So This is What it is to Be 56

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Well, it came and went.

I'm talking about my birthday.

Once you face the fact that you CAN'T stop the progression of years, and all the wrinkles, sags, and bags that they bring - - - you are left with two choices.

Maybe three.

You could give up and die. Not for me. Wrinkles beat death every time.

You could get cynical and bitter. Of course then you'd be friendless and alone, but you COULD go that route.

Or - - - you could look the wrinkles in the face, and other places, and laugh.

I choose laughing every time.

I'm a vintage thingie. Isn't an antique something that is 50 years old? Then I are one, because yesterday I slipped right into my 56th year. I choose to think of my wrinkles as my crackle finish.

:-)

I hope that like fine wine, cheese, and pickles - - - I'm getting better with age!

And here is how I celebrated this monumental event of my life:











At 8:45 AM I got my nails redone. This was not particularly a special birthday event - - - I do it every two weeks. HOWEVER, do you see that lovely little piece of bling that April, my wonderful nail tech, gave me for my special day????

Oh yah, and I took the first picture with my hand hovering over my leopard skin snuggie just so you'd know it is really MY hand. (As if the wrinkles wouldn't give me away!)

Can you guess what my hand is hovering over in the second photo???



In the afternoon we picked up our friends Mike and Diane and headed up to Fort Wayne to eat at Red Lobster.

Now, all you folk who live on the coast where FRESH sea food is available - - - please DON'T JUDGE us for LOVING Red Lobster. Red Lobster is the BEST we can get here in the frozen tundra of north central Indiana. Besides, the Red Lobster TV ads this holiday season have been making me DROOL, so I'm also a product of commercialism.



Our meal began with these scrumptious biscuits and salad.

Notice how I edited that salad right out of the photo! I mean, it was a GOOD salad, but who wants to focus on something that might be a bit HEALTHY when we can zero right in on these biscuits?

Red Lobster's biscuits are buttery, cheesy, and garlicy. They are soft. They are hot. They slide down with the greatest of ease. I ate two. DON'T JUDGE, it was my birthday! (Thanks Laura, I learned that phrase from you this morning!)



Then they brought me my dinner. It's called the Ultimate Feast. Just look at all that seafood goodness - - - and butter, don't forget the butter!

Again - - - remember - - - apply Laura's phrase!



Let's zero in and look closely at that shrimp scampi. YUM. Do you see how it is postively SWIMMING in garlic and BUTTER?

I ate it all. The shrimp, the lobster, the crab legs, and all the drawn butter. (Well, I did leave the exoskeletons - - -)

Remember, we aren't JUDGING here.

Besides, we went to the mall and walked for about an hour after we ate, so I'm sure that took care of all that butter, don't'cha think? DON'T ANSWER THAT!


We finished off our evening at DeBrand. I'm really sorry for all of you who don't live in or near Fort Wayne - - - you won't be able to experience DeBrand LIVE and in PERSON anywhere but Fort Wayne.

But just TRUST me - - - it is not only a CUTE place, the chocolate they serve there is the BEST ON THE PLANET. The best.

The others had fancy hot drinks.


I went straight for the GOOD STUFF - - - the chocolate. Some of this chocolate was for Fisherhubby, but DON'T JUDGE him either.

:-)

This blog is a no judging zone.

I ate- - - - no, strike that - - - I savoured my chocolates with the greatest of joy. Those of you who know me well will probably be able to pick out which belonged to me and which to Fisherhubby. Go ahead, guess.


It was a GREAT birthday.

After DeBrand we came home and I watched Nebraska SHUT OUT Arizona in the Holiday Bowl. GO HUSKERS!

Now, for all you young little things, those of you whose mother or GRANDMOTHER I could be - - - here's my word of advice about getting older:

Don't knock it - - - it sure beats the alternative!
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