Today is a big day
the day I can no longer tick the 35 - 44 box on forms that ask for my age
from today on I have to tick the slightly less appealing 45 - 54 box
oh yes people... today is a box jumping birthday
so the theme for the day is best summed up by the new giant tea cup
which was a well deserved present to myself
that arrived yesterday via the Twinings Australia site
along with some glorious flavoured Earl Grey teas...
not usually a Keep Calm fan
but this one is a bit of a winner and I love the shape of the cup
didn't quite capture it in the painting
but I drew it from memory as I wasn't sure that it would arrive in time
of course it arrived in time Twinings are like that
don't know what made me doubt them..
and not perfecting the shape means I get to draw it again
and again....
Now normally I cruise through birthdays
but this box jump gave me pause
for about a minute
and no that isn't a reflection on my attention span
more the fact that when I stopped and thought about it
it is just that getting older isn't that bad
the only real down sides that I can see at this stage are the fact
that my boobs seem to have a fascination
with getting to get to know my toes
and that my two stripes of Cruella De Ville style grey hair
are completely impervious to being coloured
not even industrial strength paint could cover those babies for more than a wash or two
and I am not to fond of those primped and preened ladies at cosmetics counters
suggesting I may want to look at the firming creams
that I don't like too much ...
But the rest is pretty cruisey
I don't have to live in high heels and make my self up like a hoochey mama
just to buy bread
there is a quiet joy in being the age where you don'tquite register on people's radar
I can cruise around in slightly haphazard clothes
have a Nanna nap in the afternoon
ogle gorgeous young men on tv unapologetically
read what I want
while drinking a million cups of tea
and can dip my biscuits in it with abandon
I have a great excuse for my notoriously bad memory
and bad eyesight
I am taking this middle age thing out for a good old run people
of course I did all the same things when I was younger
it is just now I can blame them on being middle aged
which makes the old box jumper not such a bad thing
happy Friday people, especially PPF'ers... xx
My last two posts before the box jumper were...
Botanical Memories ....
73 comments:
Happy Birthday hope it was a good one!....don't you worry about box jumping, I galloped past that one a long time ago...now ticking the 60+ one (help!).
happy birthday it gets better im 64 and dont worry about getting older true body shape changes but i am more secure in myself i do yoga once a week volunteer almost daily ealks with my dog and am ending two weeks at beach with various kids grandkid and husband but ladt few days to myself
Happy Birthday!!! I LOVE your mug... the perfect shaped much is a pleasure to drink from... I know the feeling!
Have a wonderful day Trace! So glad the sun has come out to celebrate your Birthday today too. Your posts are always intriguing to read and make me smile and think. Love the cup! xx
Happy Birthday! I am joining you on the box jumping today as well. Not only did I jump boxes but I got a nice letter from my insurance company letting me know my insurance is much higher now that I hit this old age of 45. :)
Have a wonderful day, week, month, year....!
Happy birthday old duck!!! Have a great day and don't get blown away with this gusty wind. You're catching me up in the years as I'm going backwards, we will meet in the middle soon!
Enjoy your cuppa in that fabulous cup.
Luv Von.
traceyyyyyyyyyyy! happy birthday!! what a prize winning inauguration of your new year this is! in fact i am bookmarking this post right now for when i do my next box jump. wishing you the happiest of happy birthdays! xo
Again Happy Birthday, just had to pop in after reading this post to say that ive been looking into white tea, much more antioxidants than green and found that u can buy it at woolies, brand name Lotus Peak, im getting some next time i hit the shops anyway ave a good one matey...
Happy Birthday and welcome to my "box", lol waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)
Happy happy happy birthday Fletch!! I hope it is filled with fun, sparkles, color, presents, family, you time, art, joy, happiness, cocktails, cake, sunshine, and most of all LOVE. Hugs xx dd.
Birthdays don't phase me a bit- unless it is when I hit the age that requires more tests at the doctor. Those tests are not recreational!
Happy birthday! I will be jumping boxes within the next couple of months myself! I hope to hit the mark with just as much positivity! :-). Here's to us '67ers!
Happy birthday, love that cup, and have fun in your new box! Valerie
Happy birthday! That cup is gorgeous and its words are just what i need to hear today. cheers, alpha shanahan #27
Happy, happy birthday, hope your day is filled with fun and love. Gorgeous cup!
Tracey! 45 is soooo young! You are hilarious as usual! I'm 55 and can't wait to reach 60! Happy happy birthday! Patsy from
HeARTworks
You said "Hoochey Mama!!" Hee hee hee... I never thought about the change of the box. OMGosh... I too shall be changing the box in December. Though I have to admit to my favorite "With an E Wonder" that I had added a year to my age. I could have sworn that I was turning 46. Thus I added an extra candle to my brother-in-law's birthday cake this year because he is a year older than me. He quickly corrected me and I was much relieved that I hadn't lost a year somewhere.
BTW, as you know I have embraced the new highlights in my hair. I get more compliments on my hair now then I ever did when I tried to hide them. My boobs insist they really want to have a good chat with my belly button which I am trying to discourage.
Happy Birthday!!!!
Happy birthday, Tracey. You have such a great way of looking at life and I am so glad that you share your thoughts with us. I have never thought of box jumping when it came to my birthday. I wonder what would happen if I just jumped a few boxes back? I love your cup. I hope you fill it with many many cups of special tea this year.
Happy Birthday!! I love how you described it as the box jumping birthday - I know exactly what you mean - I am clinging on to sharing a box with the 30 somethings for another few years - like an unwelcome fogey hanging around with the hip young things cramping their style!! I love your cup - I know what you mean about the keep calm thing - it's been a little done to death now but this is perfect for your tea drinking ways and I can just imagine you sitting there calmly sipping your earl grey (or whatever the flavour de jour is) while all around you chaos ensues!
Hate to rain on your parade, but according to recent article I read somewhere you are not middle-aged until in your 50s. You're still in your prime, so stop napping woman and get out and party!!
Tee Hee... Happy Birthday YOUNG lady.
Happy Birthday Girl! I'm 70 and I "think" I am middle aged (but I sure don't want to live to be 140!) Life's a trip inspite of your age, enjoy it!
Woohoo! Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!
I remember being DEVASTATED when I reached 30 - until Mum reminded me that the only alternative was to be DEAD, which put things a little more in to perspective. So, when I turned 40, I handled it a little better. In fact, I just hated that time was passing so fast, rather than the fact that I had reached yet another big '0'! And as for boobs - well just consider yourself lucky that you still have some to sling over your shoulders! A year of breast feeding TWICE said goodbye to mine, lol!
I'll be 42 next year - but I actually had to sit and work that out because I had forgotten if I was going to be 41 or 42 - Nuf said!
Happy Birthday Tracey! I'm still trying to get used to the middle-aged thing, so you're definitely a big inspiration for me :). I'm beginning to see some of the advantages, though, and luckily, there are still situations where one feels like a silly teenager, no matter the age :). Love your new cup!
Happy Birthday!!! 35 was tough for me. But that has been a while back and is now a distant memory. Its like half time here at this age. We can look back at where we've been and shake our heads in disbelief - then look forward to flatter shoes, growing our hair long for the last time and blaming all things on being middle aged. Carry on!
Happy Birthday! Wishing you many thousands of cups of tea in your new cup, wearing whatever you damn well please while shamelessly oogling young hotness.
I firmly resist box ticking of any reliable information, the last set of those I ticked said I was an 18 -24 year old Pacific Islander who drove less than ten miles to visit the Nashville Shakespeare Festival. Sort that, Statisticians!
Tracey, first let me say happy birthday. My daughter entered that box last year. I remember it myself. There are no more boxes for me to tick. I'm at the top! Your cup is fantastic. I have one of similar, but not exact, shape and I'll have to say: tea tastes better in it than in any other cup I own. Great paintings. Always love your work.
Many happy returns of the day Tracey. An old fashioned way of saying Happy Birthday. Am I showing my age? I'm in your tick box section too but the age issue has never bothered me. It's a state of mind. Think young and you will be young. Just remember to ignore what the mirror tells you though... :-)
Happy Birthday dear!! Many more as well. Welcome each day with a smile, an open heart, and a thanks. I always do and then forget about numbers. Happy Birthday and I love your cup. It's a great one. I want one.:)
Happy happy birthday! I love your attitude, lovely lady! Keep Calm and Carry On!
Happy Birthday......oooh I wish I was in that box category again.....yep somehow gravity sets in..........agree with you, don't fight it....enjoy it. Fab cup. Happy PPF, Annette x
Happy birthday to you! =)
and you write so well and directly, so fun! You have a great sense of humour, that's good! Stay as you are, as long as you are happy with that! :)
I'm a bit older than you then, haven't checked my booms for that long ;D
Lovely gorgeous drawings!! =)
Happy birthday...the good news is you can very likely see as many birthdays that you've had again! I'd have to live to 142 to be able to say that.
Go enjoy your day, and tea!
Hello toes!!!
Happy Birthday! Love your birthday cup! HPPF!
Happy Birthday Tracey! Box? What box? I checked that box a looooong time ago. LOL Enjoy the day!
Happy birthday! Personally I think the older we get the more we can get away with :):). Beautiful sketches-happy PPF!
Happy Birthday and welcome to my box!
Great sketch..... I love the mug - looks perfect for tea!
Karenx
Hope you get to something wonderful for your birthday, and that your allergies are done giving you fits so you're not sneezing all over everything. You're only as old as you feel or age is only a number or one of those cliches.....the reality is that it IS only a number and I meet each birthday with the idea that the upcoming year is going to be the best yet. I'm heading toward my 60th year and have loved every one. Sounds like you're lovin' yours as well! Happy, happy birthday.
Happy Birthday Tracey...Hope you had a great one! Your cup of tea looks brilliant...How I adore your illos!
HPPF:)
love the art and the sentiment, what else can we do, I know the feeling too well!
Happy, happy birthday box jump!! I think I must be in the next box up older than yours. I have loved becoming comfortably invisible. ;)
Happy birthday wonderful Tracey! You're obviously doing it in style! Wishing you all the very best for your new year xx
Happy Birthday and enjoy the 'Queen's Cup' ~ lovely illustration ~ (A Creative Harbor)
Happy Birthday Tracey!!! Enjoy your day. You made me smile every time I read your post. Your cup is beautiful. Happy PPF!
I LOVE ALL your sketches! You make me :) too with your anecdotes.
Happy Birthday! I had a b'day last week. I don't mind being old - it's the aches & pains that come with it all. ICKO.
Thanks for sharing,
Grandma Nancy Sapp
Happy Birthday Tracey, it is great being older it gerts better as we age we can blame our quirks on our senior moments!
Happy Birthday! Love your teacup and of course the illustration.
this is really amazing!!! just today I was contemplating the fact that next year I will be jumping box... LOL.... I don't think there's enough that can be said about the whole aging thing, though - it always gets you somehow I feel- such a banal thing but so traumatinc as well - ageing. Ah well... but happy birthday! thanks for stopping by with good cheers as well...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!!! Love the cup and I can totally relate to your out look on life...it's great!!!!!
happy birthday!
Love your drawing..
Duaa
Happy birthday you youngster you! I read an article the other day that stated that 55 is the new 'middle age' - so you are far off middle age gal and I am far past it! Keep the hair just as it is- laugh live and love and do it with zest and a good cuppa tea. Love your posts every one of them.
xxxx
Happy birthday! :)I love that tea cup.Awesome illustration!
ahh, I too remember checking said box, and its nice that you have found several positive things about middle age. I'm really loving the cute tea cup you made, and Happy Birthday!
Happy Belated Birthday dear friend!! I feel like an ass having missed it!! I guess I will use the excuse of being in the 55 and up box where you intend on doing something and it completely leaves your mind, until you get an oprah ah ha moment reminding you that your forgot...which can be up to a day later!! pffff....So annoying...You are one of the lucky ones, still in the things don't ache too much box!!! Oh it gets all kinds of pretty up here in poor me my hip hurts box!! Celebrate, eat lots of chocolate while you still can, enjoy the tea, the giggles, and not sitting on your boobs yet!! Treat yourself to a chin threading and enjoy getting off the chair without making old man noises!! Wishing you love, laughter and abundance!!
Big hugs Giggles
Happy birthday! Lovely rendition of the cup. Lovely!
Happy Birthday. I can only say that with each passing decade I have been happier than at any other time in my life, and now approaching my 80th decade in 3 years' time I look forward to enjoy what that has to offer (always assuming, of course .......).
So never mind the numbers, it's all there to look forward to. (My husband says that one of the things I like best about being old is chatting up young men - he's right - and an old lady can get away with it, but what happens if a man chats up young women! So look at the fun to be had in the future.
Haha, LOVE your view on getting older. Hope you had a lovely day!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope the new "box" you are jumping into brings you much health, happiness and fun.
Beautiful job on your new cup - it is a great shape indeed! (And love the "snoctoberfest painting! lol)
OH MY GOSH! You are so totally cracking me up! Box Jumping birthday - that IS a good one! But this is my favorite:
the only real down sides that I can see at this stage are the fact
that my boobs seem to have a fascination
with getting to get to know my toes
And I thought I was the only one . . . hey! Maybe you should try blue hair for those streaks! And yes, I will be dying mine again - the family loves it and I feel rather hip, thank you very much ;0
HAPPY happy beautiful (belated) birthday! To one awesome and talented box jumper! xoxoxo
Happy Birthday! I hope it was fun and calm :O) I love how you are managing the box jump. Very good attitude, I'm looking to jump to the 50 category this year and not too happy about it. But as one of the people above mentioned, what is the alternative?
Hey, we're very lucky to be alive in this day and age. We're lucky to have our art as many people have no creative outlet.
I enjoyed your post and your sense of humor. I have a feeling you'll make it through this transition well.
Enjoy your Birthday weekend!
Happy birthday!!! Glad you are not worried about aging, i'm not as worried about 50 as i was about 40. 49 is coming up for me a about a month or so! Love your present to yourself!
oh Tracey...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Sorry to hear about your box jumping day. :-) As long as there's still a box there for you, you're good. Love the teacup... your botanical memories are beautiful but so unlike what you do now! You can work with any style, obviously. Enjoy life, girl! xox
I am enchanted with the little Kleenex doodling. So cute!
love the cup!!!! and your work!!!
Tracey,
I absolutely love this post and your wonderful sense of humor! Your painting of the teacup is a perfect complement to checking the next box! :)
Happy, happy birthday, Tracey!
♥♥♥
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art
Happy Birthday!!! I jumped that box some years ago - yes, I am taking my naps, and I have finally decided to go "natural" with my hair color, saves me a lot of money. I love your tea cup (although I don't drink tea, I am a 100% coffee drinker), I have a teenage daughter who goes crazy over the "keep calm" stuff. Even her high school has a t-shirt that says "keep calm and puma on"...
Hey Tracy ...happy birthday :) your post reflects the style you are getting old in :) Well Keep calm and
live every moment...as it comes :) wishing you many more creative years ahead :)
We DO share a birthday!! And now we share a box too .... For three more yrs until I jump up to the 55 and older box .... Booooo!
Anyhow, Happy Birthday to you! I love your mug BTW :)
Happy, Happy Birthday Tracey! Love your post, and you've got the right attitude! A lot of good excuses to be used now! Many more years of joy for you and your family...and all of us that you entertain with your charming, wise and funny outlook on life!
Happy Birthday, mine is next week, but I'm changing numbers, YIKES! I look at it as wiser and more experienced. I can see that I help others go through things I went through awhile ago and it makes me feel really good being able to help in those ways. Blessings, Janet PPF
Happy birthday! Believe me, being in the next box isn't so bad. I think I've enjoyed it most! Love your illustration and story. And the boobs meeting the toes - priceless!
Happy belated birthday! Wow, quite a milestone. Every age has its glory. I like who I am now better than when I was a giddy girlie in my early 20s. :-)
Happy Belated Birthday!! I hate those "boxes" - I'm in the one past yours! lol
Cindy
You expressed it all perfectly - I jumped to that box last year and while I'm not exactly thrilled to be getting older I do feel like it is easier than it was when I was younger. However, I'm about to turn 46 and I am not happy about being closer to 50 than 40!
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