Belated Birthday Wishes

My Birthday is February 26, 1951. Today I received a belated birthday greeting with apologies for the tardy wishes for my celebration. I'm sorry dear friend your greetings were not late. The greetings were just when I needed them. It was Divine Inspiration that today I needed the spiritual uplift fo your special love and consideration. God, You and the US Postal system have given me a blessings today. Thank You!

My birthday just like anyone else is a celebration of my most recent journey around the sun. I celebrated it with giggles, laughter, music, and love. The folks I admire have given me the honor to show even more examples of courage, happiness, and strength on this day. The blessings of being surrounded by those I love continue to multiply daily. I must remember the ancient sooth sayer has proclaimed "Blessings that are shared multiply and challenges that are shared are halved."

OK I have derived the following insights for celebrating birthdays. It is a celebration of the Journey Around the Sun, the blessings I have been showered with during this journey, and for the love I feel. Age one through 55 the celebration was a one day affair. Age 55 through 65 the celebration will have to be extended for thirty days...there are so many more blessings to celebrate. 65 through 80 the celebration will be extended to six months for the same reasons. If I am blessed to live beyond my 80^th birthday my plan is a full year filled with chocolate cake, chocolate covered cherry pie, and folks that have a mutual admiration for God's work within me.

Every journey around the sun has about 365 sun rises and 365 sun sets. I have been blessed with over 20,000 of each so far. I know I haven't personally witnessed them all but the ones I have seen were majestic. My prayer for today is that I may witness God's beauty many times more, here or in the here after. If your imagination will allow you, please put Satchmo singing "It's a Wonderful World" in you mind. It says so much of how I feel today.

Yes I have begun a new journey around the sun. Like most folks I am attempting to make this one the best yet. I do recognise the clock of life is ticking away and I know not when it will stop. One Elder-Statesman has told me many times "Cape Diem, Momento More" Loosely translated from Latin it means "Seize the day but remember death."...Mizpah ;-}}>