60

I turned 60 a month ago. Made me smile.

I used the day and the days immediately before and after to celebrate. Not sure what I was celebrating, in particular, but celebration seemed in order. When the odometer rolls over, there is a sense of excitement, but the world hasn’t changed. Maybe it’s just a moment to reflect.

Friday before my birthday I went to the bar – and was joined by friends, former colleagues, former students, family. Hours passed, chatting, relaxing. I felt good. I wore my brand new “60” t-shirt. Someone brought me home-made chicken soup.

And my birthday day? I met ten people at Van Cortlandt Park. And we walked through the park and through the woods and by the golf course and around the pond. Three or four miles of walking and chatting and most of them did not know each other so meeting new people. It was gorgeous weather and I had a great time. I should do this again next year.

Afterwards some people went home, but half of us made our way to Com Tam Ninh Kieu, and I had birthday pho.

So the idea, instead of the big party with gifts and cake and all the other sort of formal stuff, instead of that, going somewhere comfortable, being surrounded by friends, and doing something relaxing – I like that. It worked. I’ll do it again.

Which brings me to my New Years resolution #10 – Have a Good Birthday. I accomplished that one.

What about the other resolutions?

#3, #8, No Progress: No zoos so far. No ferries so far. But with warmer weather.

#6 – flowers in the apartment. I have had some every day this year. Today there are three amaryllis in bloom.

#1, #4, #7 – Tracking stuff – I’m solid. Logging the books I am reading, the hikes I am taking, and recording vitals. Does it help me read more? I think so. Hike more… not really, but it might in the future. Pay more attention to my health? Not sure, but it doesn’t hurt.

#2 – say yes to more social invites. I forgot I made this one. I’m not sure. Birthday energy soaked up a lot of my social time, so it’s hard to say how I’m doing. But I did have birthday outings, beyond the two I wrote about here. And they all involved food, drink, walking/hiking, or some combination.

#5 – politics – speak the truth, work for change – yup – involved. Working for a ceasefire. Working on the campaign to take back the Retired Teachers Chapter (and preserve medicare).

#9 – do not download games to my phone? Phone’s clean. Not a one. But it feels like going through withdrawal.

#10 – Have a good birthday. Yup! Yup! Yup!

2718’s 2024 Resolutions

1. Log my hikes. I won’t resolve to hike more (even though I mean to). I will resolve to record them though, in my “Hike Book” – a black and white cover bound composition book.
2. Say yes to more social invites. I was out last weekend – at the sort of thing I usually miss – and it felt good.
3. Visit all the NYC zoos. And the Aquarium.
4. Log my books. I won’t resolve to read more – see above – but I am recording my reading, whether a whole book or part of a chapter, in my “Book Book” – a black and white cover bound composition book.
5. Reread my advice to myself. I think kids asked for advice for a yearbook quote. And this is what I came up with, here: “Speak the truth.   Work for Change.  It’s not about you.” And expanded here: “Act against racism. Act against anti-immigrant bigotry/hatred. Act against sexism. Act against homophobia. Act for fairness. Act in solidarity. Looking away = acquiescence (and is absolutely unacceptable)” Figure this will drive what I do/say about Gaza, and about preserving medicare.
6. Keep flowers in my apartment. I may grow some. I may buy some. I may buy plants that flower periodically. But this is easy, and flowers make me happy.
7. Track my vitals. Won’t promise to lose weight or get more fit. But I resolve to pay attention.
8. Ride as many of the NYC ferry lines as I can. Even Rockaway.
9. Do not download games to my phone. I deleted all of them, one at a time, last summer and fall. I miss them – but like withdrawal – not like nostalgia. My screen time dropped immediately. Stay the course. Solid resolution.
10. Have a good birthday! I needed one resolution that felt like a resolution. And three score is a lot. I should have a day or two to smile about it!