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Nan Tepper's avatar

You don't have to be my BFF for me to love you forever. I want to leave you with this: My sixties, now that I've hit 65, have been the best half-decade of my life. It sounds like you're primed for the best one, too. It's my birthday wish for you. Yes, I get one on YOUR birthday, because I say so. That's the thing. We get to do what we want, because it's OUR life.

I love that you mentioned the "denies having children," thing. I always thought that was the stupidest use of language in medical notes, well besides "patient is non-compliant." That just means I don't agree with you, Dr. Paternalistic Big Ego Thinks You Know It All.

Happy birthday beautiful woman. You're the bomb. I want a photo of me with Michelle, personally. How'd you get him to make and AirBnb call?

xoN

Eileen Dougharty's avatar

I'd say I'm off to a good start. I ate so much ice cream yesterday, I have a stomach ache. WORTH IT.

Nan Tepper's avatar

I want to hear about dinner. And which flavor did you like the best? If you can choose? I'm going to have to start a search today for local, fresh-made peach ice cream...fingers crossed! xo

Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Dinner was bucatini with guanciale and sun gold tomatoes and some polenta that I wanted to rub on my face. I ate most of salted caramel last night while watching Ted Lasso. It was an overload of decadence.

Nan Tepper's avatar

You watched it last night? I thought today was the day! I almost checked last night, and then I looked it up. Am I losing my mind, or were you up very late? And how was it? And, food sounds great. I love polenta, especially the kind you can use as moisturizer, too. And yay to the salted caramel...but no stomachaches, please. xo

Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Apple TV shows can often be viewed early...my Apple Watch told me it was available at dinner. I have to watch it again with less wine. ;)

Talking Sh*t w/ Dr. Bowen's avatar

Word!! Super weird medical language - I always say I am not interested in xyz (flu shot, statin, etc…) EVER - so please chart that I refuse these indefinitely. Yes, you offered but no I do not want it, not now, not ever. It’s all about “checking boxes” for the insurance company instead of actually having a relationship or partnership with me. I’ll get back to bitching about that on my own page 😅😉😜

Irena Smith's avatar

Happy birthday, beautiful!! Thank you for the hard-earned wisdom and the laughs and for never ever being boring. Also, completely unrelated, but there has been many a time that I wanted to deny having children. "Oh, him? No idea. Never seen him before in my life."

Here's to a joyful next turn around the sun, with—I hope I hope—more IRL meetings! ❤️

Eileen Dougharty's avatar

I denied many things according to the notes...homicidal ideation, for example. Denial is a good time.

Amy Cowen's avatar

Happy birthday! And just overall, “yay!”

So glad to see this.

Carey Miller's avatar

Happy birthday, Eileen! Love seeing you and Barack in birthday hats. I turn 70 tomorrow, so I’m right there with you. You are a brilliant, hilarious bright light and an inspiration. FWIW, the astrologers say it’s supposed to be a great year for Leos. So here’s to us and the territory ahead, whatever it brings.

Eileen Dougharty's avatar

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! Making 70 look great. Enjoy your day!

Paula Taub's avatar

Happy birthday, beautiful soul! You and Obama make 60 (and 65!) look damn good!

So many amazing revelations here. Thank you for passing this along as your b day present to us. 🤗💖

I think this stage of life is so interesting as we now have perspective on the decades we have left in our wake, and we have now lived long enough to know ourselves so well that, if we are not afraid, we can be honest with ourselves and see the patterns and from where all these things arise and play out. This awareness has been such a gift for me to be able to direct my life more consciously and intentionally and let the things that haven’t served me fall away.

And makeup is one of those things for me too! Although I still indulge in some mascara and lip color.

“Denise having children”…… those A4B kids are really yours if you would just cop to it! 🤣

Have a fabulous day! See you soon!

Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Those kids only look a little like me...get Maury Povitch and prove it!

Irene Girton's avatar

Stunning, just perfect.

Kari Bentley-Quinn's avatar

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOU FABULOUS LADY! I understand the grumpiness -- I know that I appear but a mere grasshopper, but 45 is approaching and bumming me out, mostly because I feel like my body is a Confusing Thing That Gets More Confusing Daily (also reminds me to get on the horn with Midi, as I've been meaning to do).

I hope you do something good for yourself. Oh also forgot to mention I will be in Chicago next week but that's a text convo. I definitely need to get myself to the Obama center.

Eileen Dougharty's avatar

I am out of town for the month of August but you should goooooo to the O Center if you can. Hyde Park (adjacent neighborhood) is so lovely!

I sing big praises for Midi. Very user friendly.

Kari Bentley-Quinn's avatar

Oh good for you! ENJOY. I’ll send your watercolor treat first week in September. 👍

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Gah, happy new decade, lovely human!! You are worth celebrating, and I'm glad you're feeling less inclined toward homicide right on time. That seems like a great way to start things off, and definitely sends up fewer red flags on the forms. But if you do at some point go off in the direction of the "mildly" part of your euthymia, and they come to me for questions, I'll deny it was you. That's what friends are for, right? Fs and all.

I'll be interested to learn more about the hormones. It is a topic that has drifted into view repeatedly these last six months. I really thought I was past the point of no return, and I am older than you, but I think I need to rethink. (And, wow. Way to somehow make it all about me. 🤦‍♀️)

Love you, girl. Ride like the wind!!

Kip's avatar

Happy Birthday Eileen!! Welcome to the 60's. Flower power, right? Oh, that was the other 60's. Looking forward to seeing you. Hoping Georgy doesn't hide out the whole time. She is a little freaked out by new faces. I know you two will be best buds

SuddenlyJamie's avatar

Happy birthday!! Thanks for giving US the gift of your writing. That’s very hobbit-ish of you. 💜✨

Mesa Fama's avatar

Happy birthday you phenomenal woman!!! 😍😍😍😍

Susan Kacvinsky's avatar

Beautiful Eileen and Happy Birthday! Congrats. I've been wondering when in the month your b-day was. I hope this means you can kick back forever now. I'm still rooting for you every day.

Janice Anne Wheeler's avatar

I SWEAR that I wrote you that personal email prior to receiving this clear evidence that it is indeed your birthday and I am embarrassed that I did not CAPITALIZE your greeting. I must be losing my touch. Or my mind, or whatever.

I am a TREMENDOUS supporter of those little stick-on estrogen patches and ADORE my onc-gyno who says I can stay on them forever if I want to!! YAY!! Highly recommended from this girl, too. Way to go. Enjoy your dinner out, loved the library stuff and as always, rock on. ~J

PS I don't think you can stop being funny even if you try.

Diane's avatar

I fucking hit 60 in April and it is truly surreal, so feeling you! Happy Birthday!

Iris's avatar

Happy birthday, oh wiser and wiser 60 year old! I turn 66 in a few days. I'm wiser too, just by dint of lasting this long and trying to minimize spite and malice (did you know that was a card game? My grandmother played it...and you know about the apple not falling far...). It made me so happy to read your column and resonate with almost all of it. I feel less alone. Thank you. (Side note: For some reason I need to tell you that I fractured my shoulder at the gym last week. Oh, the irony. Cracking my humerus was not humorous. I no longer recommend going to the gym for health reasons. Or any reason.)

Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Going to the gym is dangerous. I shall heed your warning! Get better SOON!

Linda Ann Robinson's avatar

Happy, happy birthday. Joy can be a fleeting feeling; hopefully it will stick around a while for you!! 🎂🍷