birthday party

Even though the timing isn’t quite right, it appears that we are going to celebrate my 50^th birthday in Las Vegas after all. I am trying to figure out how I feel about hurtling toward my 50^th birthday… Fifty…50...The Big Five – Oh. How did that happen? I guess I’d better try to muster up some enthusiasm.

I am excited by the prospect of seeing family and friends. So here is the deal – if you happen to be in the Las Vegas area on Saturday, April 14^th please do drop by. It’s going to be at Ginger’s (my sister) restaurant. All the details are on facebook.  Let me know if you are interested in coming, and I will give you some hotel recommendations. I know that this is not an inexpensive prospect, so please don’t feel badly if you can’t make it. I do question our wisdom, but we are going for it! You only turn 50 once, right?

Now I have to put together just the right outfit to wear for the party – shall I wear purple with a red hat that doesn’t go?

Warning

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple 

With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me. 

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves 

And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter. 

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired 

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells 

And run my stick along the public railings 

And make up for the sobriety of my youth. 

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain 

And pick flowers in other people's gardens 

And learn to spit. 

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat 

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go 

Or only bread and pickle for a week 

And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes. 

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry 

And pay our rent and not swear in the street 

And set a good example for the children. 

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers. 

But maybe I ought to practice a little now? 

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised 

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Jenny Joseph