1996, the 65th Birthday at Betty G's house.... What a fabulously talented group in this picture....Over on the right, the brilliantly talented painter, Morris Broderson....that's Betty G's back...and we know how fabulously talented she is...Her composer son Garrett in the white shirt next to her....then me, then the fabulisly talented composer/lyricist, Ken Welch, who wrote my very first nightclub act....And Leslie Caveny, a superb writer, whose first film Penelope you can read about on IMDB.com, and about her, too....And she is talking to Andy Parks, Betty's other son who is a wonderful wonderful actor and has done two plays of Leslie's....And that's just the people in this picture.....
Then, my Birthday in 2004.... Dinner at a fun Italian Restaurant here in Los Angeles...that's the wonderful Shawn Flannigan, brilliant Event Co-Ordinator for STAGE.Woo-hoo, let's start the virtual celebration!
Oh Naomi! What a wonderful little potted history of your life! You really should write a book y'know as you have done so mucha and achieved a lot in your life, and lived through some great times.
I just love the pics of your birthdays gone by and you were certainly a real cutie as a baby!
I hope you have a most wonderful birthday adn that you share the pics from your lunch with us. Many Happy Returns! :) Much love from me and Bob.
Hi Naomi
Love your blog and wanted to wish you Happy Happy Birthday from UK.
Really enjoyed your Virtual Party last year, and continue to enjoy reading your stories and marvelling at your pictures.
Many Many Happy Returns!
Rachel
Happy Birthday Naomi! What a wonderful post. You certainly were a beautiful girl - you were headed for great things ahead and how great they were hey!
Wishing you a fabulous day over in the hills, from here alongside the Great Barrier Reef in Far North Queensland. (Isn't blogging great?)
May your 76th year be wonderful!!!! (You look fabulous BTW - you do not look your age!)
Happy Birthday!! We've never met but I have spent the last few mornings having coffee with you. I'm very new to blogging and I have found some wonderfully inspiational women to learn from. You included. Just wanted you to know. You never stop inspiring people.Have a great day!
Karen Ann
PS. I wanna be you when I grow up.
Happy, Happy Birthday Baby!!!..
I remember the photo's from last year.. wow, I didn't realize I had been reading your blog that long already!.. time flies (you know the rest)
Have a Wonderful Day, I know that you will.. I hope we get to see even more pictures from your special day.
Birthday Hugs to you Naomi!!
Wow! Lovely life story through photos. Many, many, many happy returns of the day...and best wishes strewn your way. You look pretty on your recent photo. Happy b-day young lady!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! What a wonderful day for me to return to blogging and what a wonderful post. I so enjoy your pictures and especially old photos that reveal how one grows up or how things change. You are a truly beautiful woman and look far better than those who have been dyed, lifted, tucked, etc. Have a truly marvelous day!
As is said in Yiddish: "Zol zein geszunt...Bis hundert un tsvantsik." (translation: You should be well...to age 120, ie. have a long life!)
Or if 120 is too long...
Biz hundert azoi ve tsvantsik! (you should live to 100 like a 20-year-old.)
Happy Birthday, Naomi, and enjoy the celebrations!
Naomi, Martin and I both wish you a very happy birthday! How wonderful it was strolling down memory lane with you and your wonderful photographs. Your life has held so much, no boredom for you! I especially enjoyed the photograph of you on the boat with the wind in your hair. What spirit is captures!
May your birthday be filled with happiness and good cheer! I wish I were there to celebrate with you.
This review is very moving and gives me chills! It's as though I can see into your soul in that last photo and some others. You're stunning, Naomi and so full of life. Thanks for sharing and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Happy Birthday!
I just love your picture-filled posts!
Hi...I saw your oldoldlady name on a friends blog and had to come here to meet you.
Turns out it's your birthday!!!
Happy Birthday lady!!!!
xo from another one getting older by the day
:-)
I smiled all the way through this, Naomi. What a wonderful, rich, loving, life you've had!
You were a beautiful little girl who grew up to be a beautiful woman...both inside and out.
I enjoyed your photos and commentary so much, so thanks for sharing.
And YOU....you have a wonderful and memorable birthday tomorrow. I have a feeling your home will be filled with love. You are such a special person....so here's to a great 76!
Happy happy birthday! 76 has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? 76 trombones - spirit of '76. It's a good number :) Have a lovely lovely day :)
Fantastic photos, Naomi. It's amazing how much your baby photo still looks like you, you can't say that about everyone. I love your 1940s ringlets and I'm beyond jealous of your birthday celebration at the Cocoanut Grove in its prime. I'm sure if we could pull the camera back we'd see Clark Gable and other luminaries at the adjacent tables.
That's Bernie Casey the actor, right? I remember him in lots of stuff. And Kendall and I were JUST talking about George Furth's play "The Supporting Cast" the other day! Sandy Dennis was in that too, right?
What was the restaurant that no longer exists? That Italian one on the top of Beverly Glen?
And speaking of Andy Parks, I was going through some of Oliver's old LPs last night because I want to record them digitally and put them on my iPod and I found an album Andy made when he was 15 called "Sex, School...and Like Other Pressures." What a hoot! Betty and Larry play his parents, of course. Do you remember that?
HAPPY 76th NAOMI! And many, many more!
Happy 76th birthday Naomi, to a fascinating and beautiful woman --
that was a wonderful way to celebrate with you ! Thank you for those great pictures and the history !
p.s. left you special bleesings on my blog today !
*smiles*
Naomi, what a great photo shoot of your life and birthday celebrations! Goodness, woman, you look wonderful at every age! What a great life you've had so far - and look at the wonderful and interesting people that have been in your life! To many more years...
You look wonderful on the last picture, Naomi! And you have a real talent telling your own story. It's always a joy to read you and discover how much you love people and life.
Hi Naomi, I came here via Jan's Larry Parks Site. In the group photo taken at one of your parties, you can just see the top half of Garrett's face and he is so spookily like his dad! I wondered if you had a full face photo of Garrett?
Enjoying you blog:-)
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NAOMI! I must say you look more like 56 than 76...such a beautiful lady you are. I love coming to your blog, now that I know where it is! Thanks so much for sharing your pictures with us. They're great!!! I hope when I am 76 I have as much spirit as you! Later........ xoxoxo
Happy 76 tomorrow, Naomi, and many more to come! I do so enjoy your photos and histories. I don't knve half as many photos as you do - and fewof them are of me - since I was always the one with the camera.
Have a great luncheon, and tell the women that all the bloggers say hello!
I saw your name on a friends blog and followed it over here. Well OMG I have spent a LOT of time reading. First of all Happy 76th Birthday - you are a true inspiration on how to keep ones spirit young! I have read back with fascination at many of your previous posts. What an interesting life and so many friends you've had for so long - just beautiful. I am bookmarking your remarkable site and can't wait to see the post on your next Ladies Who Lunch!!
I loved Betty Garrett on Laverne & Shirley and All In The Family, Bridget H. on the old series Here Come the Brides and Anne on The Dick Van Dyke Show. I can't believe I remember this kind of TV trivia but, yes, I do.
Again, Happy Birthday!
I forgot to say I think you are one beautiful NATURAL woman!
Happy Birthday Naomi ... from another Long Island girl!!!
Marilyn
a *Very* Happy Birthday Naomi and **many** more of them!
I hope that you have the very best of days!
Happy Happy Birthday to you!! I loved seeing the pictures of you and your family and friends through the years. You are very beautiful and so is your voice that I hear when I read your words! What a great time of it you have had all these years. I sure do enjoy your stories.
Happy, happy birthday to you, dear Naomi!! I wish you all the best and a wonderful day.
Looking forward to see pictures of the "Ladies who Lunch"!
Happy Birthday to YOU, Happy Birthday to YOU,
HHaaaaapppppeeeeeeeeee Biiiiiiirrrrrrtttthhhhddddaaayyy - dearest Naomi - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
You are precious - I am blessed that you are in my life. May your dreams come true this year -
Birthday Week - we shall party. Love and Hugs.
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY DEAR NAOMI! I hope your day will be very, very happy, and that all the best happens every moment of it. In my thoughts I will be there with you and I feel like I know you like an old friend. Love this wonderful post and I so enjoy all photos. Do you know that your baby face still looks like your actual face? Just beautiful and lovely! And when I read the comments I saw that Danny said the same!
I wish all the happiness to you and I am looking forward to see pictures of the "Ladies who Lunch"! Many hugs and many kisses to you my dear friend!
This happy occasion has transformed me (for the moment) from 'long-time lurker' to 'happy birthday wisher!'
I enjoy your writing and photos so much. Best wishes today an always.
Hip-Hoppity-HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the photo of you that Gordon took on the boat. Your haircut is divine and you look SO Hollywood - On the level with Audrey Hepburn!
Hot mamma!!!
I also love the last photo of you. You seem to have a negative opinion of it, but it really is a lovely picture of you.
I wish you many, many more birthdays and good health to go along with them. I know health problems have been an issue for you, and I just wish for you to have renewed strength and better health.
Have a great day on Thursday with your "ladies who lunch" friends. Eat well and laugh!!
Dear Naomi,
You are so beautiful. I feel so silly sitting here in America's Dairyland with tears streaming down my face. Somehow you managed to put together the most lovely moments of your life.
I congratulate you on so many decades well lived. It seems like you have a voracious appetite for life itself.
Sometimes, at age 48, I feel so fearful about the future. The world seems to have gone mad in the last six years. But I am utterly optimistic in reading your life.
I need to re-read this when I'm not crying.
Happy birthday, Naomi! What a fun walk through your fabulous life. Thank you so much for sharing and thank you for your kind comments on my little slice of life.
Happy Birthday,
Thank you for sharing the photographs. What a wonderful life you're living.
I also want to be you when I grow up!
What a lovely and kind words you said about my family! I am so proud and grateful for your praise, Naomi! Thank you! I appreciate it more than I can tell you!
I wish you again a wonderful day! Happy, Happy Birthday my dear friend!
A little bit late but at least was able to make it. Happy Birthday! Enjoyed looking at all the photos. You are a beautiful woman and beautiful then. People with good hearts look beautiful always.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
Happiest BDay my beautiful, talented, witty and loving friend! You brighten each and every day for me---as I know you do for so many others. I hope your coming year is filled with more and more love and peace---nobody deserves it more!
[Lifts glass & clears throat]...
Here's to you, Naomi, a wonderful talent & a fabulous lady, wishing you the very best of health and happiness on your 76th Birthday - and may there be many more wonderful celebrations to come!
CHEERS!!!
And PS: Thanks for sharing such great photos! How fantastic you look for your age!!! You are truly an inspiration!
Those photos were awesome. That was such a great post, I enjoyed it immensely! You and Lil Red's birthdays are very close....his is June 29th at 3:23. Pretty cool! BIG HUGS for your birthday, eat some cake for me! =) You're present is going out until next week....i'm a little behind the times here lately. =)
Happy Birthday! As a blogger gift this is a cute Happy Birthday I found on YouTube. It seems like something you'd get a kick out of.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DENcb3f9hJE
I LOVED the pictures!
I'm overwhelmed. Here you have your birthday and what do you do: You give us a fantastic gift of a post. I'm so impressed over your generousity.
Happy birthday to you and may you live for many, many years to come. The world needs people like you.
Happy Birthday to you......
Happy Birthday to you.......
Happy Birthday darling Naomi.......
Happy Birthday to you.......
and many mo-o-o-o-re.........
btw - I love that photo in on your Cotswolds holiday - it was one of the first photos of you I saw, and I liked you immediately.
Have a fantastic birthday - love to Betty and the Ladies What Lunch :-)
Thank you for sharing your life through photos....
Oodles of hugs from me, MB, Pandora and Charlie...
cq
There's a cake for you at casa kenju, Naomi! Have a big slice and a Happy Birthday!!
Happy, Happy Birthday dear friend and blogger fellow Naomi!
What a lovely and well documented story of your life - I really enjoy reading it and watching the pics.
You really have lived a rich life and you deserve all the good things happening to you!
I wish you an exciting Birthday and many more to come!
Happy Birthday Naomi, Fantastic 76! I'm visiting from Terri/Island Writer site, I plan on adding you to my favorites to visit again. Take care!
Just popping back to wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY on the actual day. Enjoy every moment and know I'm thinking of you.
A happy and very healthy year ahead, Naomi.
Haaaaaappppyyy Birthdaayyyy to youuuu
Happpppyyyyy Birthdayyyy to youuuuu
Haaaaapppyyy Birthdassyyyy dear Naomiiiii
Haaaappppy birthdayyyy to youuuuuu...and many moreeee;)
OH boy you're so beautiful...your pics just made me smile and reading about your life...oh you're just so very special Naomi!!!
Thank you so much for sharing all this with us...
I will leave you a big wonderful bouquet of flowers for your birthday and lots of love!!!
Maria
Happy Birthday to you and hope your year ahead is one filled with much joy. I loved the photo story of your life. It's so great to see how someone ages, the changes they go through to get to where they are. We elders are the lucky ones that we got here to experience the whole enchilada of life
76 years. Amazing, Naomi. The pictures really illustrate well some of the people in your life.
Happy 76th Birthday
I'm sure you'll be the center of attention at this month's luncheon. Have a great time there and during today's virtual celebration of your birth!
Such wonderful pictures and memories.
Happy Birthday and here's to many more pictures and memories.
Naiomi, Happy Birthday! Hope you and the Thurday Girls, just have a great day of fellowship. And loving and sharing. And by the way you are a very pretty woman, who happens to be 76!. And thank you so much for sharing your life with us. Pat from NY.
Happy, Happy Birthday to you. You are such a beautiul woman inside and out. May you have many more wonderful days ahead of you:-).
((hugs)) and warm wishes.
Angela
Glad I stumbled upon your blog. Happy Birthday. You look amazing to me.
Love your life story and photos.
Please feel free to visit me. I have recently put some photos on of our Atlantic crossing ... well, from the Azores to North Wales.
Cheers!
Lorenzo.
Happy Birthday, Naomi!
I hope every moment of this day is filled with fun, flowers, friends (not to mention choclate cake!) and everything that is beautiful and dear to you.
Your 76 trombones are heralding a very lengthy and gala parade thru cyberspace. Thanks for sharing with us.
Happy Birthday! Loved all the pictures, that Bernie Casey is a babe!
What an amazing post! It's wonderful to read through your life story based on all the wonderful photos you shared with us.
I'm a regular readers of CQ's blog, and I popped on over here from her place. I'm so glad I did.
Happy birthday, and here's to many more. Incidentally, it's also my Mother's birthday today too lol.
Happy Birthday (late of course)! I hope you have many, many more filled with fun and happy memories! I lurk here and rarely comment. I'm going to get better about that!
I came back with more bday wishes, just because...
Have a wonderful birthday lunch with the ladies!
I hope you had a WONDERFUL day!! Happy Birthday!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY again, my dear Naomi! Today is the great day! Wishing you all the happiness in the world! Much love from me!
For the same reason as Mar's as a good thing never can be said enough times:
Happy Birthday to you Naomi:-)
What a marvelous post! It is a pleasure to read it! I would like to visit all these beautiful towns and know all the people you talk about! Thanks to Renny too who presents you blog!
Happy Birthday Naomi!
HAPPY Birthday and VERY nice to meet you! Hope you are having the best day! Your post and pictures are so beautiful! :-D
Happy, happy birthday my dear friend. I have come to the conclusion that you are ageless!
I hope this year has wonderful things in store for you.
I am here via Renny. A very happy birthday to you!
Dear Naomi,
HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYY!!!!
That was a great post! All the best!
I came via Renny's site. Cheers. Have a blast today!!!
Hiya Naomi...Happy Birthday to you what a wonderful milestone :) Many many happy returns!
Happy Birthday. You are absolutely too beautiful.
Wishing you many more.
What wonderful pictures Naomi!! I loved all the pictures but I guess I like that first one and the last one best!! You were a beautiful baby and now you are a beautiful lady.
I do hope your birthday has been fantastic!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAOMI!!!! And many more...........
Hugs to you!!
If i'm a little late.. no matter, you have SOooo many friends to wish you a Happy Birthday and may you have a Wonderful year ahead.... and many more!!! You are a Gem Naomi and give so much pleasure with your Blog and your camera! Keep 'em coming! My Best to you.... Jan @ Larry's Site.
I'm here via Renny's blog to wish you a very happy birthday! I love all of your photos. You've lived such a full and wonderful life so far- here's to many more!
Cheers!
Lisa
I hope you have had a wonderful birthday and that all your wishes will come true this year.... here are wishes for health, happiness, and peace of mind!
Happy happy birthday! Wishes of good health to you
Wow, you have had quite a life. Happy 76th. I love your "never" dyed hair and your naturally beautiful face....
I know I'm late but I still wanted to say ........
"Happy Birthday you!" or as they say in Welsh "Penblwydd Hapus cariad Naomi!"
Jo
x
Happy Birthday to you Naomi. I think I might be late in greeting you since I just got back to the online world.
Oh and another colourful history. I am always amaze when you write about your own personal history. It is like watching a movie.
What a fabulous read, Naomi. I just met you (through Renny's post) but feel I already know you! You share my mom's birthday, who died in 1997 at age 80. She would have been 91 this week!
Happy BirthWEEK!
I'm late (sorry about that!).
Happy happy happy happy happy birthday! Thanks for sharing your life with us :)
Here's to 76 more!
I SO can not believe I missed your birthday! DAGGONE it! I'm sorry Naomi... Ever so HAPPY a belated wish!!! You've had some birthdays to talk about haven't ya?! Well... I don't think I wish you 76 MORE years... but I certainly DO wish you a good many more!!! (((Hugs!)))
Happy B-day! You have an amazing number of pic to document the special events of your life.
I would love to be able to throw a big 6Oth party for myself. I was supposed to for 50 but chickened out. Maybe I'l have to do 55!
again mazal tov...I LOVED THIS POST...JUST LOVED IT...what a marvellous trip down memory lane...may every good thing you would wish for yourself come true this year...ohmein...shabbat shalom...yahooooooooooooooooo
Happy Birthday. I wish all your wishes come true.
Have a healthier more years to come.
^^
A belated but sincere happy birthday greeting! You obviously had a great celebration. Here's wishing you many more.
Am really impressed that you are allowing yourself to age naturally, and think you look lovely in that photo, despite your perception you have extra weight you don't want.
I don't do anything to my hair either, but my how sad I was to see the natural red give way to my silver and gold threads as I call them.
Oooh, this was such a joy to experience, Naomi. These entries must take you hours of research, production and writing. I know I'd be at it all day if I were able to write entries so intricate.
A couple of thoughts come to mind...
1 - your never-lifted and never botoxed self: beauty takes so many forms. You don't need any help achieving it. You already have it, inside and out.
2 - I could never know enough about your fascinating, amazing life. The more you share, the more we'll all be here to read.
Thank you for your e-mail. It made my day, as it always does when I hear from you. I'm going to take your advice and write a post on the iPhone. Dedicated to you, of course, because you always inspire us in all sorts of ways.
Happy birhtday Naomi. I heard about you from RennyBa
I'm a little late--been out of town and unplugged. Renny mentioned your birthday. You look great and have had some great times and friends. Thanks for sharing with us.
Hi Naomi,
I get your blog from Renny. Happy birthday, even I'm to late now, but it comes from the heart! I love your blog and the pictures. You have a very interesting life!
Oh, look how much I've missed on your blog while I was on vacation!
I loved these photos, this post esp. because there are so many photos of you!
~S
You are beautiful!!!! The years have been really kind to you!
Name: OldOldLady Of The Hills
Location: Los Angeles, California