P-A-R-T-Y! ER, MAYBE NOT
I generally enjoy my birthday. My family all calls, all my friends email me, Dave lets me sleep in. But the very thought of this one coming made me feel I was facing the ordeal of eating an onion. It makes no sense--it's not a decade type birthday or something huge and momentous. You know what I think it is? I'm only a year away now from the double nickel.

That's the age when people people start asking you when you're going to retire (um, can you say NEVER!. Some snot nosed kid in the fast food place will tell you your drink is free. That happened just the other day when I ordered water with my chicken salad. The kid told me I could have whatever I wanted because it was free. At first I wondered if I'd combed my hair, or maybe I had a hole in my sweater. Then he uttered the dreaded words: "It's your senior citizen discount." SENIOR CITIZEN? Not me! I consoled myself with the thought that it was because I was with Dave whose hair turned white in his forties. But I have a sneaking suspicion the pimply faced brat actually thought I looked like a senior.

I don't feel any older. Not one whit. Inside there's still a nineteen year old girl amazed at the world and enjoying the ride. I'm in a rollercoaster car, and I'm not even to the top yet, so don't go telling me I need to RETIRE! I keep remembering what my former pastor, Steve Parks, told me once when I said that. He said it's because the SOUL never ages. We really are ageless, it's just the house that needs a little repair.

I think I'd better go buy some paint!