Route 66

My birthday was two days ago, April 22, better known as Earth Day, so my daughter always calls me and says, "Happy B-earthday, Mom!" We BVG's love BVG Demographics, and here's a new one:

50% of the BVG's are now 66

And here are two more:

75% of the BVG's are in their 60's

75% of the BVG's watch "American Idol"

But back to my birthday, or more specifically, being 66. One friend kindly said to me, "Well, it's better than being 666," and she wasn't referring to 666 years old. Then she said, "Sorry, the devil made me say it."

It has occurred to me that come this September I will be the only one of my siblings still in her 60's. Wasn't it just the other day I was the only one left in her teens? Her 20's? Her 30's? Her 40's? Her 50's? I have two older brothers and two older sisters. This year they will be 77, 74, 72 and 70. Funny how those ages used to sound so very old. Not so anymore.

And what of 66? It's really not a milestone year like 65 was. My motto last year was "Sixty-five and staying alive!" It was a milestone because my husband and I and many of our friends signed up for Medicare. I could say that turning 66 is momentous because this is the year the Class of '66 turns 66. But my sister Lin sent this birthday message to me, and she summed up beautifully what this coming year should mean to me, and this is exactly how I am going to approach it.

                                              ROUTE 66

Heaven & Earth join forces this day to place YOU on an exalted plane...
Let's call it ROUTE 66...
I hear it is scenic and famous and winding and long,
So it will be a very lovely journey for you to take.
Take your time to enjoy the ride,
For you will be on this road for an entire year!
It will not be lonely at all, I assure you,
For your fellow travelers will be well chosen,
To bring you maximum pleasure and remarkable joy.
Look for me along the way, too,
For I have plans to cheer you on throughout the year-long drive.

Thank you to my sister for these inspiring words.

And thank you to the Bethel Valley Girls for my birthday luncheon at Home Made Café and for their willingness and excitement to join me on this journey along Route 66. I think they remember the line from the 1946 song, "Route 66," (it's older than I am!!) that says, "Get your kicks on Route 66." In the coming year I will be keeping track on our blog just what kind of 'kicks' j and I are getting out of being 66.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Route_66_(song)