My birthday has come and gone, though the month still lingers. I missed posting my birthday note this year, so I want to thank everyone who remembered me. Your warm wishes meant the world to me. They weren’t a testament to my significance, but to your big hearts—taking time from your busy lives to brighten my day. In truth, each message made me feel cherished, far more than I deserve.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
The greatest advantage of turning 76 is the gentle confidence with which I now greet new acquaintances with tumi. When I moved to NC at 72, I rarely met anyone older than myself. Now, even the parents of my young friends are much younger than I am. This passage of time connects me with others in ways I never expected, and I treasure these new bonds.
What is the best part of growing old? I believe that, despite my efforts to learn, I remain a student—an eager learner surrounded by wisdom. Every day, people whose kindness, insight, and experience enrich my life humble and inspire me.
My only regret is that time has not mellowed me; if anything, I find myself growing less patient—perhaps even more blunt. I excuse this by claiming I have no time for nonsense. But what, after all, is time? It is the one thing we never truly possess. Time is God’s grace. Each day here is a gift, and I am grateful for every sunrise and every moment shared with loved ones. In the grand scheme, we are insignificant—nothing—and that, as Sir Isaac Newton said, is for the best. For someone like me, I am not even worthy to repeat those words, but I am grateful just to be here, learning and loving.
Still, I have a role to play—to make a few waves, to share smiles and stories, and to spread a bit of warmth wherever I go. I promise to keep doing so for as long as I walk this earth. That is my heartfelt vow on my 76th birthday.
