Birthday
February 17, 2011
Today I turned seventy-three. I used to think seventy-three was old, but now I know better.
Growing up, I was the youngest in my class because I started kindergarten at age four. My mother had begged the Cincinnati Board of Education to let me start school early because we had just moved there, I had no friends, and I did have four weeks of kindergarten under my belt from Buffalo, New York where school started at four for everyone.
I have a vague recollection of the test the Board of Education gave me. I remember a picture of two baby shoes and I was asked what was missing. Well, one of the shoes had no laces. I got that answer, and probably some others, right so, much to my mother's relief, the Board of Education allowed me to enter kindergarten.
As the youngest, I was the last one of my friends to get a driver's license, vote and drink legally. Back then I was always wishing that I was older.
No more. Today, on my seventy-third birthday, one of my close childhood classmates is already seventy-four and four days old. Two others will be celebrating their seventy-fourth birthdays soon. All three of these women are living proof that seventy-three can be a very good age, and I'm counting on that.
Peter asked me what I would like for my birthday.
"Nothing money can buy," I told him.
Happy Birthday Judy!
Posted by: Loren | February 17, 2011 at 08:35 PM
Happy Birthday, Judy! Seventy-four (and eighty-four) seem younger to me every year. It helps to see so many vibrant and interesting people my age and older. Thank you for your inspiration! Annie
Posted by: Annie Joy | February 17, 2011 at 10:26 PM
Happy Birthday! That's amazing that you remember the kindergarten entrance test! My town did not have kindergarten, in the 50's, but I do remember my son's test, in 1988. One question was what does your father do and what does your mother do; I held my breath for the answer about me--would he say lies on the couch and reads?! Or yells?! But he said she picks up and she plays with me. Phew!!
Posted by: Anne | February 18, 2011 at 01:35 PM
Happy (belated) Birthday Judy!
Posted by: Megan Sullivan | February 18, 2011 at 02:56 PM
Happy Birthday and many more. Blessings to you and yours.
Posted by: charlene | February 18, 2011 at 07:59 PM