Allan´s Weblog

My message in a bottle

50

Monday, November 16, 2009 11:30:44 AM

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The other night, a few days ago, I sat thinking as I sometimes do.

I was thinking that I would soon turn fifty, which is in fact half a bloody century. I was born in the decade when rock'n'roll was born. I was a child during the cold war and the booming economies of the sixties. I remember the hippie days, peace love and understanding. I was young when Europe was scarred by terrorism and war, yet my youth was mostly about education, girls and finding a way in society. In my late twenties I spend most of my effort on getting a grip on my life and getting my act together. I got married at 29 and became mostly economical independent at 40.

Yesterday was my fiftieth birthday, I was blessed with an absolutely crowded house filled to the rim just as all the glasses in everybody's hands. Much cheering, eating, raising of glasses and celebrating all over the place. A wonderful, wonderful day thanks to my wife and my family and friends. I can only say that I am one lucky, fifty year old man.

The before mentioned night when I sat contemplating over the passed years, I came to the conclusion that "50" is nothing but a number. Two digits. So what?
But now, as I sit here after my big day, looking at myself tired to the bones, with my slippers on and the newspaper handy, I feel I have to admit that these two digits just might be a bit more concrete than just a number.

Ladies and gentlemen, this tired man with the slippers is now officially fifty, in every sense of the word.

That's fine.

WW2 Ended These Days Twenty Years AgoButterflies in my belly as if I was only five

Comments

Darkogdare Monday, November 16, 2009 12:25:35 PM

Happy Birthday Allan! In Serbia we use to say that after 40th birthday a person is the owner of the major part of its life bigsmile

Angelikiellinidata Monday, November 16, 2009 1:28:46 PM

[/img] Happy Bday Allan, Manny Happy Returns!Age is just a number, celebrating life is a daily Bday after all! heart

Mitthaodp Monday, November 16, 2009 2:23:40 PM

Happy Birthday Allan smile

der WandersmannderWandersmann Monday, November 16, 2009 2:39:59 PM

Happy Birthday, youngster!

Martin K™Aqualion Monday, November 16, 2009 4:43:09 PM

Good luck, old chap! See you sometime later. How was the wine?

PainterWoman Monday, November 16, 2009 4:43:38 PM

"I feel I have to admit that these two digits just might be a bit more concrete than just a number."

I felt this way at turning 60 a year and a half ago. When I turned 50, I was too busy trying to make a go at being independent so didn't think much about age....except for when I had to walk up three flights of stairs after a 12 hour shift serving at banquets.

Sounds like you had a wonderful day on your birthday Allan. That's the best kind of day to have.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy Monday, November 16, 2009 6:13:23 PM

Well Allan I've been thinking about it. "50" is two numbers, right? But one of the numbers is "0". And zero is nothing. So that only leaves "5", right?

So maybe you could get out your little cars and trucks (or look at your Toyota in the driveway) and watch some cartoons (or MTV) and have a nice grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch.

Happy birthday. Keep those slippers on.

party wizard

PainterWoman Monday, November 16, 2009 6:16:46 PM

Originally posted by edwardpiercy:

Keep those slippers on


That reminds me, I've got to buy some slippers for when I'm in ND for Thanksgiving.

Nicolas Borgsmidtnopanic Monday, November 16, 2009 8:17:34 PM

A snotty boy has no age bigsmile p

Happy birthday kid party

Better late than never whistle



Stardancer Monday, November 16, 2009 10:28:27 PM

Happy Birthday, Allan!

partypartyparty

up

heart

Richardmusickna Tuesday, November 17, 2009 3:07:07 AM

Happy Birthday, Allan. I am so glad you were able to enjoy it with such fine company filling your house. smile As you say, 50 is just a number, but it's always good to have a party!

cheers cheers cheers party party party cheers cheers

Allanricewood Tuesday, November 17, 2009 9:01:40 AM

Hey, thanks all.

And will you believe, those slippers have totally gone lost! I can't find them. And I live in a small house.

Now I wonder if there's a meaning in this bigsmile

Nicolas Borgsmidtnopanic Tuesday, November 17, 2009 11:14:01 AM

Get a dog. It always find the slippers bigsmile

Martin K™Aqualion Tuesday, November 17, 2009 1:01:04 PM

Cats too. Only you can't depend on the pet to give back what it has found. In this way, pets are much like people.

Nicolas Borgsmidtnopanic Tuesday, November 17, 2009 1:10:52 PM

I know Martin.
idea Actually you can make slippers out of cats. You need two up

Nicolas Borgsmidtnopanic Tuesday, November 17, 2009 1:14:22 PM

Martin K™Aqualion Tuesday, November 17, 2009 1:37:43 PM

Alarm clock rings early as f#¤%, you sit up, put your feet in those enormous looking things and walk to the kitchen to put the keddle on. I couldn't do that. I'd fall on my face at first step taken. 100 % sure.

Nicolas Borgsmidtnopanic Tuesday, November 17, 2009 2:01:37 PM

but...you´d stumble over the dog anyways bigeyes

Darkogdare Tuesday, November 17, 2009 2:04:28 PM

Or over a cat lol

Allanricewood Tuesday, November 17, 2009 3:55:49 PM

No reason for alarm. I was carrying a box with empty beer cans to the trashbin, and there they were under the cans. My trusty slippers. I almost lost them right there. Now I don't need a dog - neither two cats

PainterWoman Tuesday, November 17, 2009 4:08:05 PM

lol I almost threw out two 50 dollar bills that way. I had them in my hand, then on the way to my wallet, I picked up some pieces of paper. Wadded the paper up and threw it in the trash, then forgot why I'd gone into my bedroom where my purse was.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy Tuesday, November 17, 2009 4:46:50 PM

Well it looks like the Case of the Missing Slippers has been solved. Time to have a bourbon and pinch the secretary.

p

Martin K™Aqualion Tuesday, November 17, 2009 5:34:52 PM

Perhaps the cat slippers as represented above and other of the same sort are made overdimensional to avoid people from misplacing or losing them. That concept could be used in other areas. Take keys, for example. I lose my keys all the time. Most of the times I find them again, but it is serious business to lose them for good, You'd have to change the lock and get new keys - money directly down the drain. I say, make bigger keys. I bet, if they made all keys in the size of, say, a frying pan and with about the same weight, they would not get lost so often.

Allanricewood Tuesday, November 17, 2009 6:31:30 PM

Would that go for teaspoons and socks, too? I lose those all the time. Maybe I should have a bigger mouth and large feet, too?

Darkogdare Tuesday, November 17, 2009 9:02:57 PM

lol

Naomi CultureSurfer Tuesday, November 17, 2009 9:04:33 PM

So glad you had a great birthday. wizard

@Edward I was just thinking about grilled cheese & soup for dinner tonight. Yes, I am still a child. lol

Nicolas Borgsmidtnopanic Tuesday, November 17, 2009 9:26:11 PM

Hey! That means I have to frequent BIG girls now. I seem to loose girls all the time idea

Uncle MickMickeyjoe-Irl Tuesday, November 17, 2009 10:49:04 PM

Originally posted by ricewood:

"50" is nothing but a number


I'd say it was an accomplishment. Happy Birthday! smile

Originally posted by ricewood:

And will you believe, those slippers have totally gone lost!


The memory is the first thing to go. wink

scott cummingI_ArtMan Wednesday, November 18, 2009 2:55:14 AM

nice that you had such a memorable party.
vis a vis age and numbers... i only try one thing and that's not to talk about how old i am. i bite my tongue when i am tempted to complain about the pain. i think it's an honor to grow old. i don't think everyone gets to do it. and there's still plenty to live for and enjoy.

studio41 Wednesday, November 18, 2009 7:56:59 AM

exceptional post, Allan, I appreciated the sharing of every word, thank you smile

WillYum Wednesday, November 18, 2009 8:02:06 AM

Bravo.

Bravo.

Yum

rickwiedeman Wednesday, November 18, 2009 8:50:53 AM

*And* you live in an age where 50 might truly be "middle aged." Good stuff!

Allanricewood Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:25:01 AM

bigsmile Thanks, all. I am not tired anymore. Off to work I am. Leaving my slippers at home.

Loiscakkleberrylane Wednesday, November 18, 2009 2:25:07 PM

Happy Birthday!!

Allanricewood Wednesday, November 18, 2009 2:29:55 PM

Thanks, Lois

Norfridnorfrid Thursday, November 19, 2009 9:11:28 AM

With three dogs in the house we're contstantly looking for slippers, socks and gloves.
A little delayed; happy birthday! party
I'm glad you had a nice party.

Allanricewood Thursday, November 19, 2009 10:39:39 AM

Thank you, Norfrid. I don't suppose those dogs of yours ever go to Aarhus?

KimberlySqueakeyCat Thursday, November 19, 2009 2:42:46 PM

sorry I am late. Happy Birthday Allan party

and yes, it is just a number, and if you turn it around and think about it, instead of being 50, you're only 5...lol

so live it like yow would have when you were 5

Norfridnorfrid Thursday, November 19, 2009 3:10:42 PM

I won't let my dogs go to Aarhus. They might easily blow away these days. wink

greenwitch3 Thursday, November 19, 2009 10:36:22 PM


HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ALLAAAAAAAAAAAAN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU..... bigsmile

Allanricewood Thursday, November 19, 2009 10:54:36 PM

Like I am five? My wife sometimes mentions something like that. Look out for my next entry!

Oh, you know we had a fierce storm yesterday, Norfrid?

Thanks, Witchie smile

greenwitch3 Friday, November 20, 2009 5:25:26 AM


You are welcome my dear friend.

Norfridnorfrid Friday, November 20, 2009 9:14:39 AM

There was a storm approaching Norway, so I guess Denmark got some of that weather too. I'm lucky to live behind the mountains, so when storms blow on the western coast, the weather is often good here.

53north Saturday, November 21, 2009 6:49:34 AM

Congratulations on your 50th.
I'm not far behind..

Wonder what the combined total for all the commentors here would be?
=o}

Allanricewood Saturday, November 21, 2009 9:47:03 AM

Well, this isn't exactly a teenagers' forum

rickwiedeman Saturday, November 21, 2009 4:22:49 PM

Originally posted by ricewood:

Well, this isn't exactly a teenagers' forum


Hey! I am only three times the age of a young teen. I'm still cool! (Do they still say "cool?" Hang on, I'll go ask my kids... yes. OK. I'm still that.)

Allanricewood Saturday, November 21, 2009 4:55:35 PM

They also claim it's okay to say "cool" around here. But I think they are being polite. I hear them say "street" to each other.

rickwiedeman Saturday, November 21, 2009 4:59:43 PM

Now that's interesting.

Here, "street" means a certain level of (un) sophistication, such as "Gwen Stephani dresses glam, but is really very street," that is, she may get on the cover of Cosmo, but she still talks like a ghetto-kid.

Makes sense that the word would morph into broader use.

Martin K™Aqualion Saturday, November 21, 2009 6:05:43 PM

Cool wil never be outdated, since coolness is the highest level of spiritual existence, as some of you already know.

cool

scott cummingI_ArtMan Saturday, November 21, 2009 6:24:23 PM

martin's right. i like the way the french say cool. cool

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