dog in yard, chewing on a beef bone
bones used to be free from the butcher, now I paid $2 for one
when I lived in Kent, Ohio, all those years (1981-2000), there was a free-standing butcher shop
it closed before I got a dog, so I never got bones there
it is hot outside, 95 degrees at least
this is another change since my youth
it seems my kids will never know what summers were really like
I sit inside in my air conditioning and it’s not that I didn’t do that before, it’s that the stretches of heat are longer and longer
I dreamed my ribs opened in the front, at my sternum
they became a boat in which I could lie down, the boat in the cool water and me cradled by my own bones, floating
I remember how little my children were, how fun, how fast the time goes, how it couldn’t go fast enough and how tired I was, how I barely slept
Now there are wrinkles and gullies, eyes pushed back into darker sockets, lashes shrinking. I am as vain as ever.
Hubby made this for me for my birthday. I love it. That’s John Hodgeman and Jeff Tweedy and my whole family in the crowd at Solid Sound 2013 singing Happy Birthday.
I love the one where I’m smoking because it seems like another lifetime. I almost forgot that I smoked.
I also love that I’m in a bikini piloting a boat because that only happened once.
I also love the one where I’m with my Oma. That was her little balcony off of her little apartment. I really loved my Oma but I didn’t get to see her very often, across an ocean.
I like the ones where my kids are babies and the one with my old dog Aggie.
My mother will be 80 in December. I never forget her age.
I will not be making TACO BALLS (a recipe I saw on pinterest) any time soon, not even since I’m fifty. You have to please yourself.
I had the BEST birthday ever! I got the best presents and the most Facebook wishes and nice people have come to lots of little events I’ve asked them to come to in honor of my birthday.
I’ve gotten to go singing sea shanties and Sacred Harp, to read poems, to listen to poems, to go out dancing, to hear amazing bands, to watch live theater outdoors. Going singing some more tomorrow.
More More More
sometimes I remember how blessed I am, sometimes I piss and moan
I got to go out dancing with my beautiful teenage daughters and my hubby and, you know, my girls LOVE to dance. What fun we had. How fortunate I am, what a happy night with cake.
CAKE!
I have never played a stringed instrument in my life. Just got my first ukelele and since I love Hawaii, maybe it will work out for me.
Here’s a new song that I love. I would never have known it if I hadn’t gone to a sweet little Open Mic at a co-housing complex in Northampton last week.
Maybe I’ll turn 50 again next July 15. It’s been so fun.
Fifty is so weird, isn’t it? You feel so young and so old at the same time. Happy fifty and fifty more to you. Forever young to us both 🙂
Yes, or age is a state of mind, something you never have to say to yourself until you are in your 40s.
Yes, forever young. I’m trying!
“You have to please yourself.”
Ain’t that the truth.
So glad turning 50 was a great experience for you! May the deep joy continue….
xo, Alison
Thanks Miss A!
Yes, please myself but still balancing that with grace. It doesn’t mean I can be a jerk after all. If that happens, you’ll know I’m over 70….
Hope to see you soon girl!
This is a wonderful birthday post!!!! Congratulations on the ukulele, I hope you love it. Your family is the best and obviously adore you. Your birthday slide show was so much fun to watch, I imagine that I’d have one very similar. Happy 50th Birthday!!!!
Thanks JG. Your ukelele info helped to encourage me. I need lessons, though, something I think many people who know chords on a stringed instrument do not need. Me? I know no chords. Forget about trying to tune it, too. I hope I can learn.
Thanks for the well wishes! K
I really enjoy your poems. Keep them coming.
Aunt Dana celebrates “The Year of the BIRTHDAY”, aka YOTBD. Every birthday that ends in zero entitles you to special consideration and privileges for the ensuing year. Of course the same applies to your loved ones ie. when a child turns 20, a hubby turns…well you get it, etc. Consider the tradition.
A Uke is a fun instrument and can be versatile in skilled hands. Have you heard a group of musicians play the theme from “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” on ukuleles? If not, give it a Google to find it.
Have a Great YOTBD!
I love Aunt Dana’s tradition. It’s perfect. I think a month may be about all I can handle right now. Still, I will consider milking this 50th year for all it’s worth (you can’t say no to me, I just turned fifty 4 months ago!).
Yes, I love that Ukelele Orchestra version. It used to be on youtube. It’s one of my favorites. They are really talented musicians.
Thanks for the birthday wishes and hello to you all! Katherine
can’t get the chord diagrams to paste in, will send later.
ukes rock!
ptd
Ring of Fire
by Johnny Cash
“Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash
[G]Love is a [C]burning [G]thing
And it makes a [C]fiery [G]ring
Bound by [C]wild de[G]sire
I fell into a [C]ring of [G]fire
[D]I fell in to a [C]burning ring of [G]fire
I went [D]down, down, down
And the [C]flames went [G]higher
And it [G]burns, burns, burns
The [C]ring of [G]fire
The [C]ring of [G]fire
[G]The taste of [C]love is [G]sweet
When hearts like [C]ours [G]meet
I fell for you [C]like a [G]child
Oh but the [C]fire went [G]wild
[D]I fell in to a [C]burning ring of [G]fire
I went [D]down, down, down
And the [C]flames went [G]higher
And it [G]burns, burns, burns
The [C]ring of [G]fire
The [C]ring of [G]fire
[G]And it burns, burns, burns
The [C]ring of [G]fire
The [C]ring of [G]fire
Thanks pt. I don’t know how to play a dang chord, not one.
There are so many musicians in the Valley. I’m going to grab one and have her teach me how to play….
I did get your email with the chords, but I don’t think the attachment worked. I’ll just pull out my computer and open this comment thread when I’m read to play.
G = 1st finger 2nd fret 3rd string, middle finger 2nd fret 1st string, ring finger 3rd fret 2nd string [a triangle shape with your fingers]
C = ring finger 3rd fret 1st string [love this chord]
D = 1st finger 2nd fret 4th string, middle finger 2nd fret 3rd string, ring finger 2nd fret 2nd string
[looking down at the fretboard the strings are 4, 3, 2, 1]
strum and have fun.
ptd
[got a uke tab for new madrid too but those chords are more complicated]