“One great thing about growing old is that nothing is going to lead to anything. Everything is of the moment.” – Joseph Campbell.

Tuesday, August 8, is my birthday. My mother said she remembered it by thinking the Hiroshima bombing date was one day earlier, I guess that says a lot about my mother, perhaps me as well.  I will be 70 years old this week, and Maria is determined that we have some kind of celebration.

I don’t think much of birthdays, any idiot can have one, all you need to do is stay alive.

My parents used to complain that every day was a birthday for children, and I think there was something to that. They meant it grudgingly, not lovingly, but that doesn’t meant it’s false.

I am nothing but lucky, very much in love, loving my work, making true friends, writing on my blog, my books, loving my farm, taking my photos, have three very fine dogs, two sweet donkeys, two loving but murderous barn cats, doing my work with the Army of Good.

I don’t care for old talk, life is what you make of it, I’m just getting started, just learning how to be and how to love. I’ve  wasted enough time being crazy, I want to live fully.

As you get older, a lot of the bad genes die off, the nasty people of the world seem like peas off of a tank to me, they are just not very important any longer. Argument and resentment seems pointless as well as poisonous.

My favorite quote about aging comes from Joseph Campbell, appropriately enough, he says that one great thing about growing old is that nothing is going to lead to anything. Everything is of the moment.

This is very true, I think, at least for me. I can live freely and authentically, perhaps for the first time in my life. Thanks to my therapy, and perhaps the blog, my life is open, I have nothing to hide, nobody can say anything about me that I haven’t said myself. There is something very liberating about being open. Free at last, to be myself.

For all that people whining about it, there are many great things about being older. I am finally understanding who I am, and I know a little bit about life. I work hard to share what I have learned, that is my duty and responsibility. Older people have a sweet sense of humor and perhaps some perspective on life. The world is a mess. The world has always been a mess.

Life is a gift and glory, I give thanks for mine every single day. Miracles do happen, about 10 years ago I met one named Maria in a very unlikely place, and we set off on our great journey together. It gets better every day. I do have an angel, and she is taking care of me.

What a strange year for me, in some ways disturbing, but mostly, one of the best  years of my life. We are doing good, and it feels good, I sometimes even like myself when I wake up. I am so grateful for my photography, it has unleashed the artist in me that wanted to come out an give me a rich and creative new way to tell my stories.

I am grateful for the Army of Good, a wondrous new community – and quite a birthday gift –  that is touching and changing and comforting and uplifting a lot of people. I think we are a tolerant bunch with hearts that have not yet turned to stone. Bless all of you.

Maria has bought tickets for a play Wednesday and wants to take me out to dinner Tuesday. I don’t celebrate birthdays that much, they are just another day in the calendar, but being so happy and fulfilled at 70 is nothing to sneeze at. Sometimes you give by letting others give to you. Another late lesson of life.

Today, I need to rest a bit, I can feel it. I have learned than when I feel like resting, I need to do it.

And I really need to do it this weekend, this has been an intense time for me. Intense is good, it means I am very much alive.

We are heading off to the Clark Museum in Williamstown to see Helen Frankenthaler’s paintings, which I like very much,  and some other stuff, and maybe, get some Thai food at a good restaurant there.

I will of course, be taking my camera. You never know. My birthday wish is peace, happiness and fulfillment for all of you.