Three cakes and two tricycles

A couple of years ago I still had birthdays that counted. As my Daddy would interject, this is the 39th anniversary of my 18th birthday! Yeah. Whatever Daddy.

Reading the Farmer’s Almanac, as I do each day, I discovered an awesome fact! I share a birthday with England’s Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge! He was born 07/22/2013. I might have a few years on him.

Dr. Google revealed I also share a birthday with Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, the original Matriarch and Queen of the Kennedy family and Camelot; she was born in 1890.

His heiness, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai also shares my day; he was born in 1949. We lived there for about 1 year and he was a most generous and extraordinary man. He gave us tickets to the FIFA Youth U-20 World Cup!

Surrounded by royalty it is no wonder I feel like a Queen! 👸🏼

I have a vivid memory of my fourth birthday. As the only child and only grandchild I was a tad doted on. Not to be outdone…each of my grandmothers and my sweet Mother made me a cake! Three cakes! 🎂🎂🎂 And each of my grandparents bought me a brand new tricycle! Two tricycles!

I have had difficult birthdays in the past. This isn’t one of them. No kicking or screaming. I will accept it with grace and humor. In this season of life I will gladly take all of the birthdays He wants to give me. We’re just not counting them anymore. We can celebrate them…we just don’t count them. As the Queen of the trailer park, I proclaim that I am now and will forever be Ninety-nine.

You’re as old as you feel and as young as you act. Feel free to quote me.

Old is the New Young!

Happy Birthday to me. And to the Prince, our dear departed Rose and the Sheik!

Happily yours,

Nadine Bodine

Your VERY Best friend in the whole wide world 🌎☮️❤️🚋