Happy Birthday to Me!

~ Getting Older ~

You look in the mirror
Hoping for youth
But the face that looks back
tells you the truth.
There’s wrinkles above
And wrinkles below,
There’s sag and bags
And hair white as snow.
But then you remember
Why they are there:
It was learning to raise
your children with care.
Sitting up nights
When the babies were ill
Stoking the fire
To keep off the chill.
Waiting up late
To see them come home
From the first time they drove
The car on their own.
Cheering at ball games
Sitting out in the sun
Losing your voice
when the home team won.
I know you'd not trade

What you've had in your life
For your blessings are many;
You've learned from the strife.
Wisdom and age
Oft go hand in hand
and we all know that soon
we'll run out of sand.
No tipping the glass
will bring back the past
but I know you'll treasure

this life while it lasts.