This is 60
Wow, seeing the number there is a little alarming. Today is my 60th birthday, and while 30, 40, and 50 didn’t hit me, 60 is feeling a little different. Funny, because the last birthday that felt like a real change was when I turned 20, and I felt for the first time like my childhood was well and truly over.
This is a stupid ad I keep seeing while playing NYT games. I feel targeted.
So here we are, not quite a Senior Citizen for movie theater discounts, not quite eligible for Social Security, but certainly getting closer to both.
When I started my blog 20 years ago, I was just turning 40. This is a picture of my cake from the wonderful party that Ted threw me then. The little picture that pops up next to my comments on most of your blogs is also from that party. We are not having a party this year. When Ted asked me what I want for my big 6-0 birthday, I said that I want to go to France this fall. I will have a 1 month sabbatical from work in 2026, and I would like to spend part of it in Europe. I’ve been saving credit card points and getting checking account bonuses and so on, and putting it all in a high interest vacation account. We haven’t really discussed the specifics yet. Will we go somewhere else in addition to France? Greece perhaps? Will we go to the South of France as well as Paris? Or just Paris? How much time will Ted and Maya be able to / want to take off? Will I stay longer, either on my own or with a friend? Lots to think about. Right now I’m just squirreling money away and dreaming of Paris.
Earlier this week, Ted and I went to San Francisco (photo at the top of the post) to see the Manet and Morisot exhibit at the Legion of Honor, which was wonderful. My original wish for my birthday was to go to the exhibit and then have lunch in the City, but I changed my mind and decided that I’d rather stay closer to home. So we went early. I didn’t know much about Manet, and I had never heard of Morisot, but I loved learning about their friendship and their art. As a woman, Morisot was limited in her opportunities, but forged ahead and was a successful artist anyway. It helped that she married Manet’s brother, who was supportive of her endeavors.
For my birthday today, I want to go see Hamnet in the theater, and we have reservations for an early dinner at a local French restaurant that we have not yet tried, but gets excellent reviews. It sounds like a perfect birthday to me.
This is the message that came with my gift from my brother, via email. I love my ridiculous brother.
How about you? Do you like having a quiet birthday, or a busy birthday? I’ve had both, and loved both.
51 Comments
Suzanne
?Happy birthday, Julie!!!! ? Your Paris plan sounds wonderful, and I love the idea of dinner and a movie. I much prefer a quiet birthday to a busy one. Loving your note from your brother – how sweet.
J
LOL about Richard’s note. Thank you for the birthday wishes!
AC
Birthdays here are just little family dinners.
J
That’s how I grew up. Ted’s family grew up with parties every year. So I think he wants to give me a party, and I’m fine with a quieter day.
Lisa’s Yarns
Happy happy birthday! Your plans to go to France sound amazing. Now I want to do that for my 50th in 5 years! Your plans for a yummy french dinner + movie sound great! I turn 45 in feb and have decided I will host a puzzle party. I did that for my 38th bday too. I put a puzzle on the dining room table and then it’s a drop in party with food and drinks. It’s a nice, cozy way to celebrate a birthday and hopefully I will see a lot of friends. I prefer cozy/low key celebrations. But I did have a French-themed 30th bday and then I went to France by myself for a week! I had a hard time turning 30. Most of my friends were married and many had started families and I was single. So I decided to take a big trip which was the best decision ever.
Sue
I love this idea for a party! What a fun, but chill, way to celebrate with a lot of people, but not have to worry about having a chair for everyone! 🙂
J
I hadn’t considered the chair issue! Genius!
J
I love that you went to France alone for your 30th, what a fabulous idea. Do just what you want, when you want, no pressure.
I love the idea of your puzzle party too!
Elisabeth
Happy Birthday! (That cake Ted had made for your previous birthday is STUNNING).
I love your plan for the special day, and I am even more in love with your plan to go to France. I know how much you love any and all time spent in that part of the world and I cannot wait to hear all about the planning process and then follow along with your adventures when you’re there!!!!
J
That sure was a beautiful cake, wasn’t it?
Don’t worry, I’ll bore everyone to tears with my travel plans one we get started.
Nicole MacPherson
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIE!!!!! I love that you have a trip to France in mind for your birthday. What a perfect way for you to celebrate. It just doesn’t get better than that! I had no idea you were a New Year’s Eve baby but I did secretly wonder if you were a Capricorn! And now I know. The whole world is having a party tonight in YOUR honour.
OMG can I travel back in time and eat that cake? It’s GORGEOUS.
Rob turned 60 in October and one of his buddies who is a year older told him that people treat you differently when they hear that you are 60. It’s one of those numbers where there truly is a change, and so I see how you are feeling it. I think in your case, as well as Rob’s, people will be surprised at the number. Like, the moment you turn 60 you are apparently infirm and need those shoes for balance. I mean, I can see it – you are very beautiful and you glow, and I think people have a certain view of what 60 looks like in their minds, which is not what you look like – housedress, short grey permed hair, sensible shoes (okay, we all need the sensible shoes now) (also I do like the idea of a housedress, very comfy) (what am I trying to SAY here).
I guess what I’m trying to say is that 60 looks great on you, we should all look so vibrant and gorgeous, and I hope you have the best year ever!!! xoxoxo
J
Maya did an online horoscope thing for me once, and both my sun sign and another are both Capricorn. Supposedly one is who you are on the inside, and the other is how you present to the world (or maybe one is who you are as a kid, and the other is how you are as an adult, I don’t remember) – and I’m both. So yeah, Capricorn, what you see is what you get there.
Interesting about Rob’s friend’s experience with turning 60 and people seeing you a little differently.
Nicole MacPherson
Oh also to answer your question, I love birthdays – my own and other people’s – and I always want to splash out. Like I should wear a sandwich board that says “it’s my birthday”
J
I love the sandwich board idea! It’s so Nicole!
StephLove
Happy birthday! Beth (59) and I (58) are closing in on 60, but now that she’s retiring (as of today) I suddenly feel older, plus my youngest is turning twenty in a few months. No more teens, how strange after twelve years of having at least one.
I will be interested to hear about Hamnet (loved the book) and have fun planning your big trip.
J
Congratulations on Beth’s retirement! That day is a long way off for us I think.
Hamnet was GREAT, I hope you see it and love it.
nance
Happy Birthday, dear Julie! I’m everso glad we met those (has it been!?) 20 years ago online and that you are my friend EVEN IN REAL LIFE.
To say that you look radiant at 60 is an understatement (and Ted–well his smile is almost electric).
I love your plan for France, and don’t you dare wear those shoes there.
Please let us know if the film version of Hamnet is worthy. I keep reading about the fantastic performance of the woman who plays Agnes. Would this be the movie that actually gets me back into a theatre?
Again, Happy Happy Birthday, my friend. You are a light in my life. XOXO
J
Thank you Nance! I’m thankful for our friendship as well, and wish we didn’t live quite so far apart.
Birchie
Happy Birthday Julie!!! A month sabatical from work???? You will love it.
All the best to you and yours this New Year!
J
I had a sabbatical once before, at my last job, and I did love it, though that job paid crap and our daughter was in college, so there was no money to go anywhere. But I really enjoyed having time to just relax and hang out with people.
Sue
Well, you look fantastic for 60 and I really doubt you need those shoes! I just saw a YouTube video advertised that had an actor from the 80s at 49 and one from today and the difference was dramatic! So, I think we’re living in different times than 30-40 years ago. As someone turning 58 this year and someone with lots of younger friends (like under 50 – some just turning 40) it is funny to hear them talk about “older” people and realize that I am close to that age! I definitely have become a little more focused on maintaining strength and balance though – so I won’t need those shoes and I can do things like you are doing – touring France – which I’m sure will be a lot of walking and exploring!
I went to a Monet exhibit in SF with my sisters many, many, many years ago. I love that style of painting. I will have to check out this exhibit as well.
Happy, happy birthday!
J
Oh, I hope you go see the exhibit if you get the chance. There is another Monet exhibit coming later this year, too.
DB Stewart
Happy happy happy birthday and happy 2026 too. Seems like a perfect way to launch a new exciting decade!
J
Thank you!
Coco
Happy birthday Julia! Paris for a month sounds perfect to celebrate this big milestone! Enjoy your French dinner.
J
Paris for a month sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Pretty sure I won’t manage that, but it sounds lovely.
Michelle G.
J, you make 60 look amazing! I will be 57 in January, and I’m OK with it. I hope 60 will look as good on me as it does on you! I wish you a wonderful day and year!
J
Thank you Michelle!
Daria
Happiest of birthdays, Julie!!!!! Sixty looks great on you, and I absolutely mean it!
A museum and dinner sound wonderful- I like both kids of birthdays, quiet and busy.
For my 40th, we rented an Airbnb with my sister-friends, and for my 43, I just wanted us to get takeout at my house lol, but both were great in their own way.
Hugs from NJ!!
J
You’re right, both are great! I love having friends over, though most of my friends have moved away, so that doesn’t work much anymore.
PocoBrat
Happy Birthday, darling Julie! You look so lovely in the lead photo! I love your plans for the year-long celebration and the France trip! It’s going to be so glorious, and I can’t wait to hear and savor all the details!
P.S. I thought for sure you’d enabled ads when the page loaded!
P.P.S. I’m a bit concerned that you went to see _Hamnet_. I cried through about–IDK–70 percent of it, and I don’t want that for you on your birthday!
J
Thanks Maya! Sorry that you thought I had ads, that is indeed what it looked like with the shoe ad, right? I will never enable ads, I feel like I would get maybe 25 cents a month out of it.
Tierney
Happy birthday! I cannot wait to hear more about your France- both the pre-planning and the trip itself. It was amazing how much I could fit into a month, but still have so much more I wanted to do in a single country alone!
J
Thanks Tierney! Your trip was such a wonderful inspiration.
San
Happiest of birthdays, Julie! I can’t believe you’re 60! You don’t like 60… but what is age these days anyway! 🙂
I love that you’re planning a trip to France! I know how much you love it and I totally think you deserve it.
J
Thank you Sandra! I’m excited about our trip, whatever it ends up being.
Ernie
I forgot that your bday is the day after mine. Happy bday. I laughed at 20 yo you thinking your childhood was over. Well it probably was, but I hope you found adulthood top notch. The trip to France sounds amazing- exciting and so many decisions to make. I know it will be perfect. I wanted to see a Hamnet for my bday but mini could not wait. We loved it.
I like my bday fest when coach takes the day off. Then I feel like I get the most attention. He took the day off this year and we did some nice things but the plan is to go to dinner with the whole family next weekend when three travelling kids are home.
Have a wonderful year Julie!
J
Happy Birthday Ernie! I’m glad you loved Hamnet too, and your birthday plans sound lovely.
Diane
Happy Birthday, Julie!
I hope you had a wonderful wonderful day. I love all the ways you want to celebrate. Why celebrate a birthday, milestone or otherwise, unless it’s by doing something you love and are excited about?
I’m curious what you think about Hamnet – I loved that book so much – I don’t usually cry, but that book had me blinking back tears. I don’t know that I want to see the movie because reading the book was such a perfect experience for me.
How lucky for you to have seen the Manet and Marisot exhibit! I love the Impressionists.
J
I felt like this was a great week for me, between the exhibit and the film. The film was SO GOOD, if you decide to go for it, I think you will love it.
Sarah
Happy birthday! 60 looks lovely on you, and a month in France sounds like the most fitting celebration– how fun!
J
Thanks Sarah!
Tobia | craftaliciousme
Happy happy belated birthday to you.
I was going to sent a card in the mail but I ran out of stamps and knew it was going to be late.
I fear you haven’t even gotten my christmas card I sent much earlier this year.
I love that you plan a trip in honor of your birthday. It sounds like a good way to celebrate life and I hope it will be everything you wish for.
Cheers to many more years around the sun and many more blogposts to read.
J
I took down my Christmas Cards yesterday, and I don’t remember seeing yours in there, so I guess that means I have something to look forward to!
Jenny
Okay Julie, we have lots to talk about! First of all, I’m sorry I’m late in commenting- Happy Belated Birthday!!! And… I’m right behind you. I turn 60 in March. I also have complicated feelings about it! It just sounds so old. But I don’t feel old! Arg, I can’t figure it out. This is going to be quite a year. Anyway… this is about you. I think your birthday plans are awesome- a trip to Paris is perfect. It’s a big birthday and it deserves a big adventure.
J
You are right, it is going to be quite a year for you, with your son’s wedding and all! So much to look foward to.
Thanks for being here with me in the 60 club (in a few months at least) It does feel strange as a number. Then I think about how my daughter will be 30 in March, and it all makes more sense I guess.
Stephany
Happy (much belated!) birthday, Julie! You look radiant. 🙂 I love that you get to have a month-long sabbatical from work and you will hopefully spend it in FRANCE! What a dream.
J
I know, I’m excited by the idea of spending at least part of my sabbatical in Europe!
Melissa
Happy Birthday, Julie. I had a busy birthday this year, and I enjoyed it. I think I enjoy it more than a quiet one. G and I thought we would have a joint 50th birthday party, but then it was COVID, and we moved, and we didn’t get around to it and decided to use the money to travel instead. A trip to France will be so wonderful. I can’t wait to see what you decide to do.
J
Thank you Melissa! I think travel is a big one for me, just how I want to spend the money. The airplae part I could do without. Why can’t we have a transporter?
Anne
Happy birthday, my friend! I’m glad you had such a lovely day. And, now that I received your postcard (thank you!) and saw your photos of other parts of the exhibit, I definitely need to come to CA and do a museum binge with you. I just did one in Milwaukee (yes, in January) with my brother and it was epic.
I love quiet everything – birthdays, holidays, all of it. I think it’s a reaction to a lot of over-the-top family celebrations growing up. My extended family is large and – more to the point – loud. Quiet >> noise, and calm >> chaos, for me at least. 🙂