YAY! I'M FINALLY A CERTIFIED SENIOR CITIZEN!

Alive at 5?  No...Alive at 65!  This ain't no news headline...It's for REAL!

Have just arrived at 65 years old...and I'm tickled pink.  I'm not one of those people who doesn't like birthdays and get depressed every year after 40.  I hope to be rockin' and rollin' and celebratin' each and every year until I can't rock and roll no more.

I've had a great life raisin' my boys and livin' it to ensure that my family is taken care of...and healthy.  Now it's MY time.  Senior citizenship feels really good...and I can enjoy the benefits of Medicare, Social Security and AARP.  Who wouldn't love it?

I plan to be an artist.  An artist that masters growing old...not gracefully...but with a love for life in general.  As long as I can come up with funds that don't have to go to life's survival I plan to dance every chance I get...travel as much as money allows...and laugh with friends as long as they're around.

I remember when my grandparents hit 65...they were OLD!  As the HILLS!  I couldn't imagine how dull their lives must be just hangin' around the house waitin' on the kids and grandchildren to come by.  An occasional church function...and lots of funerals for friends.  

Sorry, folks.  I don't do funerals.  Don't be a hater.  I'm losing friends and acquaintances left and right and it hurts...but my Mama Mattie told me many moons ago that the older I got the more friends I would lose to death.  I now see exactly what she meant...and it's not easy.  But I choose to hang on to the memories and laughter while they are here rather than attending a service when they're gone.  I'm a strange bird, as many of you know.  There's not much I won't do for you if you need me.  If you've passed, there's not much I won't do for your family and close friends to ease your pain.  But I won't go to your funeral.  Can't help it...I can't do it.  If it helps to soften your disapproval of my choice let me tell you that I have done nothing but wreak havoc at every funeral I've attended.  I sobbed so hard at a gentleman's funeral one time who I didn't even know that the rumor got out I must have been having an extra-marital affair with him.  Nope... Didn't even know him.  I went out of respect for his family...and turned it into a circus.  Nope...I won't be attending any more funerals.  Sorry.

My generation of senior citizens is active and fun.  We dance...we toast alcoholic beverages...we still go to band concerts and make a fool of ourselves.  I'm lookin' forward to expandin' my horizons.  Gonna enjoy every minute that the good Lord allows me to have.

People ask me about this thing called a "bucket list".  I don't have a bucket list.  My philosophy is "if it looks like fun I'm gonna give it a try".  I'm gonna do things I never thought of before...and I did JUST that the day before my big 65.

I got at call earlier in the week from my youngest son.  He told me not to plan anything for Saturday afternoon...that he and his friend were pickin' me up at 1:00 and we were gonna celebrate my 65th birthday.  How sweet is that?  Now, you have to know my youngest son to know that he likes to do things up pretty fancy.  He said they would NOT tell me what or where, but to dress "resort casual" and not have any further plans for the day. Location and activity were to be kept secret.

Sooooo...just KNOWING we would be goin' to one of the fancy restaurants he loves to go to I wore my best "casual" outfit with my pearls and even put product in my hair.  And I put on REAL shoes, not my flip flops.  I wasn't going to embarrass these two special gentlemen.  

When they came to pick me up my son suggested that I might want to put on some more comfortable shoes and still wouldn't give me a hint as to why.  Well, as I figured we might be doing some sight seein' I went back in and put on my fanciest flip flops.  

We headed north.  Wait a minute...his favorite restaurants are down south from here!  We rode for a solid hour and I finally gave up tryin' to pry the secret location out of them and settled in for the ride.  We turned towards Southport.  I mean...that road only goes to Southport, right?  Okay...I figured out they were going to take me there for a FABulous lunch on the waterfront.  And that they did.  I felt like a queen with both of them waitin' on me to make sure it went off without a hitch.  I had fried green tomatoes and lobster bisque.  What the hey....I could take a nap on the way back home.

It's not unusual for my son to look at his phone a lot...and as I kept eating my wonderful meal I noticed he kept looking at his phone and secretly mouthing to his significant other "we've got to go...we've got to go".  Didn't hurt my feelin's...We had a wonderful ride to Southport and a FABulous meal.  The lobster bisque was to die for.  I figured they had plans early evening and needed to get me home.  We finished up and loaded back up in the car.  Nap time for the old lady.  I settled in for the ride home.

Before I got good and comfy I heard the turn signal and we turned left.  There's no turn for miles on the way home.  Sat up and saw a sign for Oak Island.  Whoopee!  It ain't over.  I've never been to Oak Island and this was gonna be a treat.  They assured me that Oak Island is a nice place to visit.  
About that time my son starts shoutin'  "There's Gene....there's Gene...pull in right here".  If you know this son of mine you know he knows people everywhere.  I settled back figuring we'd stop long enough for him to say "hey" and get back on the road to Oak Island.  As we pulled up I heard a familiar voice....It was my son-in-law, Gene.  What the heck?  What was he doin' here?  Then I realized we were at an airport.  Then I saw the sign..."SKY DIVE".  No, no, no...this can't be the surprise.  Not me...not today...no way!  My sister came out and the rest is history.  Then I remembered the fried green tomatoes and lobster bisque.  Lord help me!

Don't know how they kept me from backin' out...My sweet Mark went up with us and jumped out after me.  The most terrifying moment of my life...and the most exhilarating.  I lived to tell this story.  And I fell in love once more....with NATHAN, the wonderful, good lookin' man who strapped me to his strong body and held me, reassuring me, patting me... and hollering in my ear all the way down.  The man landed us light as a feather and the ordeal was over.  I was alive.  And I was ecstatic.  

65 years....and I was kidnapped and thrown out of a plane.  It was FABulous and I'd do it again...as long as that sweet NATHAN is the one I'm strapped on to. 

Back to real life.  I sit here with fond memories of two special boys who planned somethin' for an old lady that she would never forget.

Alive at 65!  What are we gonna do for 75?

In the meantime I'll just dance with the dogs.  Life is good...especially when you're officially old.

Put the music on, Miss BayBay!

Thanks for droppin' in...while you're here won't you leave a comment?