Tags
60 years old, adventure, Birthday, Christmas, Christmas birthday, Galena Lodge, Holidays, Idaho, Nordic skiing, Sawtooth Mountains, six decades, snowshoe, solo, yurt
What does 60 feel like?
Well, no surprise. It feels no different than 50, or 40, or dare I say even 30? It does feel different than 20. A Christmas Eve or Christmas Day birthday is special. On the one hand, once they learn about it, it is easy for people to remember your birth date. I mean, you can see Christmas Eve coming two months in advance! On the other hand, it can be challenging to share your birthday with all the fuss and festivity associated with the Christmas holiday.
One thing is certain about a Christmas birthday. You will never celebrate milestone birthdays in a traditional pub crawl. I never gave much thought to my birth date till the year I turned 21—legal drinking age in the US—and realized that all the bars would be closed early in the evening and besides, the 24th was always our family Christmas meal and gift opening night. No time for a drunken riot with friends.
Through the years I learned to celebrate my birthday happily and quietly inside my own head. When I’m with other people, I like to open my gifts early in the morning and spend the day doing something I particularly enjoy. I never shop on the 24th! Then by evening I happily celebrate Christmas with everyone else. I try to downplay my birthday because it is an awkward imposition to add one more detail to a host’s already stressful evening. And invariably someone in the group is blind-sided and feels badly for being unprepared. Despite my remonstrations, usually someone in the group knows that it’s my day and makes a fuss and then I feel silly—but appreciative.
Aside from the big 21, my milestone birthdays have been pretty nondescript. For my 50th, I organized a January heli-ski trip that involved an all-day drive across the state. We rose early the next morning, suited up, jazzed and excited, only to discover that the avalanche danger was too high. The trip was cancelled.
I don’t remember doing anything special for my 40th. I believe I celebrated my 30th solo. This 60th birthday sort of snuck up on me and stood me on my head. I realized I really needed to do something special to hallmark the event of six freakin’ decades. (Hey, that sounds better that 60 years—6 decades, I think that’s what I’ll be calling it from now on.) So I began scheming. A trip to the coast was too lengthy and the roads too unreliable this time of year. A visit to friends in nearby cities would involve crashing their Christmas festivities. Not far from where I live is a winter recreation lodge, tucked into the mountains between Stanley and Sun Valley. I’ve driven past it many a time during summer and winter, longing to stop and check out the extensive trail system. Galena Lodge also has three yurts to rent out during the winter and they had one opening on the 24th. Bingo!
After opening my birthday gifts on Monday morning, I cooked up a delicious breakfast and left the cat with an overly full bowl of food, water, plus extra water in the tub—should something happen and I didn’t make it back when expected. Off I went.
I took the dicey, but drop dead gorgeous route through Stanley, Idaho, recognized as one of the coldest places in the continental United States. The Sawtooth Mountains were shrouded in weather of their own making.
Then had just enough time for a quick snow shoe exploration of the surrounding area before the sun began to drop.
Then, the three-hour drive back to Boise, this time taking the easier route through Sun Valley and Fairfield. Home in time to open my Christmas presents. This was so much fun I plan to make it an annual event. There’s even plenty of room for company in the 8-person yurt! Perhaps two nights out next time.
I apologize for the length of this post and the poor quality of some of the images. If I keep fiddling with them, I’ll never get the post up. 😉 Happy New Year to all!
Sandra Parsons said:
Such beautiful pictures, Linda! I am not snow’s biggest fan but even for me these landscapes look enticing. I am glad you enjoyed your birthday so much. Mine is on the most nondescript of days. so I never had said issue. My problem only ever was that my birthday is in November, so I could never have a party outside. That’s why I distinctly remember my 30th which I celebrated 3 months early at the height of summer – an unforgettable bash!
My next milestone is just around the corner now and I am still debating whether it will be big or low-key. Time will tell, and the goings of the business I guess. In any case it will be a happy New Year for me. I hope it will be a splendid one for you as well.
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rangewriter said:
Well, if I remember correctly, if you are still in the same place next November, you might be able to celebrate outside, eh? How cool would that be?
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Sandra Parsons said:
That was the aim of the exercise really. Very cool indeed!
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Sybil said:
You are amazing ! I’d be too chicken to go somewhere like that on my own, without a dog.
The scenery is fabulous. Clearly Idaho is not just about potatoes !
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rangewriter said:
Sybil, I suspect you’d feel perfectly comfortable in Idaho with or w/o dogs. Especially in the winter. And yes, Idaho has a LOT going for it. Besides agriculture, there’s timber and mining (yuk) lots of white water sports, hiking, biking, backpacking, car camping, lots of wilderness to explore.
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Doreen Pendgracs said:
Totally cool, Linda! I admire you for creating such special memories to embark on your 6-decade journey. I’ve got 3.5 years to go until I reach mine, so I’d better start planning!
For my 50th, I threw myself a fabulous party and invited ~50 friends — each of whom represented a different phase/era/interest in my life. It was magnificent! Pretty much everyone I invited was able to come and I shall never forget standing on the raised deck at our former home and looking around at the faces of all these people who were so special in my life. It sure made passing that milestone birthday a lot easier!
All be the best to you for 2013.
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rangewriter said:
What a splendid idea! And a good one to plan before our friends begin to …um…drop off. I suspect your next big milestone will be dipped in chocolate!
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Glenda Hornig said:
Fabulous pictures!! I looks soooo peaceful! I love your new photo at the top of the page too! I love to join you some year! You drive and I’ll cower on the floorboards getting there!!!
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rangewriter said:
oops and oops. Maybe I should send you both books. And yes, great idea for Christmas. If we drove through Sun Valley there are no drop offs for you to worry about. At least, not more than a 1/2 mile or two. You’ll be asleep by then. ‘:-0
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singlemom'sblatherbubbleblog said:
Your pictures!! I love your pictures! I always feel like packing and moving to Idaho when I look at your pictures. You had the best birthday ever!! Thank you for posting!
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rangewriter said:
Thanks SingleMom. Idaho is great in every way…except politics. Glad you enjoyed.
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Snoring Dog Studio said:
I admire your way of celebrating! How wonderful to go off by yourself and have such a lovely landscape to celebrate your birthday with. Must have been so peaceful. The photos show us such a beautiful side of Idaho. Happy belated birthday, Linda!
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rangewriter said:
Thanks, SDS. It was really delightful.
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John said:
I agree with Snoring. And the photos are lovely!
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rangewriter said:
Thanks, John.
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gill6 said:
Happy 60 and beyond! I’ve loved reading this and enjoyed your fabulous photos!
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rangewriter said:
Thank you Gill. You are too kind. I wish you’d been the one taking the photos. I can only imagine how spectacular they would have been.
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gill6 said:
Not as meaningful as yours … ! 😉
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rangewriter said:
I beg to differ. I’ve seen your body of work and the topics you take on. You are my hero, Gill.
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gill6 said:
Thank you! 🙂
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Val said:
Wow, this is brilliant, Linda! Love it!
I’m a ‘summer child’ (not saying exactly when!) so whenever my birthday hits people are always away on holiday! I used to have birthday parties in my childhood and teens which were okay, then after that most people were away so there was no point. I’ve just a few memorable birthdays but, like you, for rather different reasons than the usual celebrations.
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rangewriter said:
Geez, thanks, Val. I’m glad you enjoyed my back to back self-indulgences.
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dinkerson said:
Amazing. I’m glad you shared this with us! The wine, the cheese, the reading in quite, and the beautiful morning sky. Sounds to me like paradise.
This getaway made my day… even if only enjoyed vicariously. 🙂
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rangewriter said:
I’m happy to spread around the joy! May 2013 be a good year for you and your family.
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Nel said:
Please accept my late birthday greetings, Linda. 🙂
It seems like turning 6 decades young was a blast. I admire your zest for memorable experiences as opposed to the more common whining and worrying about turning a certain age. I think I’ll look to your example as the tenths digit on my age also moves up this year.
May you have wonderful year, nay, decade ahead! 😉
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rangewriter said:
Thank you for your kind greetings, Nel!
Yes, who knew 6 decades would be so easy? Certainly not I! Yeah, the whining about sagging boobs and hot flashes nauseates me. If that’s what a person’s focused on, that’s what their life will be.
When’s your milestone bd? You must have decided against moving this direction? Hope 2013 will be a good one for you.
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Strings 'n Things said:
Happy 6th decade birthday, Linda! What a cozy yurt, and great experience. The photos are beautiful.
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rangewriter said:
Thanks, Rae Ann.
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Dia said:
Wow…it’s some beautiful country up there…what a GREAT way to celebrate your birthday! Cal and I spent a week in the same neighborhood right after Christmas. I’ve been thinking about taking some solo trips up to the cabin this winter…it’s a two mile snowshoe (uphill) in from the highway but cozy lodgings once you get there. And after January everybody else usually abandons the mesa…best time of year to go. Care to join me? 🙂
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rangewriter said:
Are you serious? Of course! I must get my own snow shoes. I’ve been renting/borrowing for too long.
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Dia said:
You can use a pair of ours if you’d like. They’re big ones, to handle backpacks, but they work. (Was that your sled in the pictures? Way cool. We’ve talked about getting one but that’s all so far.) Maybe we can talk possible dates on Tuesday?
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rangewriter said:
Not my sled. Galena Lodge provides them. Yes. Talk Tuesday!
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