I just went with Maya to Venieros - an ice cream parlor reminding me of the old Casata or Nestor. Mirrors, marble, stained glass ceilings - great cakes - we ordered a slice each of different chocolate cake. We shared and giggled and Maya sang to me.We talked of birthdays and pets and things we like and things we don't. We decided to start a tradition - every year for my birthday.

Thoughts on turning 50

I still want to be a writer when I grow up - and I am not there yet (I've been wearing my Cookie monster T-shirt today). I also expect something important to start today, something good, long term.
When I turned 30, I was weeks from motherhood - which, in spite of eventual pain along the line is still the greatest thing in my life.
When I turned 40, I finally picked myself up from the abyss I've been in and decided to start all over again.
Today I feel the start of something fresh, important, far reaching. Like the other events, it won't reveal itself immediately, but in time I'll know that it started today. Exciting expectations...