In the days after a grand celebration of a birthday, I feel like one happy camper. Or should I say, a pirouetting princess chicken?

Doug’s card sums it all up!

The back-story on why I loved this card: in my one and only ballet debut, I leapt onto the stage, and fell flat. But, I picked myself up and went on with dance. Still even then, I  realized Covent Garden would not be calling and retired from the stage.

The Next Stage in The Days After

Wondering about the days after this significant “age-advancement anniversary” —  my OLDER brother’s description of  birthdays — I was glad to receive clear marching orders by a  Frederick Buechner:

It is the first day because it has never been before and the last day because it will never be again. Be alive if you can all through this day today of your life. What’s to be done? What’s to be done? ~  The Alphabet of Grace

Being alive is present tense. What’s to be done in the days ahead  needn’t be passive!

Usually the next thing that needs doing is an action, like the dishes; or, writing a note; or, lending a listening ear.

It isn’t rocket science . . .

but, it is a choice; a choice I am grateful to have, especially in coming days!

Old doesn’t mean brain-dead. I may be in a slower lane, but I’m still in the race! YOU ARE TOO, dear reader! So, there’s no need to hobble ourselves living in the past, or fearing what’s next.  ~ Women Liberationists

True, we aren’t out of the worrisome woods into which the culture, politics, and a pandemic plunged us.  However, it doesn’t make sense to camp on what [I think] is wrong – and that’s plenty.

What I think about anything really isn’t the point.

How I act or say still might be – even at my age.

Being alive means looking for a way out of the woods even if the next steps in this upside down scary world aren’t well lighted. It might mean helping another, or asking for help while navigating unfamiliar terrain. (Call to Me!)

 In the days after, Dance On . . . or Away!

In these decidedly divisive times – when we are learning way too much about what we think about stuff, reminding myself that if too much information trips me up, maybe it makes sense to just pick myself up and dance on, or dance away.

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little — do what you can. ~Sydney Smith* (Meeting People Half-Way)