Good Lord! How in hell did this happen? I am finding this number very hard to fathom. In all candor, I don't think I ever thought I would reach this very 'old-sounding' number. In fact, I never really thought much about it, at all.....! And now......somehow it is almost here...In point of fact, one might as well say...."I'm 80 years old", when one is just a few days away from it......! This Birthday is a rather bittersweet one for many reasons---not the least of which is the fact that my dear friend Betty will not be here to celebrate it with me......So, I am somewhat excited about turning 80 years old, and I am sad, too......But I will try to get over myself....!
Isn't that "80's" Tree kind of fun? Tacky, but fun.....Well, I've earned the right to be tacky if I want....Right? (lol).......I must say that the Dr. Seuss poem about 'aging' seems more and more appropriate these days. I don't think I would have said that even 5 years ago, when I was turning seventy-five......Whoever coined the term "The Golden Years", obviously never got there. There is nothing "golden" about them, especially if your body has started betraying you......!
Indeed! 'The Golden Years can kiss my ass....!' I should say my Big Fat Ass......Yes! That has come to me, too, along with much sagging around the used-to-be 36C area, and quite a lot of bloat on and around other places on my body, as well----not a pretty sight, believe me. It is a very strange thing, to feel so young inside----to feel you are still young-at-heart, yet.....the outside has really gone south, as they say.
How did this happen? Above-above, Kim and I back in November of 1989....and then, closer-above....sometime in 2010.....OY! I ask once again, How did this happen?? You turn around and the years have just flown by. In many ways, these last 6 years have been some of the hardest of my life. Being 'confined' to my home because of my lungs being compromised, changed everything for me. Not all bad, mind you, but definitely, a big big change. Life, as I had known it and lived it, changed, completely. And quite drastically, I might add----understandably so, but still.....Until you've lived it, you don't really know---just like everything else in life. And in the last three years I have lost 5 people who were very very dear to me......Not replaceable, you know? So....all of these things play in the background of this particular round-numbered-new-decade-for-me Birthday......
Ahhhhhh.....Dear Sweet Earl & me, when I turned 60....! My Lord, that was twenty years ago.....1991! (How could 1991 have been twenty years ago...???) I'll have to get someone to take a companion picture to this one with Earl---now, twenty years later...! And below, a little snapshot of young Naomi. It looks like I'm Gardening, but in reality, I'm just playing in the dirt.....
This picture above, was taken in our yard in Great Neck, which is where the house I grew up in was located.....It is odd to look at really old pictures of myself and try to find the person I am now, and yet, looking at old pictures is somewhat comforting, too.....I love old pictures. Not just mine, but every one's. It is the history of our lives and gives one a feeling of some kind of continuity, hopefully----or not, as the case may be......And below, 'Baby Naomi'---you've seen this one before....Well, here it is again.....!
How did that baby, turn into this woman? Questions, and more questions, on the brink of Eighty Years Old? (Help Me!) And not the first time I have asked this question......Anyway.....I am "Celebrating" the Big 80, on Saturday, even though my actual B-Day is Monday, June 27th.....There will be good food, good people and good "balloons", of course!
And hopefully, lots of good picture taking........
And lots of good Glittery Confetti, too.....! Oh, and I found a wonderful T-Shirt that says: "IT TOOK ME 80 YEARS TO LOOK LIKE THIS!!"......I Love That! (Come on now, We must try to have a sense of humor about all this, if possible, right?....)
And I will leave you with a few well chosen words on the subject of getting older, by the ever truthful, tell-it-like-it-is, "Maxine".......Nobody says it better!
LOL, LOL, LOL....She is a pistol!More To Come.........
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had this to say:
Just discovered your blog and have stayed up way to late reading it. You have a marvelous way of writing.
Happy Birthday and I hope you have a wonderful celebration!- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 12:47:00 AM PDT
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I too love Maxine..she says what we all think!
I totally understand the bitter sweet part.. like you said, for more than one reason! Each year I wonder how I made it this far.
But I know you will still enjoy having your friends around, and taking pictures in just in general have some silly's to giggle about.
I hope you have a most wonderful Birthday Naomi!! I hope Earl comes so you can get that "then and now" photo!
Happy, Happy Birthday!- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 2:38:00 AM PDT
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Happy birthday! You've got your blogger friends standing by ready to party with you, share hugs and enjoy the pictures with you. Your party decorations are fantastic and the t-shirt is a hoot!
- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 3:45:00 AM PDT
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I'm sitting in front of my computer giggling about those cartoons.... I agree, how did we all get to be the ages we are without noticing the years flying by?
I'm not quite 80 yet, (about 15 years to go) but I'm well on the way there. Incredible isn't it? And it seems only yeaterday I was a young mum with little boys and a life in front of me.
Well, all I can say, Naomi, is that it's better than the alternative!
Happy Birthday to you, dear Naomi, enjoy your celebration, you deserve it. Hugs to you, and Party on!- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 4:44:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
Well, I, for one, wish you another 80 years for the selfish reason that I will enjoy reading about your life. Consider: if the first 80 were so interesting, think what the next 80 will be.
Happy Birthday, dear.
Cheers.- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 4:48:00 AM PDT
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80 is just a number! Anyway it is a happy birthday because you are still here! That's worth celebrating right??
That Cat in the Hat poem cracked me up. :D
I want to come back here and wish you a happy birthday on the actual day! I hope you are going to have a wonderful day on Saturday though and I can't wait to hear all about it!- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 5:12:00 AM PDT
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I think it's awesome you've made it this far. I never thought I'd make it past 27. I kept having a dream where I was shot in an open air market in the Middle East when I was 27. Obviously I'm still here a couple years short of 50. I understand about the mind/body differential. My body is betraying me already even though I fight it. The aches, the swelling, other stuff, while the mind inside is still youthful and active. I can't wait to see pictures of your celebration on Saturday. I hope you have great food, fun gifts, and plenty of loving friends around. Happy Birthday!
- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 5:38:00 AM PDT
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Happy Birthday Naomi -- love all the pictures and decorations. My mother felt as you do and now I do as well...I said to her once when she was in her 80's, "Ma, you cannot climb ladders to clean the ceiling when you are alone in the house...it's too dangerous at any age." I was implying that she was too old to do that but didn't want to go there. She said to me, "Inside I'm still 16." Loved her, loved that attitude and you have it too. Enjoy.
- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 6:01:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
You did it, Naomi! You didn't think you would/could, but you did...you've lived 80 years; you had it in you all along. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
Would life lose meaning without death? You've lost friends that you loved, but how lucky you are to have had friends that you loved (and loved you).
Enjoy This Very Special Birthday-- Kevin- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 6:12:00 AM PDT
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Naomi, you are a hoot! You describe well the phenomena of aging and I'm going to remember your line when I turn 80: The golden years can kiss my ass, fat ass that is!
Like you I think 1991 sounds like yesterday. I remember when my dear friend Alwyn turned 80 (about 5 years ago) she was excited and kinda proud of herself. She had been hiding her actual age from friends for years and suddenly she felt liberated and was bragging about it. I guess you have no choice but to give in to it.
I wish you better health, dear Naomi.- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 9:54:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
Well all I could say is that you have aged gracefully and beautifully! :)
- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 11:52:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
1. 80 is the new 50!!!!
2. As a veteran of cheap "before and after" commercials, stop mixing up the two!! You iz in showbiz, honey, so you know the recent pix are bad camera angles, not the best makeup job, and a photog who does not have "it"!! You're just as gorgeous as ever!!!!!- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 1:49:00 PM PDT
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You have lived your life well!!! A lot of people can't say that!!!
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!
My goal is for my 80th birthday is for the cops to come and tell me to turn down the stereo!- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 1:51:00 PM PDT
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How neat on the birthday celebration but I know hard also with Betty not there with you. Those are indeed milestone years when there's a zero in them.
Seeing pictures of movie stars from years earlier and then today is one of the ways I 'get' aging. Recently the grandkids wanted to see The Good, The Bad and The Ugly which reminded me of recently watching The Holiday with Eli Wallach in both. It happens to us all but movie stars have it in concrete! Both exciting and oh my gosh- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 2:16:00 PM PDT
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If I make it 30 more years, I sure hope I have your joie de vivre! I hope your party is excellent and I really look forward to hearing all about it and seeing your picrues. Congratulations on 8 decades!
- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 2:38:00 PM PDT
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What a nice recap of just some of the highlights of the last 80 years! Happy Birthday to you and thanks for sharing! Wishing you many more!!
- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 3:22:00 PM PDT
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Naomi, I'll be back on the 27th, of course, but I want to wish you an early happy birthday now. Being 80 is certainly better than the alternative, and I hope you live to 100 and beyond!! (Me too)
- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 4:56:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 7:19:00 PM PDT
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I love that poem about the Golden Years!! Maxine is funny too! She truly is a pistol and tells it like it is!! LOL
It does seem like the years just fly by. I'm not 60 yet and I wonder where the heck the years went? It seems like yesterday I was so much younger!!
I really had to laugh at you describing your body! It sounds an awful lot like mine!!! Seems the older I get the more things head to the south!! OY!!!
I hope your party Saturday is truly wonderful in every way dear lady!!! Enjoy to the max!!! Hugs!!- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 8:48:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
Dear Naomi, David Nivan got off an elevator and a woman exclaimed, “didn’t you used to be David Nivan?” Well, you are still Naomi Caryl age 80 and I’m still George Ehling age 84 and we are both lucky not just to be ALIVE, but alive and living in the Hollywood Hils. Ivenia and I will see you Saturday.
Sincerely, George- Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 8:59:00 PM PDT
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Hi there! Happy Birthday from Arizona! Time indeed does fly. I turn 50 this summer and I SWEAR disco was just last week!
I just discovered your blog tonight while searching for something else and I somehow came into your blog, um, well I don't know how, but I was only seeing your posts from 2006-2008. I left a message hoping that you were still alive, and then, boom, all of these current posts appeared. I swear it's not my first day on planet Earth :) I'm more of a Facebook junkie myself.
You are funny as hell and reading your posts made me laugh out loud tonight. Thank you for that.
I hope that you have a most marvelous birthday party.
Happy 80th!
Your new fan,
Stan from Arizona- Friday, June 24, 2011 at 12:18:00 AM PDT
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It's great to celebrate another trip around the sun! I wish you so much----love, laughter, health, peace and joy. xo
- Friday, June 24, 2011 at 4:55:00 AM PDT
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Sending you wonderful birthday wishes and hugs from acorss the pond! What an amazing milestone to reach. I know the past few years have bene difficult in many ways and that you miss your dear friends, but I still hope you celebrate your birthday in a way Betty adn the others would have been proud of and that you have a fun time (and much cake because if your body has given up on you then you cna feed it as much cake as you like surely?!). many happy returns. I sent you something so I hope it reaches you in time :)
- Friday, June 24, 2011 at 5:09:00 AM PDT
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Dr. Seuss and Maxine know the truth:)) Too funny and you are right, we may as well laugh.
I am looking forward to your party and just know that my wishes are coming many miles wrapped in pretty paper that Sweetie can play with afterwards. Well mentally if not physically.
Have the best Birthday ever.- Friday, June 24, 2011 at 9:30:00 AM PDT
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I'm glad you are celebrating early Naomi because - as you will have realised - I'm always early.
As for the eighties - come on in - the water's fine - ish;)
Tacky or not I have kept my eighties tree and it's still in the dining room.
Love the photos - Baby Naomi is a sweetie and the one of you with earrings makes me think of an intellectual Joan Collins - what a combination. Have a great Birthday week-end and put the sad things to one side.
Rejoice - we're still here!- Friday, June 24, 2011 at 2:37:00 PM PDT
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR NAOMI!
I WISH YOU SO MUCH HAPPINESS, HEALTH, LOVE, LAUGHTER AND JOY!
Love this post full of beautiful memories and much sense of humor, wit and wisdom. I laugh so much with the "The Cat in the Hat on Age" and the cartoons, principally the last. LOL!
I am 68 and I feel the same when you said that it is a very strange thing to feel so young inside and to feel you are still young-at-heart. But really you have aged gracefully and beautifully! And it is a blessing!
About your pictures, love all them! So pretty the snapshot of lovely young Naomi and so adorable the Baby Naomi too!
I am looking forward to see photos of your party, a Celebration so lovely and happy as always!
Kisses and hugs!- Friday, June 24, 2011 at 2:40:00 PM PDT
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Happy Birthday dear Naomi. You have such a great sense of humor and a zest for life that your spirit is young. I also think of the 90s as just a couple of years ago – time moves so fast once you pass 50 it seems. You’ll have a fun time for your day and we’ll be here waiting to look at your pictures.
- Friday, June 24, 2011 at 6:34:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
Oh, my dear friend, Naomi.......you are TOO funny and I love your sense of humor! I chuckled my way through your post. Loved the 80 graphics! But yes, I'm sure this milestone is bittersweet for you in many ways. I tell you what....you sure don't "look" 80 in that photo!
Enjoy your wonderful celebration today, my friend and know that I'm there with you in spirit! Really looking forward to the coming photos and commentary.........much love and hugs to you.- Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 8:28:00 AM PDT
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hello gorgeous!
you look wonderful then, now, and will 10 years from now
Happy Birthday Dear Lady!!
I love your baby pic :)
you and Hope are the same astrological sign
she was born July 3- Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 8:48:00 AM PDT
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Godspeed and Good Fortune to an Irreplaceable woman- YOU!
- Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 9:42:00 PM PDT
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Hi Naomi,
Great post about your 80th! Happy Birthday from the north woods (MN). Nice pic with Earl; I'll be waiting to see the next one! I hear you had a real nice party, good food, and lots of friends. Be sure to look at the gorilla DVD soon; it's only 18 minutes, and a lot of fun after the young gorilla gets in Earl's lap. I always think on his behalf, "My Son, the Gorilla," every time I look at that.
Well, party on! I'll check in with you later. Ronda- Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 6:48:00 AM PDT
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happy, happy birthday, naomi!!! it's already your big day in my part of the world! wishing you all the great things in life & sincerely hope this day will bring you an extra share of all that makes you happiest! sending you a great big hug and kiss!!! =)
- Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 2:53:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
Happy Birthday dear blogging friend, I closed my site, and my email, however, I still read some of the wonderful blogs (yours one) I miss...Thus I know how you feel because I'll be 65 July 15th and I can't beleive it...in my heart I'm still 24.
Blessings and may you have many more such birthdays to enjoy.
Dorothy (formerly from grammology)
You can find me on facebook as Dorothy Stahlnecker...or grammology although I don't go there much. Great post...- Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 5:18:00 PM PDT
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Naomi!! and I hope you have many more to come and that this is the best year yet!!
- Monday, June 27, 2011 at 4:56:00 AM PDT
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Just dropping by on your day to wish you a marvleous 80th Birthday.
Hope it is the best and that you are throughly spoiled.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.- Monday, June 27, 2011 at 5:39:00 AM PDT
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Today is the day! Today is the day! HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY TO YOU! Sweet lady! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! hehe
(I've been saving up for the real day, so my excitement can't be contained!)
*muwah*- Monday, June 27, 2011 at 9:10:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
Back again, Naomi, to wish you a VERY HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY! So today is the actual day and I wish you good health, much joy and mega laughter in the coming year! My thoughts are with you today as you celebrate this momentous birthday! Enjoy! Hugs and love to you, my friend.
- Monday, June 27, 2011 at 9:36:00 AM PDT
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR NAOMI!
Hooray! Viva!
Today is a Happy Day!
I wish you so much Happiness, Health, Love, Laughter and Joy!
Kisses and hugs from your friend Sonia.- Monday, June 27, 2011 at 9:59:00 AM PDT
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Happy birthday! Hope you had a lovley birthday celebration! And I hope you have a photo of yourself in the birthday shirt! lol
- Monday, June 27, 2011 at 9:01:00 PM PDT
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Just thinking about your birthday. Wishing you happiness and joyful surprises!
- Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 4:08:00 AM PDT
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Happy b-day if I have misseed it from us UP HERE IN THE NORTH.. Hope it was wonderful If I missed it..
- Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 4:33:00 AM PDT
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Dang it...I was going to wish you a Happy Birthday, yesterday, and the day just slipped by. Did you do anything special? Did you have a cake? I think you're great...I hope I'm still blogging when I'm 80.
I'm a huge Maxine fan, too, (who isn't) so got a great chuckle out of the cartoons.
I think you have the most beautiful eyes. That baby photo is gorgeous and the one of you as a young woman is stunning.
xxoo
Cheryl- Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 10:52:00 AM PDT
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Just checking back to see if you posted pictures yet. Hope you had a great celebration!
- Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 12:29:00 PM PDT
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Happy, Happy Birthday, dear Naomi! Hope you had a great time, and found joy and laughter being with friends here, and remembering the delight of friends who have stepped off-stage for a little while. All are applauding you in your celebration of being A-T !!
Your love of color and LIFE are always so apparent in your blog...Please Keep writing for us and sending pictures.
Shine on!!- Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 1:44:00 PM PDT
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Happy happy birthday!
Can't wait to see the party pix :)- Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 7:43:00 PM PDT
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Maxine IS a pistol. She cracks me up. My mother was just on a bus tour with her sister and she visitied the Hollywood Hills. I told her I was so jealous because I so want to get out there and meet you! She really liked Hollywood. ~~~~ I can't believe it is your 80th birthday! You are just such a young spring chicken still. So fun and lively! Cheers to many more wonderful birthdays and parties Naomi! A very happy Belated Birthday from the Clarks!
- Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 5:49:00 AM PDT
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So sorry I'm a few days late, but I wanted to wish you a very happy (albeit belated) birthday! Congrats on making it to the next decade. Looking forward to the next 10 years of your blog. :)
I haven't blogged much lately, but I think of you often!
Karin- Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 6:12:00 PM PDT
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Oh, Naomi, it really doesn't seem fair---growing past, oh, 35. The best one can hope for is a sense of humor intact. You have such a wonderful life to hold onto, remember, when age weighs on you. (I miss my calendar with birthdays already marked for me...) From the above cake and balloons, it looks like you had a great time. 100 is just around the corner.
- Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 7:15:00 PM PDT
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