My 60th Birthday was fantastic. Nothing like getting out, eating great food, and having great company. It was a very happy day, one I will remember for a long time.

Look at that cake! It was almost a shame to cut it. My son is an awesome baker, and it tasted fantastic, too! I was blown away when I saw it.

I don’t usually make a big deal out of my birthday, but this one felt different. When I was in my 20s, there were moments – from surviving a house fire to facing a cancer diagnosis with a five‑year survival rate – when I wasn’t sure I’d ever reach this age. So hitting this milestone means a great deal to me, and I wanted to celebrate it.

I also wanted to celebrate everything else my husband and I have going on – especially the fact that we’re moving at the end of the month. I’m genuinely excited about the changes ahead. Living in a house here, especially through our winters, has been tough with all the snow. Since my spine surgery in 2024, I haven’t been able to shovel, and it’s become a lot for my husband to manage on his own. If it snows during the day, I end up stuck at home because I can’t get out. Between the snow, the upkeep, and the constant cleaning, it was time for something easier.

We found a 55+ building nearby, so we can still stay in the same community. The apartment is all on one floor – no stairs – and so much easier for us to handle. It’s fully renovated with new appliances, big windows that let in tons of light, and flooring I absolutely love. I’ll even have access to a bigger yard filled with greenery, even some picnic tables and benches, which feels like such a gift. It is a great place for us to live when I do end up in that wheelchair one day.

My mental health is doing awesome, and I am looking forward to socializing more. My health is slowly improving, too, thanks to my doctor. My blood pressure is under control, my type 2 diabetes is better, and I’m continuing to lose weight. I still live with pain every day, but it’s more manageable with my medications. I take seven prescriptions for different things, and they’re helping. I can still walk – sometimes even without my cane – and I count that as a win.

Life is worth celebrating, don’t you think? Do you celebrate your birthday as you get older?