When my 40th birthday rolled around, in 1987, I made sure to be out of town. Somehow I felt that if I was traveling, the birthday wouldn't count. How silly I was. This week I turned 77. I'm not running from it.
A Birthday Present From My Daughter
That week, 37 years ago, when I turned 40, I collected my 10-year-old daughter and 6-year-old nephew. The three of us went to Disney World. This was definitely a denial of age.
This week, I stayed peacefully at home, and my family came to me, though I tell them every year not to pay attention to my birthday.
The family 'celebration' began quietly, with birthday decorations wrapped around the stair banister.
Then my children decorated the night table, next to my bed.
And even the door to my closet received attention:
Everywhere I turned there was a quiet gesture, a reminder that it was a special day.
Artificial flowers on the laundry hamper
As soon as my daughter got home from work we went on a little expedition to one of my favorite places, Sagamore Hill. This was the home of Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States.
Roosevelt's House in Oyster Bay Cove, New York
It's a modest house, for a president. The property was maintained by a staff when the President was alive, but Roosevelt did a lot of the work. Roosevelt's goal was to make his property self-sustaining. With 6 children that was not entirely possible. The windmill on the property was used for pumping water to the house.
There is a story posted by the windmill. It says that Roosevelt climbed up to fix something. One of the blades sliced his scalp. He climbed down and went into the house. His wife complained, "You're bleeding all over the rug."
Teddy, as he was called, liked to do things for himself.
This was the chicken house on the property.
One of the reasons I love Sagamore Hill is because it reminds me of the area where I grew up. This picture of trees, for example, could have been taken from my backyard.
At first glance, that's the way it looks, anyway. But, if you look closer you will see water through the trees. That's a glimpse of Oyster Bay. A chief charm of Roosevelt's house is that a not-very-long-walk will take one right down to the edge of the bay.
Walking is one of the things visitors are invited to do at Sagamore Hill. Signs lead one to hiking trails.
One of the reasons to visit Sagamore, even off season (most people go in spring and summer), is the experience of nature. A bird, for example, that was perched next to the windmill, regaled us with song.
And then there was the lone flower that blossomed among decaying leaves.
We left Sagamore as daylight receded and the place became deserted. When we got home, my daughter cooked dinner, stuffed salmon.
My husband and I watched a movie together, and he gave me his present--money. It's a joke between us that he gives me money so I can save it up and buy little things for my kids and granddaughter.
Before the day was done, I received my final birthday wishes from my son. A birthday cake, a balloon and a pair of slippers.
The slippers are on my feet right now.
And the balloon is next to my cactus plant.
My 77th birthday may not have been everyone's idea of a great celebration, but for me it was perfect. I was surrounded by family and love.
Thank you for sharing my blog. I wish everyone days filled with love, peace and health.
All pictures were taken by me, with my coolpix B500 camera.
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