so today i am half a century plus another year old...

51...hmmm...so what have i learned?

i have learned that the best things in life are free....

true friendships without strings and agenda's built not on each other's needs, but on a shared abiding love and concern for someone else.

children who grow into wonderful adults who love you completely (but are glad not to live with you anymore)

leaking, old, crippled, dying animals that no one else wants to live with anymore.

passionate, life long,committed hard work...unpaid for in terms of money but well compensated in terms of personal growth.

and tears...shed together, shed alone, shed in public and in secret too...tears are the foundation of real happiness without fear....they free you to recognize and acknowledge and participate in the pure laughter and joy around us, everywhere.

and finally...i have learned that no matter how many times i tell a certain beagle's 10 year long story ...no one will actually believe he is as bad as i say.

this morning, we had a lovely moment of cuddling on my pillow, til that little bastard just had to try to walk on my head and PAINFULLY pull out a ton of my hair.

happy birthday carol, now get the hell out of bed.