Today is my birthday. I’m 78. I’m especially happy to celebrate today because I almost didn’t get to celebrate this one. Because of the weird circumstance of being admitted to the ER because of shortness of breath and low blood oxygen, I was in the proper place to have good people there when my heart stopped twice on February 6th, plus the cardiology department who gave me a new lease on life with a temporary, then a permanent pacemaker. So, I’m celebrating today with a super-happy, ear-to-ear grin. If I can find a piece of chocolate cake with chocolate icing, you can bet I’m snarfing it down with pleasure! :0)
Things are moving at a rapid pace around here on trying to get ready to move to Thailand to be with our son.
Our “emu” planters went to live with some good friends yesterday. They will need a coat of paint and some new googly eyes; but my friend loves them and they’ll have a wonderful home at her house.
I’m still busily canceling things like subscriptions, automatic renewals, automatic orders, etc., plus making lists of things to cancel when we are in Thailand.
We have a busy week ahead, sewing up lots of details, meeting with people, doctor appts, and more, but also have visits with friends scheduled and unscheduled as yet to enjoy.
Our son ordered backpacks for my husband and me to use as carry-ons until we get to Thailand. He will also order a suitcase for each of us, since the only ones we have weigh a ton and are older than he is. The new ones only have to live through one set of flights, so we should be able to get something at a reasonable price. We will each pack one suitcase and the backpack. That’s it. All else we let go.
The auctions may or may not happen while we are here. Our passports should be here in about two weeks, so we’ll be leaving soon after that. I’m concentrating on gathering as much energy as I can for the 23 or so hour trip.
I’m hoping that your life is going well, and that today – especially – you have a good reason to smile.
creativeartworksblog 
Happy Birthday x
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Thanks so much, Christine! :0)
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Oh, the googly-eyed emu’s are sooo cute!! Glad your friend will enjoy them, Linda.
After reading this to my hubby (he will be 75 this summer), he asked if your doctor cleared you for the flight. ✈️
I know it will be a long one, but as you said, one and done! Ha! And you have loads of great new things to look forward to there!
I am curious how social security works in Thailand. I think that’s the only thing I would want to ensure I would get if we moved to another country. Then again, life always finds a way and I know I shouldn’t fixate on things like that. Temporary monetary things that could be taken away (even here) with the stroke of a pen! Ugh
But okay, things are moving right along for you both now, and that’s great!
Happy 78th birthday dear friend!! I will keep my thoughts high vibe for you! And oh yes, very thankful to the doctors and nurses who gave you a second lease on life! ❤️🙏💙
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Thanks for your wonderful note, Sheila. I have an appt with the pacemaker doctor Tuesday. I’ll tell him I’m going to Thailand in the next couple of weeks. Unless he assures me I WILL DIE if I fly, I will go. I should get social security as usual. It goes into a local bank account here. We probably won’t get Medicare, even though we are paying for it out of our SS checks. Our son assures us that the health care there is quite good and very reasonably priced. I’m glad you like the emus. They made me smile as we drove up the driveway. I’m glad they will have a good home with my friend now. We meet with the auctioneer to figure out details, know what to expect, how things will work, sign contracts, etc. Things are speeding up around here.
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Oh, I am relieved! Why do I feel so connected to you? I have been sitting with this. Perhaps because you have inspired me to do more yoga and exercise, release weight. Do more art classes. Hmmm
And I have so few friends now. I don’t know. But I love you and will be reading whatever you post, til the end.
Hugs!
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what a wonderful day to celebrate your birthday with anticipation of a new life at 78. Who said that getting older is boring. Not for you. Most of us wouldn’t take the leap of faith and just would hanker down in the ordinary. Looking for your great adventure soon on the other side of the world. oh happy day it’s your birthday.
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Thanks so much for your kind words. I’m feeling really lucky to be starting a new life at this point. We’re lucky to have such a wonderful son who dropped everything and flew 23 hours to get here and take care of us when we needed him so much. I look forward to be able to see a LOT of him the rest of our lives. He gives the most wonderful hugs on the planet, and he’s filling up my long empty hugs bucket each day. :0)
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Happy Birthday to You. I am glad that you are excited about celebrating another birthday, and rightfully so. You almost did not get to celebrate this one, so I know, after all that you have been through, this birthday will be a most memorable one, and possibly the most exciting one! I just love your can-do attitude! You are a very remarkable person, and I am glad that I have been able follow your blog.
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Wow! What a nice note. Thank you! I’m just grateful to celebrate another birthday and hope to embrace all the changes coming our way. Thank you for following my blog. I’ll write here until we have to shut things down, and then will start again as soon as I have a working computer on the other end. Again, your words are a beautiful birthday gift.
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Happy Birthday! 🎁🎂🎊
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Thanks so much, Lynn. This birthday doesn’t hurt a bit! :0)
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Happy Birthday Linda! After the full-on activities of the last couple of weeks….your illness, your husbands illness, your decision to move to Thailand, sorting your entire belongings in record time, sorting your life in record time….. my wish for your birthday is that you have an incredibly quiet year to come.
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That sounds like a dream come true. Thank you very much!🙂
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Many many returns of the day,Linda. Happy Birthday to You. I am glad that you are excited about celebrating another birthday, and rightfully so.I will keep my thoughts high vibe for you! And oh yes, very thankful to the doctors and nurses who gave you a second lease on life! 🙋❣️My dear friend 🙏!
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Thank you!😊
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Most welcome !
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Belated Happy Birthday 🎂🎈🎂
Sorry for the delay in sending greetings.
Wish you a long healthy wealthy and peaceful life 💗
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Thanks so much.
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Regards 🙏😁🙏
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Thank you, Arun.
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I don’t know how I missed this post! Happy Belated birthday! 😀🎉🎂🥳
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Thank you !!!!!!!!!!
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