On Turning Fifty ...

[Stillhomewardbound]

[Richard Tarleton]

This isn't showing on my machine - just a little red cross in the corner.

[MrGongGong]

This isn't showing on my machine - just a little red cross in the corner.

hang on i'll get my pipe and slippers , now where did i put my reading glasses ?

[mangerton]

hang on i'll get my pipe and slippers , now where did i put my reading glasses ?

You're wearing them!

In Chrome, right click on the icon and "open image in new tab" worked for me, R T.

Many happy returns, Shb. Great pic. Could this start a trend? "When we were very young"

[JFLL]

... now where did i put my reading glasses ?

Reading glasses? If only it were that simple. I need 1) distance glasses for driving, 2) computer glasses, and 3) reading glasses, especially for those irritatingly small designer typefaces that often disfigure books these days. Varifocals were no use at all for me.

[MrGongGong]

You're wearing them!

In Chrome, right click on the icon and "open image in new tab" worked for me, R T.

Many happy returns, Shb. Great pic. Could this start a trend? "When we were very young"

aaaaaaaaargh FACEBOOK

but happy birthday all the same

[cloughie]

aaaaaaaaargh FACEBOOK

but happy birthday all the same

Nah don't do that - but ditto!

[Roehre]

Nah don't do that - but ditto!

Seconded/thirded, or: Happy Birthday and (afaiac) join the club

[Richard Tarleton]

Nah don't do that - but ditto!

And from me. If it's any encouragement, my 50s rated in many ways as my best decade to date...

[Flay]

Many happy returns. I took up skiing at 50!

However are you aware that by using that link you have opened up your facebook, and pages of your "friends" to this public forum?

[Stillhomewardbound]

On Turning Fifty ...

Now I am 50, but look back to when I was 5 (as pictured), and really, how little has changed. I see a sensitive, kindly character speculating on the years to come. He would have had no notion of the grown-up travails ahead and yet he holds in his glance an optimistic gaze. He could almost be a young cadet standing at the rails of his first ship and marvelling at the voyages ahead. But, above all that, what is sweetest for me, at Fifty, is to be able to see that my spirit has scarcely dimmed at all. The child I see in this picture is still the child I hold within me. Wrinkles and gravity have distorted my form, of course, but I look out now at the oceans to come just as I did then with a keen anticipation. There remains only one question which I would put to the First Officer of the Watch .. at what time do we sail?!!

SHB

[salymap]

Ah sweet, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Happy birthday Stephen, whenever it was./is.

[Anna]

Oh, what an adorable little boy ... as to when the child within us matures into a sensible adult, I think the answer is Never! (But we have to pretend ....)

[teamsaint]

Happy Birthday SHB.

It can be a very liberating moment.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Happy Birthday, shb: may your spirit continue to defy dimming!