It’s Time for the Happy Birthday Song

Take a moment to count the number of times you have heard or sung
The Happy Birthday Song.  My count was way above four hundred and fifty.
The ditty is perfect; it has a simple verse, the tune is basic and the length is
short.  With one word, the song can be personalized for an individual or group.
Small children, old folks and those in between are able to whisper or belt out
the familiar birthday ‘chestnut’. 

Although it is disputed, two sisters, Mildred and Patty Hill are credited with
writing the music and words for The Birthday Song in 1893.  Since then it has
been translated into over twenty five languages.


Our society has a few benchmark birthdays that sometimes seem aimed more
at the commercial side of the celebration like cards and gifts.  Age markers
change with time, for instance what teenager today has even heard of
Sweet Sixteen? and expectations for Thirty Year Old's have changed and hey,
nowadays, some say that Seventy is the new Sixty!?!

Google images…..





When we are very young, we crave to be older; little kids proudly announce that
they are four or six years old.  My cousins, brother and I loved the Barbra
Streisand Song “I’m Five” with lyrics: ‘Waddaya think I’m three?  Not Me!
Waddaya think I’m four?  No More!  I’m even more than four and a half, I”m FIVE!’ 
The Birthday Song is the best when you are a young child.  It becomes an
embarrassment for tender teens and later, a celebration song of life
achievements.  At a certain age, some folks do not relish hearing the tune any
more at their annual cake-cutting.


Google image

Birthday cake that Dani made for Dot’s 70th.

I remember being a tad traumatized when I turned 62.  I was thinking back to
a time when my parents were in their sixties and they seemed “so old”.  Ha Ha!
In a couple of weeks I will attempt to blow out sixty five candles.  I really feel no
different now than when I stepped with trepidation into my sixty second year. 


   Dani and I in Australia three years ago.

The major difference in aging, is the recovery time after any injury, it really takes
much longer to ‘bounce back’.  My twisted ankle was over eight weeks returning
to normal.  A lower bask injury took me out of commission for six weeks.  I recently
fell up the stairs and landed on my knee on cement.  I wore bruise that resembled
the map of Africa like tattoo and now after five weeks, the contusion remains puffy
and sore.  That is a typical healing time for a a knee and I am just thankful that I have
no kneeling activities planned such as praying in church or making a proposal to
someone?



I now have Osteo Arthritis in my shoulders and wrists but who doesn’t havea few issues with an aging body?  I am so thankful to be able to do most things.



I dodged Lyme Disease in the spring after finding three ticks embedded in my flesh.
Luckily, I was able to have the appropriate medication administered at the local
hospital.  A tense week followed as I waited for the bullseye rash to appear and
was very lucky that it did not.  So many friends and relatives suffer from conditions
and diseases that are far more invasive, painful and invisible.  They interfere
with life every day.  Many have lost special people in their lives.  You know who
you are and I continue to send my empathy and compassion.



The bright side in waiting for The Birthday Song in my sixties is retirement and the
time it provides to do my favourite activities, to be a grandparent, and to slow
down to observe and reminisce about life.