The Spirit of '76

 

Today I'm feeling the Spirit of  '76

Today I join the Spirit of '76 Club, though I won't officially turn 76 until 10:26 P.M. It's overwhelming -- neither of my parents made it to 76 -- and lots of fun, and I am very grateful to join this club. I'm going to write a longer birthday post, but couldn't resist including this in a very quick recap of the monumental weekend. 

Tall ships on the Hudson River 

It was quite a weekend in New York City. There were tall ships, planes, fireworks, the World Cup Games and as previously discussed, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding. There was a lot of discussion about the upheaval the wedding created because several blocks were closed, but if you weren't driving it was barely a ripple in Manhattan. Streets are closed for one reason or another every day and a few times a month I find I'm riding on a bus that's detoured because of a street fair or construction. 

I got to watch the tall ships and planes from a friend's office that overlooks the Hudson River -- New Jersey is across the water. We were on the 35+ floor. We had a great view of the ships coming down the river, but a less good view of the details. No complaints from me. It was one of the 100+ degree days and I was happy to be inside and out of the sun and have a great array of snacks and a coffee machine. It was truly memorable.   

I also made two visits to the New York Public Library for several great exhibits, which also deserve their own post. The Library has gone from what was, when I moved to New York in 1975, a musty series of reading rooms to a very lively and interesting place for exhibits, lectures and a cafe. 

I spent time "curating" my collection of photographs of the American flag taken in the last decade. I put my collection on Instagram and I'm happy to share the link. This photograph of the Fearless Girl statue in Lower Manhattan is one of my favorites of the collection. 

Fearless Girl and the New York Stock Exchange

I hope all of Buttercupland had a great celebration, too. I'm going to take the next few days and simply catch up. There's email to read, bills to pay, thank you notes to write, blogs to visit and the usual household chores to do. Turning 76 doesn't change the errands and chores, but I did take a vacation from them to celebrate America's birthday and my birthday. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cool. 

Now I'm 75

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.