The Old Post Office building in the copper light of sunset.
I remember when I turned forty, it was kind of anticlimactic. I was so looking forward to it since I've always yearned to be old, but when the day arrived I remember thinking, Really? This is what it feels like? What's the big deal?
When I turned fifty, I got into the groove instantly. I loved my fifties - best decade of my life by far. The jury is still out regarding my sixties, in spite of how I've always thought this would be my decade of decades. Of course I've only been sixty for ten days - perhaps I should give it more of a test drive before I make up my mind, hey? One thing for sure: sixty is an altogether different animal than than any big birthday in my long life.
One of my brilliant FB friends, someone I've never met of course, said today that February is all about longing. So true! For me there's a celebration and melancholy that surrounds my birthday no matter the year, but February is also the bitter end of winter, a time when even I yearn for spring.
I say "even I" because the life force in the American midatlantic is fierce and relentless. The snap, crackle and pop of spring can be unnerving to a character such as myself. I've grown more used to it over the years. And, too, it is the most photogenic season in DC. What's not to look forward to?
February is all about longing, is it? OK, then, I am dancing in shamanic alignment with the energy of this month. Lucky are we that it's only 28 days long, yes? I say yes.
Happy Saturday. Shalom.
Smithsonian castle from the open window in the Peacock Room at the Freer. They open the windows once a month.
3 comments:
I decided to celebrate my birthday in August (half birthday)...February just gets me down.
Interesting the feelings surrounding your birthday from a seasonal concept.
My February birthdays by comparison, have had no time for seasonal longing or melancholy - it's always been right at the return of the school year, in the hottest days we have - people are always busy, rushed, broke (school fees and uniforms) and heat-exhausted!
Now that I'm 60, hopefully all those concepts are out of the way for friends and myself, though many are still teaching.
The date of my birth is a couple of days away from my Mum's, so I feel I've always had to share it.
Husband's birthday is at Easter and I have always loved the "Autumness" of it all here - crisp ,clear and energizing.
So interesting.
My hair stylist in San Francisco was from Australia. His birthday was June 21 - winter solstice in Perth, summer solstice in San Francisco. Wow!
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