It's been a good fifty years. If I live to be one hundred, which I hope to do, I'm only halfway through!
Fosterling
'That heavy greenness fostered by water'
At school I loved one picture's heavy greenness --
Horizons rigged with windmills' arms and sails.
The millhouses' still outlines. Their in-placeness
Still more in place when mirrored in canals.
I can't remember never having known
The immanent hydraulics of a land
Of glar and glit and floods at dailigone.
My silting hope. My lowlands of the mind.
Heaviness of being. And poetry
Sluggish in the doldrums of what happens.
Me waiting until I was nearly fifty
To credit marvels. Like the tree-clock of tin cans
The tinkers made. So long for air to brighten,
Time to be dazzled and the heart to lighten.
Seamus Heaney, from Seeing Things
Happy Birthday, Elizabeth. I hope you get to do what your very best heart desires today. Is that photo you? The Surfer just walked by and admired it. I remember those matching tops and pants we sewed ourselves that the mother (your mother?) is wearing. I loved them.
ReplyDeleteYours,
Rebecca-Over-Halfway-And-Glad-Of-It
Hey! Happy birthday! Wish you another great half century, and may your shadow never grow less.
ReplyDeleteDid you get the mermaid tattoo? (I had voted for the first picture, with color, but a classic indigo and a more abstract/stylized tribal ish design.) In any case I wish you get to do everything on your wish list.
SS
happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 50 is freeing! Enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteSo your parents were in Jr. High when they had you? I, like Rebecca, remember those outfits we sewed ourselves.
ReplyDeleteAnd like Heaney, I didn't really begin to get the true wonder of the smallest things until I was older. I will be honest with you- my fifties have not been my favorite decade but I know that many women find them unbelievably rich and wonderful. And I will freely admit that there have been undreamed of rewards in the last nine years. I would wish all of the richness and rewards in the universe for you.
Happy birthday. Happy, happy birthday and at least fifty more.
Happy birthday Elizabeth! I too am wondering if you got that mermaid tattoo and how many other things you will be crossing off your list in celebration! Sweet Jo
ReplyDeleteOh yes yes yes, a very happy birthday, dear Elizabeth! Loved from the start and still and always.
ReplyDeletehappy happy happy happy!
ReplyDeletei love the photo of little, determined you--definitely know what you want! happy 50th; may you have 50 more!
ReplyDeleteLove the picture. Love that it's your 50th and you're only halfway through. I hope that this day, this week, brings an embarrassment of riches.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteMay you be dazzled and may your heart be light.
love,
yo
p.s. love that her outfit matches the table cloth. Reminds me of a picture of Janis Joplin wearing a pantsuit made from a lace tablecloth.
Oh where does the time go? Lovely photo, and a perfect celebration. Hope this one is just as magical.
ReplyDeletefunny you should post a Seamus Heaney poem. just this morning i glanced at the right side of your blog and saw his quote:
ReplyDeleteSo hope for a great sea-change
On the far side of revenge.
Believe that a further shore
Is reachable from here
Believe in miracles
And cures and healing wells
i had never noticed it before. i lifted it to put it on my blog post some day.
happy 50, e! i am not that far behind you.
xoxox,
christy
Clearly you were already serious about pastry---here's to the next 50!
ReplyDeleteHave you heard from Helmet Girl the past week or so? She last posted last Wednesday, and nothing since which isn't like her. I asked in a comment if she was OK and said I love her blog, but she (or someone) deleted it. I'm kind of worried. She seems like a sweet lady.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, dear Elizabeth. I'm so struck by that photo of you and your youthful, beautiful parents, you reaching so intently for the cake as if you knew such confections would be your future, and your baby self so much like baby pictures I have seen of Sophie. It really is a perfect photograph, especially viewed 50 year hence. Imagine how much more perfect it will be when you turn 100! Much, much love.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Elizabeth! 50 isn't bad. I've been there for almost a year now. If it's true that we are "only as young as we feel," somedays I'm 30 ish and somedays pushing 70. Guess it all averages out over time. Enjoy your day and I wish you many, many more lovely birthdays.
ReplyDelete░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
ReplyDelete░¸.•´ .•´·”))¸.•´ .•´·”))¸.•´ .•´·”))¸.•´ .•´·”))░░
░((„.•´ .•´((„.•´ .•´((„.•´ .•´((„.•´ .•´((„.•´ .•░░
░░░░░░░░░HAPPY BIRTHDAY░░░░
░¸.•´ .•´·”))¸.•´ .•´·”))¸.•´ .•´·”))¸.•´ .•´·”))░░
░((„.•´ .•´((„.•´ .•´((„.•´ .•´((„.•´ .•´((„.•´ .•░░
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
Drat, that did not work out...trying again.
ReplyDelete♥(¯`╰⊰✿´ ╰⊰✿´╰⊰✿´╰⊰✿´╰⊰✿´╰⊰✿´
✿⊱╮…HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU….╰⊰✿´
✿⊱╮✿⊱╮✿⊱╮✿⊱╮✿⊱╮✿⊱╮✿⊱ ╮✿⊱ ╮
Happy Birthday! I hope your day is marvelous and the next year is even better.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Elizabeth!! Enjoy your special day.
ReplyDeleteCarrie T.
CHEERS to you, Elizabeth!!! Can't wait to see the mermaid. Wishing you *enough* of everything and a boatload of joy! Here's to 50 more! Happy Happy Birthday.
ReplyDeleteI hope you party til the brakes fall off! May you live to be a happy, healthy 100-year-old!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, and welcome to 50! I think I had that same dress when I had my first birthday! Your affinity for gorgeous cakes started young!
ReplyDeleteHappiest of birthdays to you Elizabeth! I'm so glad you got a wonderful evening of respite with friends -- those pictures were so gorgeous that I'm not sure I'd have ever gone home! May 50 bring lots of light and ease.
ReplyDeletehappy five-oh to you! I really enjoy your blog. Thank you for sharing your life with us. I'm 3-1/2 years ahead of you chronologically and loved turning 50. It's all good, sista!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to you Elizabeth!
ReplyDelete-Anne
Happy birthday! Great photo! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is the most awesome photo ever! i love the little party table in the background... it looks so Pinteresty... and its Pre-pinterest. And the CAKE! And YOU w- the cutest baby ever :)! Happy half-century - may your next 50 years be filled with great blessings and much happiness :)
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! x0x0
Happy, happy birthday dear friend.
ReplyDelete"50 and fabulous! Here's to the next 50!"
What a wonderful photo!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Elizabeth - I thought of you on your day.