It happens every summer, just when the really hot weather arrives.  I can't stand hot weather, and can't believe that my birthday falls into the middle of it!  As I've aged, the old "wish list" that everyone asks for is harder and harder to come up with.  Of course, thanks to Amazon.com I have a handy list of books - my favorite possessions - but beyond that I'm stumped.  We have worked hard on our home for decades, and things are pretty nice and how we like them.  I have a work wardrobe and a play wardrobe, and if I need something I generally pick it up.  There's really not much else a person needs . . .

Last August we threw ourselves a birthday party, honoring my 55th in July and Bill's 60th in October.  We treated about 125 friends to dinner, dancing, and a fun party at a local celebration hall.  We worried that people would bring the usual motley assortment of unnecessary junk to commemorate our aging.  And so we struck on an idea:  We specifically asked for donations to charity in our names!  We listed three favorite charities, with their websites; at one of them we were able to create a personalized webpage to accept gifts.  Altogether we raised well over $2,500 for good causes.

It was probably the most fun and rewarding birthday I've ever had!