone company to see if there was any way to get a recording of it. They said there wasn’t. How I wish I’d had a cellphone back then. I know my people laugh when I call (actually, they are laughing as they answer), but I also know they would miss it if I didn’t!
And, I’m so very glad you were born and became a part of my life!