'MY CUP RUNNETH OVER'

I have always shied away from throwing myself into my birthdays, after having had so many sad ones, disappointing ones, lonely ones, difficult ones, troublesome ones, unhappy ones and just plain miserable ones....so many!

However,this year is very special, as so many people in my family didn't reach 60.
From 1980-1984, we had 12 deaths in our family (almost 3 a year) and 8 of those died before 60 (some long before 60). This affected me for many years, and I half believed I wouldn't reach 60 either.

Here I am - 60 - and very blessed to be (quite) well and fit, very young at heart, not too many 'pleats' in my face (yet), a (depleted) family and lots of friends. Thanx to all of you in blogland too, who have sent me good wishes.

I suppose the biggest realisation of this birthday is that I AM TRULY LOVED.

After so many years of struggling through a difficult childhood, battling with anorexia and bulimia, marriage, divorce, marriage, divorce,emigration, fleeing, re-emigration, and many many periods of hopelessness, depression and desolation, I feel at last that I have come out of the dark tunnel of my past and can breathe fresh air once more.

No doubt, I will always have to battle with my demons....

BUT, IF 60 IS THE NEW 40, I AM READY!

FLOWERS, FLOWERS AND CARDS, FLOWERS AND CARDS AND PRESSIES.

A PICTORIAL REPRESENTATION OF MY CHILDHOOD DONE BY STEVE

A FUTURE FAMILY HEIRLOOM

LUNCH WITH MY 'BOYS'. AM TRULY LOVED.

ROLLS ROYCE AND CHAFFEUR FETCHED ME ON SUNDAY.

I NEARLY FAINTED WITH SHOCK.

TEA AND CHAMPAGNE AT THE ST JAMES'S HOTEL, PICCADILLY, LONDON WITH MARK AND CARLA.

ARRIVING HOME TO FIND THE HOUSE ADORNED WITH PINK BALLOONS, WITH MY FACE ON THEM!!

A DIAMOND RING FROM THE ONLY MAN I HAVE EVER TRULY LOVED. (photo taken in Oz)

MY CUP RUNNETH OVER!

Tangent: Plain

It's plain to see that while other things change in our lives, we start and end with family!

I painted this with different dilutions of coffee, an experiment that I thoroughly enjoyed, but was 'high' on coffee fumes for hours (as I don't drink anything except bottled water- ever!)
IF: Plain

Tangent: Precious Life

This is the scan of my friend's baby.
It is a reminder of how precious life is.
At 22 weeks pregnant, this new person is already 'half-cooked'.....waiting to enter our world and become a wonderful human being.
No matter what scientists do, attempting cloning etc etc....no matter how modern technology keeps evolving, this is still the most miraculous creation of all kind.
(Of course, I couldn't decipher which blob was the eye, nose, kneee or elbow.)

I drew this while on holiday, as 'family' and 'motherhood' was very much on my mind.

If you think of an ocean liner, consider fathers to be the rudder and mothers to be the engine.

To a woman, her family and motherhood are like the whole 'body' while her career and friends are like the 'tail'.

To a man, his life and career and having fun are like the 'body' while his family is like the 'tail'.

Treasure that little baby, Jaimie, nestling inside your womb, protected under your arms, and close to your heart, as that's where he/she will always stay till the day you die.

Sixty: Learn to accept

God

Grant me the

Serenity

to accept the things I cannot change

Courage

to change the things I can

and

Wisdom

to know the difference

This is how I see our little family now.

I need to accept the changes within it - with the sure knowledge that I've always done my best, and know with certainty that: 'what will be will be'.

Now I will review all 60 things I was determined to do before 60 (in 3 weeks time), and see which I have achieved, which I can still do, which are ongoing and which I may never do.