Five years between these two birthday photos, but hopefully not a lot of change. A few more grey hairs, and maybe a few more aches and pains. I was able to blow out my candles at age 70, somehow five years later it appears to be a bigger challenge. Maybe its a bigger cake, maybe more candles have been added. Whatever the reason, that is one bright cake, it probably registered in outer space on heat sensors aboard orbiting satellites. Yes I did manage to blow them all out in one huge breath, although they flared brightly when my Vodka breath hit the flames. Seriously, birthdays were never a big thing with me, probably had too many or maybe because I joined the navy when I was so young. Years ago the most important birthday was the 21st. That was the year you were given a key to the front door. It merely meant you had come of age, and were now old enough to stay out late and could let yourself in with your own key. Growing up in Belfast that never made a lot of sense to me. My father was always the last one to bed, usually at 11 pm, he had a routine, wind the clock, put the empty milk bottles on the door step and then lock the door. Where this becomes silly is how we locked the door, not just us but just about everybody in Belfast. Front doors had a mail/letter slot, it was large enough for one to slip a hand inside and grab the length of string that was always found hanging inside. On that piece of string hung a key for the front door. It was just a matter of pulling it out through the slot and opening the door. I suppose people felt safe in those days, or maybe it was because we had nothing of value worth stealing. But you have to admit it did take away the thrill of becoming 21!!!!!!! Anyway I have had a front door key for longer than I wish to remember. We have no mail slot and no milk bottles and no clocks to wind and I’m usually in bed by ten.
God Bless and keep reading.
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