The Victoria Falls Hotel, Victoria Falls Zimbabwe, May 2025
Today is a milestone birthday, 75, three quarters of a century. Yes, it's a big, big birthday, but very happily it wasn't a day that much out of the ordinary, and friends, I have no complaints or regrets. I made coffee, answered emails, texts and Facebook and Instagram messages. I had a great lunch with two of my dearest friends and then dropped into Starbucks for my birthday "reward" beverage. I came home and answered more email, did an Instagram post, ate dinner and now I'm blogging.
Several people advised me that I needed to do something spectacular today, out of the norm and memorable. But after the Africa trip -- out of the norm, memorable and spectacular -- nothing came to mind. Instead I enjoyed my not very out of the ordinary day, grateful for lunch plans, phone calls, messages of all varieties and a terrific and somewhat extravagant iced coffee, thanks to Starbucks.
Those who know me well know that my favorite play is "Our Town," by Thornton Wilder. I first saw it with my mother in 1970 and Henry Fonda played the Stage Manager. I most recently saw it last year and Jim Parsons (somewhat miscast in my opinion) played the Stage Manager. The lesson I've taken away from "Our Town," each time I've seen it and each time I've thought about it, isn't complex. But it's taken a lot of years for that lesson to come clear to me. A not very out of the ordinary day is memorable and spectacular, and the most ordinary day is also memorable and spectacular.
Here's to a most spectacular day at Victoria Falls in May, and to my not very out of the ordinary 75th birthday today and to all the ordinary and yet, spectacular days to come. And a toast and thanks to all who have wished me a happy birthday. You're all memorable and spectacular.
As ever, thanks for visiting and lots of love.
