1. Glad for my life, and for Ellie, the pink elephant, as well.
2. Glad for good hair days. K.a.r.o. syrup is holding this bow. Beauty: whatever it takes.
5. Again with the fabulous fashion sense. Yes, my mom made these in 1973ish.
6. Glad for some exercise with a friend. Don't remember this friend, but her name is Lisa.
7. So very thankful that my mom had pretty legs and that I apparently was listening very intently and obediently to her lecture.
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9. Glad my mom knew the importance of her kindergartner's wearing macaroni AND paperclip necklaces. My grandma was horrified. Oh, yes she was. But now she sees that mom was right. :)
10. Glad for opportunities. Even opportunities to wear excessive fringe. (3rd grade)
11. And opportunities to be in the band, man. (7th grade)
12. Exceedingly glad to have met the man of my dreams in 1981. And to have dated since 1984. This is my senior prom (1987). Not that I recommend this way of falling in love to my children. No...they're waiting till they're 25 or I'm dead--whichever comes first.
13. Glad I clawed scraped and worked my way through for a college education and master's degree. They're both sitting on a shelf right now. But the opportunities were seized and the knowledge and training cannot be taken away. Even if I was a negative net worth in my marriage to begin with.
14. Grateful for June 2, 1990.
13. Glad I clawed scraped and worked my way through for a college education and master's degree. They're both sitting on a shelf right now. But the opportunities were seized and the knowledge and training cannot be taken away. Even if I was a negative net worth in my marriage to begin with. 14. Grateful for June 2, 1990.15. Glad for July 13, 1996.
16. Glad for June 19, 1998.
16. Glad for June 19, 1998. 17. At forty, the inverse relationship between cuteness and wisdom is about at its balance. And it's a good thing...because if all these new sags and bags had no wisdom to go with them, I'd cry. Well, I still might cry, but I'd cry for a longer time. And be bitter.
18. A great journey with my BFF. I've now spent much more of my life with you than without you, and I can't tell you how grateful I am about that. xxxooo
19. Glad for girlfriends. IRL and Bluddies.
20. Glad for today.
19 comments:
I enjoyed this so much, you are beautiful. I love you.
I'm such a sap. totally cracking up and crying through this whole post.
I am seriously grateful to have met you, and am celebrating your birth, life, discovery of blogging, and AWESOME fashion sense.
Happy, Happy Birthday, amiga!
Yep, laughing and tearing up all at the same time! Seriously? Paper clips AND macaroni...from this elem. ed. teacher--YOU GO GIRL!!
I absolutely LOVE the way you did this post...your Mom did have killer legs, wow.
I love the way you described "40" and your time with your man...
Oh, how I hope this birthday was the best YET!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE YA!
Oh, what a wonderful walk through your life! I love that you posted all these pictures for us to see. The shots of you and your man are so awesome - isn't it so wondeful that you've been together so long, and he's still your best friend?
Happy, happy Birthday, Gretchen. May you be blessed this year, more than you could ever ask or think.
The pinkness is AWESOME!!!! I wish the bathing cap had not gone the way of the dodo bird.
Happy Happy Happy Birthday....I'm not too far behind.
Happy Birthday to you! I loved this post. What a creative idea.
I hope you had a wonderful day!
Happy Birthday! You made me do emotion, though, and I don't like to do emotion!
This is definitely one of my favorite posts ever! And not just because this is probably one of my favorite lines ever:
At forty, the inverse relationship between cuteness and wisdom is about at its balance.
Priceless!
I too loved this post! And a happy 4-0 to you! You're a gem (or a jewel)
This may just be the SWEETEST BLOG POST EVER!!!!! I just loved every bit of this... you are so clever and sweet.
You are fantastic at 40 (and, obviously, all those years that came before. :-)
Such a fun post! I loved seeing all the photos, especially the pink swimming suit - too cute!! A very Happy 40th to you!
THIS WAS AWESOME!!! I loved the pics and your commentary.
Am so glad you had a happy birthday, and guess what? It's looking like Seattle is a go. I'll be 100% sure tomorrow, but I'm not holding those squeals in very well.
Im Sorry that I missed your Birthday post Gretchen...but Happy Belate Birthday!!! I loved looking at your photos. I will be turning 40 myself in July, and I will celebrate it by jumping out of a perfectly fine plane! Yes, Im going skydiving!
What AMAZING pictures you have of your childhood!
I loved the usage of K.a.r.o. syrup, "Beauty: whatever it takes." AWESOME.
I also agree with the Jenster about your quote about the inverse nature of cuteness and wisdom.
Happy 40th!!!! (Sorry for the belatedness!) We are all better for "knowing" you!
Denise-thank you! xxxooo
His Girl-lurve you, too. I was laughing and crying as I scanned these old photos.
Tiffani-Oh yes...my mom knew I was proud--how could she say no to those precious jewels? I think it was the best yet. xxxooo
Jackie-thank you, sweet Jackie. I'm blessed by knowing the likes of all of you.
CPQ-I remember the hat was very tight, but I see now that it truly makes the ensemble :)
Brandy-I did! Thanks so much.
Jenster-I take that as high praise indeed from someone who definitely can write. Mmmhmm.
S4J-Thank you! Mwah!
Cheryl-Wow! I appreciate that. It was sure fun to do. Emotional, and fun.
A o L-thank you, you cute pregnant girlfriend! I"m so excited for you.
Mer-s.q.u.e.a.l.i.n.g.!
Pink-ooooh, skydiving! i have a friend who did that for 40 and lurved it!
Shanda-I cannot believe my mother put Karo syrup in my hair, but she did. It washes out easily, so maybe that's a new toddler beauty tip. Thanks for the greetings.
OK, so I'm a little late. HAPPY BIRTHDAY late.
I LURVE the old pictures. You are a beauty. Drama girl looks just like you!
And if Mer is going to visit you I am SOOO jealous. ;-) And we expect pictures if it happens.
Luuurved this post! The pictures were all adorable (especially loved your prom pic!)...and some of them look very much like pictures of your daughter.
Happy birthday to a darling gal with a great sense of humor (and balance)!
Sorry I missed it...I was just catching up after being semi-unplugged for a few days.
Oh Gretchen! This was such a wonderful post! I laughed and cried and loved every bit.
Happy Birthday to one of the most precious souls I have ever met. You are truly a treasure Gretchen...
Let's all celebrate YOU! Your life and your keen sense of style, I mean, that bathing suit was HOT! and everyone should have a necklace like that! I for one often wear a lovely beaded baby that Grace made...: ) Maybe I should ask for a paper clip one next!
We are celebrating your family, your heart, your beautiful soul, your pretty face, lovely eyes...we celebrate that you are such a dear and good person, a dear friend, a special lady.
God Bless you always.
Love,
Sue
Oh...I wanted to add that my word verification for this comment is "SQUAT" Now, I hope what I have said accounts for more than *squat*! *laughung*
Wow, that was awesome. You look sooooo much like your kids, too.
This was really a fun thing to do.
I enjoyed learning about you.
Thanks for letting me take a peek.
Coming by from A Teachable Heart.
Enjoy being "40"!!
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