Thursday, September 6, 2012

Happy birthday to me

Today is my 50th birthday!

That's right, I'm half a century old.


And what happened on my birthday? My girls left! They flew down to California to visit my parents and three brothers.

Our day started at 4:45 am this morning when I hauled everyone out of bed. The girls were so excited (flying is a rare thing; they haven't been on a plane in six years) they could hardly sit still. And this time they would be flying by themselves, too.

We got on the road by 5:15 am, with the soundtrack to Riverdance blasting on the truck speakers to keep us alert. It takes an hour and a half to make the airport, and their flight departed at 8 am.



They flew Southwest.


We had shipped a box of clothes ahead of time, so the kids just had backpacks with books, a lunch (well, breakfast), etc.


They arrived safely in California, where my parents met them at the airport.  My brothers have all kinds of fun things planned over the next ten days.  More importantly, it's a chance for them to connect with their uncles and cousins, whom they seldom have a chance to see.


Up, up and away! Their first solo slight.


Interestingly, Don also had to be away today, so I had a rare day alone. While this might sound like a dire and depressing way to spend one's fiftieth birthday, solitude is such an unusual commodity that I rather enjoyed it. (And for those who wonder what I did, I spent the day cleaning the house. Oooh, the excitement never ends!)

In the evening some neighbors brought over a piece of pistachio pudding birthday pie and wished me happiness. Thanks!


Some people might feel sorrow upon reaching such a milestone, but I'm very content with where I am in my life. I have a phenomenal husband, two delightful daughters, we all have our health, we have our farm and our home business... yes, God is good and I'm grateful beyond words for these first fifty years He's granted me.

38 comments:

  1. We want to wish you a very happy birthday, dear Patrice! (Although we've taken to calling them "barfdays" since we both hit the mid fifties a while back.) We're praying your family all get back home to you safe and sound, God bless them and you. --Fred & Deb in AZ

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  2. Happy birthday. My daughter, too, will be fifty on the twentieth of this month.

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  3. Patrice,
    Happy 50th Birthday Patrice!
    50 is a great number, especially if you feel wonderful about yourself and all of your accomplishments. I turned 50 this year myself, and I must say, I agree with the saying "you're only as old as you feel".
    It's great to see your daughters will be enjoying 10 days with family they haven't seen in a while. Enjoy your solitude and time with Don. God Bless!
    Sandy, Oklahoma Transient

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  4. My wife will probably hit me in the arm for this, but I'm pretty sure the girls didn't hop a flight on an Air Force KC-135 aerial re-fueller.
    Yes I am the guy who will pick apart a movie w/ military mistakes. Sorry.

    SAJ

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  5. Sorry again,

    Happy Birthday!!!

    SAJ

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  6. Happy Birthday Patrice!! Wishing you many of God's blessings for the next 50 years.

    Jenny

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  7. Happy Birthday!!!! Glad to see ya made it. Lol. I'll be right there with ya in no time. :)

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  8. Happy Birthday Patrice!!!

    "May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live"

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  9. Happy Birthday Patrice!!! I just turned 50 on September 1st.
    Not a sad moment at turning a half century. I feel blessed each day.
    I think we as mothers and wives get better with age.

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  10. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Miz Patrice!!!

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  11. Happy belated birthday. It was my second to the youngests 18th birthday. A great day!! (I turned 50 a few months ago. I think life is only going to get better now that we are officially "mature" women:) I would have done the same thing as you, had I been home by myself. Congratulations on this milestone in your life!

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  12. Happy Birthday! It is so refreshing to hear someone who is CONTENT with their life! Wishing you and your family the best.

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  13. Well Happy Birthday! Glad you enjoyed your day of solitude!

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  14. Belated Happy Birthday! I absolutely understand the appeal of having alone time. What a lovely birthday gift! Here's wishing you many more, and that this next year will be especially enjoyable!

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  15. Happy Birthday! May you have many more.

    (I recently hit 64, and one of my boys played the Beatles song for me :>)

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  16. A nice milestone on your life's journey. I find it nice that the older you get the longer you will live, according to the actuary tables.

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  17. Happy Birthday Patrice, although your day started very early I hope you have a spectacular day!!!!

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  18. Happy Birthday Patrice, although your day started very early I hope you have a spectacular day!!!!

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  19. HAPYY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!

    Aside. It would be very interesting to hear your daughters assessment of life in Californis. Sort of an after action report.

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  20. Happy Birthday! 50 is wonderful!!!! We know who we are and what we want in this life. It's avtually freeing!

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  21. But wait a minute... did anyone buy you a red hat????

    Happy birthday!

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  22. How was airport security? Any issues there? It looks like you were able to accompany them to the gate; I thought that was hard to do nowadays.

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    1. Security was no big deal. I requested a pass to escort them to the gate, which was granted right away (I've done this in the past when our young nephew comes to visit). Security itself consisted of just taking off our shoes, putting our bags through the x-ray, and walking through a metal detector. Younger Daughter had to go back through the metal detector twice until it was determined she was wearing a belt with a metal buckle, but other than that we had no issues.

      - Patrice

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  23. Happy Birthday! I'm right behind you... my 50 comes in April...

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  24. Phyllis (N/W Jersey)September 7, 2012 at 1:43 PM

    Happy, Happy Birthday, Patrice! May your next fifty years be filled with lots of love, family and good memories!

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  25. Happy Birthday! Enjoy reading your blog -- learn so much from it. When I turned 50 seven years ago I told my family if I make it to 100 I'm half way there. May God continue to bless you and your family.

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  26. Happy Birthday!
    Many more wonderful years to you. ♥

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  27. Happy Birthday Patrice!!!!
    May you be even more blessed in your next 50 years!!!!
    ~Clare

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  28. Well, I'm a little late, but happy birthday :) I'm glad you enjoyed your day of solitude. Sometimes some quiet time is such a gift.

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  29. Patrice,

    Happiest birthday wishes and prayers for a year filled to overflowing with God's blessings!

    Lisa

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  30. Happy, Happy Birthday Sweet Patrice!
    May you be blessed with many more happy & healthy years, surrounded with loved ones on your lovely property. God is good and you're never alone even when it seems like you are. I'll be 50 in May and looking forward to it too, since I have an awesome husband and daughter. So, I'm right behind you and very content with the big 5-0.:)

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  31. Sorry to be late for the party. Happy Birthday, Sweet One. God bless.

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  32. Happy Birthday Patrice. Hit the same milestone myself just a month ago. All the best!

    Jeff - Tucson

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  33. Happy Slightly belated birthday! We flew Southwest for the first time recently and really liked it. Glad you had a good if slightly unorthodox day.

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  34. Glad you had a nice day on your 50th. I could handle that and even turning 60. It was my son, my baby, turning 40 that shook me up. LOL!

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  35. Patrice, I am glad that you had a wonderful day. I am late in wishing you a "Happy Birthday", but I have a really good excuse. Last week on your birthday, we were at the hospital impatiently awaiting the birth of our youngest grandchild. He now shares your birthday, so I will never forget yours. I only hope that he is as blessed in his life as you have been in yours. You are truly a blessing to your family and friends. Thank you so much for sharing your life with us.
    Dawn

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    1. Congratulations! It's a nice day to celebrate a birth.

      - Patrice

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