Happy 2020 ...From your very own Baby New Year! ;)
yep! I turned 50 today!
First baby of the Decade (1970) in the Bay Area...15 seconds after midnight (My mom says they literally held her knees together till midnight so the Hospital could win the local pool...wonder if that has anything to do with my claustrophobia?)
I don't have anything profound to offer you all, just love and hugs and gratitude for my DU Family here. You have been a part of my family since the W years. and we've been through our ups and downs. I've taken breaks when I couldn't deal with the cynicism or whatnot, but all in all you guys are a great online group and I have nowhere else that i feel so at home.
Last year was a really weird and difficult one for us. Car accident, layoffs and disability, finding a new way to offer my skills and career. Meanwhile still raising 2 VERY different teens...one the overachiever (you may recall she's going to South Africa this May with a Special Delegation) and the other still trying to find his way and doing better but having to figure out how NOT to get the attention of our small town sheriffs at every turn!
I look forward to this next revolution around the Sun being a way upward for us all...my family and yours.
Thank you all for your amazing support when things were rough and being there to talk me down when our news cycle gets weird and outta hand!
Here's to a Dem in Office 2020 !!!! 
= new reply since forum marked as read
That’s 50 exclamation points (I think).
I second your wish for 2020 - 
I think that your family was happy for hope, after the disturbing 60s.
to start each year. I've often wondered what that's like.
Happy B-day and Happy New Year in every way! 
I have often wondered what other Bdays are like....lol...even other holidays are different than this one 
I grew up having to have my parties after the Winter Break cuz everyone was always gone for christmas. Also had show & tell fodder for years bringing the newspaper clipping in and showing off... like I was famous or something, lol
As a teen, had friends try to pull the "one gift for Cmas & Bday" bullshit lol - Also had a few people thinnk my ID was fake cuz of the bday!
In my 20's I used to flirt with bartenders on NYE and get free drinks for being a Bday girl
Now I hide from the crowds, and it's become more of a personal growth/meditation kinda thing...where am I going, where have I been?
Thanks for the well wishes, I wish you the best too! 
May the arthritis that found me on my 50th, somehow never find its way to you. 
My daughter graduates High School in May.
Here's to 50!
