60? Not yet, surely?

The Mothership turns 60 today. Our very own Jubilee in the family. I was going to write a whole bunch of stuff about things that have happened in the World since the auspicious day in February 1952. Then she sent me this and I thought I’d publish it instead. It will probably make her cry less. Happy Birthday Mummy. I love you.

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You want to pay me a pension, you say?  From my 60^th birthday, you say?  Well that’s very kind of you but you won’t need to contact me again about this for several more years, thank you.

 

How old?  Me? Approaching 60?  This month?  OMG! How did that happen?  And what happened to 30, 35, 45, 59 and all the years in between?  I can’t be almost 60 – I still haven’t decided what I want to do with my life.  I could be a pilot or a plumber, a train driver or a social worker, a knitwear designer or an opera singer. I can be anything I want to be…..!

 

Grandchildren, you say? Not me. My children are still too young, you see.  What?  28, 33 and 35?  Two of them married, you say?  With children of their own?  That can’t be right. It was only yesterday they were climbing trees and playing hopscotch with their friends and getting muddy and learning to swim.  Only yesterday they were starting school and learning to ride their bikes.

 

OK I admit it. I’m in denial – but absolutely not about my children and beautiful grandchildren. It’s not that I’m afraid of being 60 – or getting older –I’m just amazed at the speed I reached this point. Especially as in my head I’m only 37.  Such a shame about the rest of my body…..!

 

I have a habit of keeping quiet about my birthdays. I don’t do parties very well – I’m usually the first to sneak out the back way – and am not keen on having a fuss made of me. I’ve always preferred spontaneity to 6 weeks notice of an event that’s had the bejesus planned out of it. I’m a seat-of-the-pants-last-minute.com type of girl. (I can’t think who my super-organised, list-making daughter takes after – definitely not me!)

 

I kept quiet about my 21^st birthday until the last minute, having been discharged earlier that day from a spell in hospital. My female friends were working (we did shifts) or had made other arrangements so I ended up on the town inFamagusta (it was pre-1974, remember) with a large group of male friends. The hangover lasted several days but I’m fairly certain I enjoyed myself. And it’s like it happened only yesterday.

 

I spent the day of my 40^th birthday alone in our house inBrussels with only a team of non-English speaking housepainters for company.  I celebrated by drinking my weight in tea. (I really know how to spoil myself …..). And it’s like it happened only yesterday.

 

Working in Dublinat the time of my 50^th, I hadn’t mentioned it to a soul.  Family and friends inUK, however, had other ideas. Unbeknown to me they had contacted my colleagues inDublin and let the cat out of the bag. Mid-morning I was summoned downstairs to find the whole team gathered, including the boss, with free-flowing champagne, nibbles, balloons, flowers, chocs and gifts galore. It was a great surprise – and because it didn’t drag on – we were all soon back at our desks – it was bearable. And it’s like it happened only yesterday.

 

A big change in my life last year followed by the death of a close friend and a health scare left me pondering what else life has in store for me. I decided not to just wait for things to happen to me and drew up a list of “60 things to do before I’m 60”. Places to visit/things to achieve/complete/streamline/improve etc.  A sort of living bucket list. I’ve been working slowly but purposefully through the list and have achieved many of them already; I’ll carry on until I’ve completed it at which point I’ll come back and share it with you. But for now I’ll continue being 37 in my head no matter what the mirror says, carry on finding joy in and being silly with my grandchildren, enjoy whatever is being planned for this landmark birthday – and accept the pension gratefully.  And, who knows, maybe one day I’ll find out what I’m meant to be.  Meanwhile, anyone fancy a drink tonight?