So this week I’ll turn 73. My daughter paused a bit when she said it out loud. Emma said “73” a few times and then congratulated me on living so long. I think she’s surprised I made it this far.
Me too. I am sorry Emma is having such a struggle now, as so many New Yorker are. Her daughter Robin hasn’t been in school since March, and Emma works a lot a home – she is in charge of baseball coverage for the daily virtual sports magazine The Athletic.
Baseball is struggling to find a way to open up, and Emma and her husband Jay are worn out from having a small child at home every day for that long. I’m worried about her, she’s exhausted.
But there’s nothing I can do to help her. I can’t go to New York and she can’t come up here.
We are planning to see her and Jay and Robin in three weeks at the newly-reopened Bronx Zoo, where we all met the day before the world closed down.
I look forward to that.
We are having a typical Jon-Maria birthday celebration, now a tradition for us. Maria is taking me someplace (it’s a secret) for one night on Thursday – my birthday is actually on Saturday.
We have this one-night thing down.
We have someone quite wonderful come and stay at the farm and watch the dogs and animals and we scour inns and hotels for a nice room for less than $200.
I think long vacations are a thing of the past for us, at least for some years.
The pandemic has made it easier than ever, sadly but happily for us. We’ll read, talk, snuggle, and sleep.
I don’t know what to make of being 73, people tend to treat old people as if they are half dead and made of crystal. I feel about 45, my legs feel about my age, though.
One wonderful gift is the great creative and popular surge Maria is having with her art. She is just on fire, making wonderful art, selling it. Nothing could make me happier or match that.
Our marriage and relationship is nothing less than a miracle to me, I give thanks for both every day of my life.
I feel like I’m writing better than ever, I love my life very much. The greatest gift I ‘ve received will always be Maria. But Zinnia is moving up the ladder.
She is just the right dog for me now, she is sweet, fun, and prenaturally calm. Usually, she is sleeping under my desk or on my feet. Sometimes she likes the corner of my study, near the door.
Yesterday, I heard a giant crash behind me and whipped around to see that a heavy and large camera tripod had fallen on her head as she lay in the corner.
I jumped a few in the air, Zinnia barely moved. I got up and pulled it off of her and she came over and licked my hand. She woke up, but I’m not sure she cared much. That is a calm and grounded dog.
I thought she was a princess, but she isn’t. She’s a dog- dog, she loves to run, chase balls, roll in the mud, eat all kinds of gross things. She is the sweetest dog I have ever lived with or loved, health as a horse, and happy to keep me company when I write.
Lately, Bud has been joining our work party. He likes to come and sleep in Zinnia’s crate, she sleeps next to me. They like being together, and I like having them with me.
I have a box of dried marrow bones to keep her engaged and she has a regular walk in the woods and down the road. She loves to visit Maria in her studio or hang out with Bud and Fate in the yard.
I don’t pay all that much attention to birthdays. I know Maria is plotting to buy me something and we both are conscious of all the anguish and suffering around us right now, all over the country.
I am aware that I many more years behind me than ahead of me, but I suspect I’ll be around a while yet. I mean to live until we get our country back.
Zinnia was a big event in my life, and thanks to the many who have thanked me for writing about politics again for a while. It was something I needed to do and am glad to be doing. I appreciate all of your kind words.
As Red was, and Izzy and Rose before him, Zinnia is a wonderful campaign to me.
This is a confused and angry time for Americans, and on my birthday week, i wish everyone the gift of peace and compassion. We are all caretakers now.
Happy Birthday Jon!
I’m enjoying and learning from your writing on the mess
that is our country these days.
Thank you.
Thanks Susan
Your writings about “caretakers” have helped me define, or “put a name on,” what I try to do every single day. It’s much harder right now since I can’t really mix with people in stores or in my gym or in my apartment building. Since I don’t really have much in the way of money, I think I will just send a dollar or a note or an Email to people and causes I care about–just to let them know that there is someone who cares.
Happy Birthday Jon! You both have a wonderful day together; you are such a great couple. I enjoy your podcast so much and the banter between the two of you. And your laughter and teasing makes me laugh, which is difficult sometimes these days:) Wishing you the best!
Happy Birthday! I’m turning 65 in a few weeks and trying to come to peace with that. It’s been a struggle. Your wise words helped.
Happy Birthday, Jon!
Best,
Anne from Montana
Happy Birthday! I must say I really enjoy reading you..and I REALLY enjoy the posts about the mess we are in with this administration,,if you can call it that..enjoy your mini vacation..and don’t forget to eat cake.
Happy birthday, Jon! Wishing you a wonderful celebration and a healthy and happy year ahead!!
Happy Birthday Jon! Enjoy your date with Maria. You are so appreciated. ❤️
Happy Birthday, Jon.
Best wishes for a delightful birthday celebration. I’ve learned a lot over the years from reading your blog, enjoy the podcasts too. They are often a mini manual on how to live your life in an authentic and kind way. Thank you
Best wishes for a delightful birthday celebration. I’ve learned a lot over the years from reading your blog, enjoy the podcasts too. They are often a mini manual on how to live your life in an authentic and kind way. Thank you for your insights and thoughts.
Wishing you a new year of peace and all good. Happy Birthday Jon.
I knew I wouldn’t be the first to wish you a happy, healthy and peace filled birthday Jon, but I do wish you life’s best. You are a positive light in my life, most especially during these times. We lost our electric yesterday due to the storm blasting through Long Island, so please accept my delayed wishes!
Happy Birthday to you, Jon! I am a true believer that you’re as young as you want to be! I have such respect for you for refusing to do “old talk!” I believe that old talk is more than half the reason people FEEL old! Plus it’s boring. You don’t prattle on about what you can no longer do, you celebrate what you can do, and what you love and what gives you passion! You’re a inspiration to us all, to look for these things in ourselves. I agree with Margaret that your blog is a manual on how to live life in an authentic and kind way. One of your basic tenets that I have appropriated is that you don’t have to BE good to DO good. THAT one was a game-changer for me. Thank you Jon, for the gifts you’ve given all of us!
Happy birthday Jon, and PLEASE keep writing about our president, the upcoming election and the future of our nation. There are days I cannot stand any more news intake, but I can read your blog for the big picture, for a spiritual take on what’s going on below the surface and for a ray of hope.
Happy Birthday Jon
I hope you have a happy birthday this week! I look forward to what’s going on at the farm every day just as much as I love reading your dog books and the one about Simon. Wishing you and Maria much happiness, especially this week.
Happy birthday, Jon.
“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery in which we were born.” – Albert Einstein