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03-11-2014, 03:05 PM
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#1
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Leesburg, VA
Posts: 904
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I'm Sixty Today!
I was blessed with diabetes at age 6. I had a life expectancy of about 45. At 42 and very close to death, I got a kidney and pancreas transplant and have been happily doing great ever since.
The combination of diabetes and transplant drugs gave me vascular dementia which severely affected my short term memory in that I have great difficulty learning new things. Testing revealed that I learn at one quarter the rate I used to. That's not fast enough to keep a job as a real time programmer. I went out on disability at age 45.
So I am living a happy life free from work but getting ever closer to being dead. This is the first birthday that ever bothered me.
Don't get me wrong, I am very happy to be here. My only regret is I miss my beloved dog/daughter Emily Ann, the black lab. I can't get another dog due to fear of going through this pain again. She passed away five years ago and I am still not over her. She was our only child.
We are leaving for twelve days of vacation in Ft Myers, Fl tomorrow. Eight days of fun and four days of driving. We do nature related stuff and eat a lot and go to spring training games. This year's are Yankees vs Red Sox and Twins vs Nationals.
Still happily here after 18 years of transplant life,
Mike D.
__________________
I just want to celebrate another day of livin'
I just want to celebrate another day of life
- R. Earth
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03-11-2014, 03:10 PM
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#2
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Cooksburg,PA
Posts: 1,874
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Happy birthday and thanks for sharing your story!
Good time to be going south. See some humming birds for me.
__________________
Free to canoe
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03-11-2014, 03:20 PM
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#3
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,500
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Happy birthday, you youngster! I am 65 and have been enjoying life in my sixties a lot. I hope to be around for a long, long time.
I have been working hard at the gym since my retirement at age 61 1/2, trying to lessen the rate of physical decline. Regular time at the gym seems to work really well for that and makes me feel younger.
Have fun at Ft. Myers! If you walk the beaches, or walk a lot when doing the nature related stuff, then that is a lot of great exercise too.
I know you miss Emily Ann a lot, and I hope your memories and photos are a comfort. I miss having a dog too, but I am just not ready for one.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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03-11-2014, 03:32 PM
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#4
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 143
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Happy Birthday---and many more!
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03-11-2014, 03:39 PM
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#5
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: .
Posts: 382
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Congrats on being 60! May you make 95!
I have two dogs who are getting "up there," and, being otherwise childless, they are my two kids. I am trying to look on the bright side -- that they have had a long and happy life and provided a ton of joy -- but I think I will miss them terribly when they move on to doggy heaven. So I can feel where you are coming from. But even though you miss her terribly, at least you had the privilege of having her trot through your house and bark at the squirrels in your yard. Nothing like a dog....
__________________
“We always may be what we might have been.” -- Adelaide Anne Procter
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03-11-2014, 03:40 PM
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#6
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Peru
Posts: 6,335
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeD
So I am living a happy life free from work but getting ever closer to being dead. This is the first birthday that ever bothered me.
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Birthdays are great... We wake up every morning and celebrate life. 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
__________________
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
--Dalai Lama XIV
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03-11-2014, 03:47 PM
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#7
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Upstate Ruralia
Posts: 356
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WoooooHooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
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03-11-2014, 03:58 PM
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#8
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,358
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That's truly a great story.
May you have many, many more!
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03-11-2014, 04:05 PM
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#9
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 471
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MikeD
Happy 60th Birthday.
From a 67 yo 7 yr pancreatic cancer survivor. I'm one of the 5% who make it 5 yrs. I' living with half a pancreas and have to take Metformin to control my diabetes.
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03-11-2014, 04:38 PM
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#10
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: yonder
Posts: 2,851
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeD
So I am living a happy life free from work but getting ever closer to being dead. This is the first birthday that ever bothered me. <snip>
We are leaving for twelve days of vacation in Ft Myers, Fl tomorrow. Eight days of fun and four days of driving. We do nature related stuff and eat a lot and go to spring training games. This year's are Yankees vs Red Sox and Twins vs Nationals.
Still happily here after 18 years of transplant life,
Mike D.
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I would imagine that at least 1/3 of us are getting even closer to being dead. But, I'm glad you're alive and going to spring training--it's truly one of the most fun things in the world to do--if you're a baseball fan. I would also imagine that Yankees-Red Sox is one tough ticket to come by.
How come your 60th bothers you?
HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS!!!
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03-11-2014, 04:55 PM
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#11
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 185
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Happy Birthday and thanks for sharing that. Gave me some much needed perspective. Enjoy the vacation.
__________________
This is no social crisis, just another tricky day for you...
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03-11-2014, 04:57 PM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,021
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Quote:
Originally Posted by redduck
I would imagine that at least 1/3 of us are getting even closer to being dead.
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Make that all of us... 
MikeD, congratulations on making it to the big six-oh. That shouldn't bother you nearly as much as not making it. 
__________________
Numbers is hard
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03-11-2014, 05:24 PM
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#13
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
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Happy Birthday & hopefully many more !
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03-11-2014, 05:33 PM
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#14
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bossier City
Posts: 2,183
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Happy Happy Happy.......Birthday! 
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03-11-2014, 05:39 PM
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#15
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gone traveling
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: DFW
Posts: 7,586
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Mike,
Happy B-day and wishing you many more to come. Enjoy Florida and some baseball!
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03-11-2014, 06:01 PM
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#16
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 723
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Happy birthday, MikeD!
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03-11-2014, 06:42 PM
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#17
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,985
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Happy Birthday and enjoy those games!
__________________
Took SS at 62 and hope I live long enough to regret the decision.
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03-11-2014, 06:55 PM
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#18
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,608
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Happy Birthday!!
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03-11-2014, 07:16 PM
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#19
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,065
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Cheers! Another trip around the sun!
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03-11-2014, 07:21 PM
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#20
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,401
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Happy Birthday, MikeD…..you are an inspiration!
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