As Olympia Dukakis said so memorably in "Moonstruck..." Marisa, my grandma first rode a motorcycle at the age of 85, and lived to be 102. My Aunt Marge is 91, does pushups every day, plays basketball in spike heels, walks up and down four flights to her apartment, and goes grocery shopping "for the old folks who can't get around too well." I intend to live forever... so far, so good!
Love your boots - I had some like that (though not NY fancy- Maine fancy. Ayuh.) Now, it makes the arches of my feet hurt just to look at your drawing! Every day I get up, my bones crack and grate, my eyes burn, I feel the flab around my waist jiggling... but what the heck, the older you get, the more entitled you are to your eccentricities, both physical and mental. I think we ahould all enjoy the hell out of ourselves, then retire to the Home for Aged and Eccentric Women and Their Pets, of which I happen to be a founding member. And enjoy ourselves some more, right to the final moment, whenever that may be. My dad died of cancer 4 years ago - at the end, he was so sick he couldn't talk. He motioned me to bring him a book. I thought he was going to have me read something profound. He weakly thumbed through it till he found the place he wanted. It was a joke - and as I read it, he (silently) laughed like hell. His motto was, "Every day, before noon, make someone smile." And he did.
So keep on keeping on, Marisa. Eat the chocolate. Drink the Bloody Marys. Exercise when you can, and the heck with the rest. There's very little in this life we can control, and thus very little we should worry about. Be the leaf floating in the riffles, not the tree trying to stay rooted in a raging current. Go with life, wherever it takes you - even through cancer. It's all the journey; if you wait for the destination, you'll spend a lot of time looking out the window and twiddling your thumbs.
So, after all that, happy birthday! I was diagnosed at age 47 - and at 54, life is good. For sure. Hope you had some GREAT birthday cake. And looking forward to your next post- PJH
Hey PJ!!!
MOONSTRUCK is one of my FAVORITE movies EVER!!!
Your grandma and your Aunt Marge are my heroes! I can't believe Aunt Marge plays hoops in stiletoes! That is AWESOME!!! Actually, your whole family is genius - and I'm not surprised!
You're right about the chocolate. I'm going to keep eating it -- but I am switching to organic dark for the anti-oxidants!
Happy New Year, my dear. Life is amazing.
We're still here, laughing and living and blogging about it.
Marisa
In today's (NEW YEAR'S DAY) PAGE SIX:
Older's Better For Beauties
FORTY-something stunners Laura Linney and Daryl Hannah are getting older - and it's fine with them. "It's really about being realistic. No one is going to be an A-list movie star and make millions of dollars forever, you're just not," Linney, 43, the star of "The Savages," tells Britain's Observer about actresses who worry about age. "It's also about the fact that I think we're lucky we got to be 40. There are so many people out there who die way too young, so [to] all of this 'Boohoo, we're getting older,' I'm like, 'Well, there is an alternative.' " Meanwhile, Hannah, who starred in "Attack of the 50-Foot Woman," tells The Telegraph: "I hated being young. Everyone says how wonderful it is to be a young person. That is far from the case for many people, but they dare not say it at the time. Aging is great. Maturity has brought me peace of mind. When I look back, I could have saved myself so much anxiety."
Me again.
There's something special in the air, gals.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!
Marisa
Hey Marisa,
Your so cool! I first read about you in a book that was given to me when I was in the hospital by Kris Carr and its called crazy sexy cancer tips. I read about you in that book and im going to get cancer vixen because everyone tells me how awesome that book is and it will make me feel better. I like books like Kris's because its not sad its totally uplifting and yours is like that too. You wrote about people who dont have insurance well I didnt have insurance either and no one would help me when I would go to the hospital, until people from my job called the susan komen foundation and the rose foundation helped me get insurance and they also helped me for free. Its important for people to know about organizations that help you even if your poor, because I had no idea of that organization so like you said I wouldn't have been helped at all. Your so amazing!! Im so glad you made it and I know if I make it Im never going to dread getting older, im going to totally celebrate every year!
With admiration and love,
Natalia
Happy Birthday, Marisa! And me too...I turned 66, a scary age complete with all the scary things you listed, but I feel great! 3 1/2 years out and appreciating every little thing.
Did you read The China Study yet? I just got back from a two-week trip to Florida, treating myself to time in the surf and sun under waving palm trees, but it was hard to hold to my vegetarian diet. Vegan was out of the question. Dairy is the only edible thing on the road....
So happy and many more to you!
Your b.c. blogger colleague and well-wisher,
Mary Blocksma
Dearest Happy Cap Mary,
Happy Happy Cappy Birthday!
I just got back from a trip to Florida!
So, I haven't read The China Study yet, and guess what?
I totally blew my diet (and btw, enjoyed every minute of it)
so now it's time for me to get back on the good food/exercise trail.
Yikes.
Do you think it was in the stars for us Caps to have a little too much fun the beginning of Jan?
XO
Marisa
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Amazing how cancer can change your perspective, isn't it? Celebrate it all: wrinkles, health, sagging, and the wisdom that comes with overcoming cancer! Happy Birthday!
Phyllis
Dear Phyllis,
You are so right.
And I forgot to mention my jiggly arms,
which I will celebrate as I raise my glass and toast 2008!
Happy and Healthy New Year!
Marisa