Didn't someone here just turn 50? I can't remember... sorry! Anyway, I'm curious. Do any of you (speaking to adults!) plan celebrations for special birthdays, like 50th, 75th, for yourself or others? How do you/would you go about it to keep the person from feeling... old? Make a joke of it? Or would you celebrate a long life with dignity? 

I vote long life with dignity. 

I had a friend who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in his early thirties.  They didn't think he'd make it six months.  At his 40th birthday party, I sat there thinking that I'd never look at milestone birthdays the same way again. 

We lost him a couple of years later.  Life is too precious to not celebrate every day of it.  If you're starting to go "over the hill" grab a sled and enjoy the ride!

My birthday is coming up, so I say that to remind myself too!

Neat things I've done or seen done to celebrate:

• I'm thinking of planting a rosebush in honor of each of mine from now on. 
• Have everyone bring copies of their favorite pictures with the birthday person to put in an album as a gift.
• Ask everyone to talk about their favorite memory with the person.
• Have everyone write down ways that person has impacted them, and then put those papers in an album.
• Slideshow or poster with pictures through the years.
• Plan a special trip to celebrate.
• On TripAdvisor.com, someone mentioned that they were going to try to do "50 for 50"--visit all fifty states during their 50th year.  That might be more than a lot of us can do, but I liked the way of positively marking the occasion by making interesting plans.
• Make a donation to the person's favorite charity.
• Have a day where friends and family volunteer for that charity in honor of that person's birthday. 

 This was done for our aniversary but would be nice for a birthday. We recieved a friendship quilt. People were given a square to embordery, sign, paint....whatever they wanted to do and sign their name. You have to made sure that it is permanent ink. Then a friend made a quilt from the squares. It was very nice. She contacted people from out of state, old friends, family .All our kids did one with their birthdates. They did one for my Dad that had died with this name and dates. My DD was one at the time and they helped her write a big A....for her name Abigail.  This is a big project but a beautiful one. Babs

Mimi:

Life is too precious to not celebrate every day of it.  If you're starting to go "over the hill" grab a sled and enjoy the ride!

Great words! 

Thanks Pat!