I took this sunrise shot while driving across West Texas. At first I hated the power lines that make it look flawed. These days I look at it a bit differently. How about you? — Photo by Pat Bean
“It takes a long time to grow young.” – Pablo Picasso
My 75th Birthday
I really never thought about this day, and what it would mean to me.
I spent most of my birthdays living far from kids, and so didn’t have to endure them making me look silly. This birthday, however, I’m celebrating with several children and grandchildren, and actually loving it that they do so enjoy making me look silly. — Photo by D.C. and Cindi Bean.
But now that it’s here, I feel I should give myself a Bean’s Pat for making it.
When I look back, my mind first focuses on all the mistakes I made in life, but then I realize it is because of those mistakes that I have my children, that I learned about empathy, that I discovered the necessity of having priorities in one’s life, and that I truly lived.
Knowing what I know now, which is far less than I want to know but far more than what I knew when I took my first step in life, I would probably make a lot more mistakes because I wouldn’t be afraid of making them.
Yup! Turning 75 isn’t bad at all. Especially when I might still have a few more mistakes in life to make.
The Wondering-Wanderer’s blog pick of the day.
Bean’s Pat: Sun Rise http://garyschollmeier.wordpress.com/ I chose this blog because the sentiment echoes my thoughts this day – and I have watched the sun rise from a small sailboat that I once owned. I eventually had to sell the sailboat because my financial priorities changed, but buying it was not a mistake.
Pat Bean's blog 
Happy Birthday (we can relate, we are 72, and know what you are talking about)
This post reminds me of this song I just heard:
Ronnie Dunn – I Wish I Still Smoked Cigarettes Lyrics
I wish I still smoked cigarettes
Light one up and travel time
A stiff drink and a whisper just
Is enough to light a fire, feel alive
Wish I could go back to those nights sometimes
I wish I still drove a muscle car
Horses rumbling under the hood
Flyin’ past the welcome sign under the stars
Wishin’ I could leave for good
I swore I would..
Every now and then I go back to that neighborhood
I wish I still did a lot of things
I don’t do anymore
When I didn’t know what wasn’t good for me
But I knew everything else for sure
I guess what I really miss is the freedom then
The way it felt, the innocence
That’s what I really meant
When I said
I wish I still smoked cigarettes
I felt more grown up then
We were talking about where we were gonna go
Instead of where we’d been
We’d ride around the lake and make those plans
Still had the world in the palm of our hands
We never had a chance, now and then
I wish I still did a lot of things
I don’t do anymore
When I didn’t know what wasn’t good for me
But I knew everything else for sure
I guess what I really miss is the freedom then
The way it felt, the innocence
That’s what I really meant
When I said I wish I still smoked cigarettes
I wish I still smoked cigarettes
Something to calm my nerves
Wherever you are tonight, you were better than I deserve
I wish I still smoked cigarettes
So I had something to let go
up in smoke
Thanks for sharing the song. While I never smoked, the sentiment is right on.
You and I have that in common, never smokers. At first hearing the title of that song ‘kinda threw me off’. But as we listened to the words, my husband and I smiled and got the message. Picasso was right. My Pat and I are enjoying our ‘youth’ at 72 yrs of age and 53 yrs of marriage, even raised 2 kids, and boy did we ever make a LOT of STUPID decisions! If nothing else , we proved there is a God! and He is full of grace! No one could do all of our ‘stupid’ and be where we are today!
Happy birthday Pat!
Thanks Sue
🙂
Happy birthday and many pleasant healthy years ahead.
Thanks for the well wishes, and that goes for you, too.
Happy Birthday and thank you very much for the Pat.
Thanks Gary, and you’re welcome
Happy birthday and as always you are an inspiration!
Thanks Sharon. I was a terrible role model for my daughters, so I’m trying to do better for my granddaughters.
Happy birthday to you – I hope it is filled with wonder and joy. And here’s to another good blogging year.
Happy birthday. I love that you say that your past mistakes are what have given you the treasures in your life.
Thanks Colline
Happy birthday, Pat. And all the best for the coming year. Keep those posts coming. You add something special to my day with every one.
Thanks and will do, Barbara
Happy Birthday, Pat! Picasso knew exactly what he was talking about! 😉
Thanks Marina. I’ve found many Picasso quotes I like. I find it interesting the people out there who I would never have thought would think like I do.
Happy Birthday to the woman with the bow in her hair.
Thanks Totsy. And by the way I absolutely adore your art. It has sass and heart.
Thank you so much. 🙂
Happy birthday, Pat. Hugs to you!
Thanks Len. So glad I got more than one of the virtual hugs in Austin.
A somewhat belated, but none-the-less meant, Happy Birthday. May this year bring the kinds of surprises and adventures you spend your life hoping for.
Thank you Evie, and thanks for following my journey
Some mistakes are too good to make only once.
But it’s more fun to find new ones to make.