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A Year Ago Today - Fifty and the Big ONE....A Happy Birthday....

A year ago today I was celebrating my 50th birthday in Hawaii! I won't lie - I was totally stressed out about turning 50...:-( Its amazing how the days turn into months and the months turn into years and then all of a sudden you're "middle aged"! If I'm middle aged does that mean I'll live to be 100? :-)

Half a century, hmmm it sounded rather momentus, monumentally...( to tell you the truth.)..morbid! (please none of this 'you're not getting older, you're getting better crap! ok?):-)

So I decided, rather then sit at home awaiting its arrival, and wondering if any of my friends and family would remember.....or would they throw me a surprise birthday party..........and have those gawd awful black decorations and balloons with old crows and gizzards........on them...and buy me DEPENDS in bulk INSTEAD...I would take my 3 kids on our first ever Holiday Together and go to Hawaii!

Hawaii had always been a favorite haunt of mine....When I was 17 I took my very first vacation with a girlfriend and we went to Hawaii for 2 weeks........Remember the old Airclub International?...Yep well we took that - visited the islands of Oahu, Maui and Kaui...all for $450 dollars.......you can do the math and figure out how long ago that was....

Then when I was in my early 20's I visited Waikiki for a week on my way to live in Australia........9 months later...lon my way back home again..... I visted again for 2 weeks. Later when my son Chris was 4.....and I had just completed my 3rd month in Real Estate as a Realtor, I had made not only enough money to buy a house, but a car AND a trip to Hawaii.....(ahum...yep those were the days! lol).....Chris and I went to Hawaii.........and I'll tell you seeing Hawaii through the eyes of a 4 year old is a sight to behold! :-)

So when it came time to take this 'Special' vacation....what better place to go.....then to Hawaii ???And....an adventure it was! Once I got over the trying to make everybody happy thing (hmm I'm not sure that ever really happened...).....and with a 22, 18, and 15 year old.....that is no small feat.....we had a wonderful time........and I think those memories will last us all forever.....

So Sally you'll forgive me if I post some of our Hawaiian Memories? - I'll leave out the Waikiki Aquarium...because you just did a beautiful job of it in your post!

The Royal Hawaiian - "The Pink Hotel" ...always wanted to stay there - and just when I thought I might be able to afford it - they raised the price on me.......! But we had a view of it..and Diamond Head.....so what the heck..:-)

The Streets of Waikiki with some of their Feathered Finest!

After a Hike up Diamond Head.....and the 300 some odd steps to the top......I thought I'd died and gone to heaven! Literally and figuratively - lol........View from the Top....

Snorkeling and Hananuma Bay.....

Chris and Sarah Parasailing....

Vibrant displays of Island Culture....

The Polynesian Cultural Centre was one of our favorite places....a day of adventure in the Polynesian Islands.....

Let there be Fire!

Palm Heaven!

Who doesn't love a Zoo - and the Honolulu Zoo is fabulous!

My 50th Birthday Dinner....my three kids, Sarah, Chris and Rachelll.......Restaurant on Waikiki Beach...watching the Sunset as we Ate.....By Boyfriend had flown into Hawaii for the weekend and showed up at the hotel room door at midnight....as a Birthday Surprise...:-)

And so today I am 51....The Big One after the Fifty........How irrelevant AND irreverant those numbers seem..........Of course like everyone else.......INSIDE I feel twenty something..........and sometimes I can even live in that illusion... for a moment that is.........until I walk by a store window and I see my reflection and scare the Living BeJeeBee's out of myself!

But I'll tell you....This year 4 people in my life passed away.......2 were 51, one was older and one was younger..........AND I can now say to you.......I am MIGHTY Happy to be 51...! I have had a chance to do much reflecting and soul searching.......and know without a doubt that I am Blessed Beyond Measure.....

So I don't have to wish myself a Happy Birthday......It already is! >-)

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Liz Moras, Managing Broker and Team Leader for Keller Williams Valley Realty, Serving Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley and the Fraser Valley.

Call Liz at 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@shaw.ca. Be sure to check out Liz's website www.lizmoras.com and blog at http://lizmoras.activerain.com.

Posted by Liz Moras ~Chilliwack Realtor, Chilliwack,Hope,Langley,Abbotsford on 11/17/2008 03:53 AM

Comments (110)

Birthdays in the Networking Channel

birthday, waikiki, hawaii

Originally posted at: Liz Moras' Real Estate Blog: A Year Ago Today - Fifty and the Big ONE....A Happy Birthday....

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110 Comments on A Year Ago Today - Fifty and the Big ONE....A Happy Birthday....

NOV

2008

Happy Birthday. Age is just a number it is all in how you feel and act.

Happy happy happy B DAY! Turning 40 stressed me out and Im sure 50 will also. But Im better than ever at 40! Your smoking at 51.....

Ooooohhh!!! What a lovely and memorable way to celebrate your 50th! I'm so happy that you had the opportunity to go to Hawaii and treat yourself to a very special birthday celebration.

Liz, I had a hard time with my 30th. Don't know why...40 and 50 were much easier. (We're almost the same age!)

Happy 50 + 1 to you my dear friend!

I can relate to the feeling like 20 until you pass the reflection...so many times reality hits at that moment...LOL

I am less than 1 month from being the big "5-0"; the number never has bothered me before...it is the realization that I have sooooooo much that I want to do! Funny the list keeps growing! I, like you, count my blessings for every day that I am here...I have lost a fair number of friends and loved ones and every day is precious!

Happy Birthday!

Great action shot photos Liz.

Yeah, that 50 can be daunting. Think that was bad?

HA! Just wait for the next milestone.

Liz,

What a beautiful post....Happy birthday. What a great trip for you and your family with memories forever.....

as to age, I run circles about 20 year olds that work for me....you are as young as you feel...

Liz, Great pics youngster. Are you already planning your 10th decade birthday? I'm waiting for my birthday card from Social Security.

Have a wonderful birthday - it's all in how you feel. Your photos are great! Best wishes for many more!

Beautiful Pictures!!! I remember my 50th birthday, that was 10 years ago. Thanks Rich Charlotte NC

Happy Birthday Liz. I love your photos they are just gorgeous! You live in an unbelievable place:)

Liz...

Holy crap, not ANOTHER AR mid-life crisis? Anyway, I love the photos. I have never been to Hawaii and probably never will. There's something about volcanic islands that does not appeal to me!

But I am glad that YOU were able to go and takes these pics so I could see it through your eyes. It looks like you stayed busy the whole time. So happy 51st, and until next time, aloha!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIZ! I was in Hawaii in the 1980's and saw almost all the same sights you did. A great place to get away. Liz, with birthdays, it is just a number. None of these birthdays stress me out. You are as young as you feel.

Happy birthday Liz.... (you're just a mere babe in the woods)...

Age is more of a mindset... and clearly you're incredibly young!

Happy birthday. I also agree that age is just a mindset. My wife got a heart that still in her early 20s and I always feel that is true.

I have been bitten by the Maui bug. I have never seen so much beauty. Perhaps that is where I will spend my 50th birthday as well. You have a gorgeous family and that was a cool birthday surprise. As for being middle aged, two of my closest friends just turned 50. They weren't happy about it initially but they are both doing very well.

Congratulations! Your post has been featured in Club Chaos. Thank you for the beautiful pictures and Happy Birthday!

Happy Bday Liz, glad you got to be somewhere special and with special people for your birthday. We just moved back from there in 2006, loved living in Hawaii. What a great way to spend your special day! :-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Liz.

Great photos and everyday we live is a gift and a blessing it is all in how we look at it. LOL I feel 30 on the inside, not 20. Make it a great day. God Bless.

Happy birthday Liz! I hope you have a great one. It sounds like quite a year for you but it sounds like you are thankful for where you are.

I love your photos. It reminds me of going to Waikiki when I was around 26 with my girlfriends. We saved up and went for about 500 bucks for a week. It was a deal. We went to many of the same places and we were in heaven. I have been to Maui a couple of times since and everytime I go, I try to think of what sort of job I could do to stay there forever!

Liz, I'm spending a milestone birthday in Paris in April. Hope my photos are are great as yours! And parasaiing out there must be just amazing.

So happy 2nd 50th Birthday!

Liz: All of these pictures are just fine... very nice... yada yada. But... what good are they to us, your loyal fans, if the one we all are waiting for... the one with you in a hula skirt... is missing. I protest.

Other than that... what great pictures, and what great place. Actually, one of the pictures I enjoyed most... was the one with the "Feathered Friends" in it. Are those gorgeous birds actually there... flying around freely ? If so, how cool is that ! Thanks for sharing.

And... Happy Birthday ! Do something fun tonight... you'll be in my thoughts !

Liz - Happy Birthday Liz Happy Birthday!!! What a fabulous way to spend your 50th birthday and to have your 3 beautiful children with you to celebrate it. It doesn't matter what age you're at....it's just a number and what truly counts is how you feel inside...Happy 51st!!

Liz - There are milestones in our lives (age: 30, 40, 50, 60, and beyond). Unfortunately "infinity" isn't part of this list. lol However, age is relative and it's important that we enjoy our lives and those things in life that are special to us.

I loved your Hawaii pictures. They brought back great memories for me when we went there. My daughter got married on Diamond Head and that was a thrill.

Someday I'd love to go back there!

Liz: After sitting here trying to remember something memorable happening on ANY of my birthdays... I am afraid the most I can claim is actually spending part of New Years in 1965 in Toledo, Ohio. I mean... talk about wild and crazy, huh ?

Hi Liz-Happy 51st Birthday-It looks like a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday many of us dread but the way I look at is I'm still here to celebrate my 50th when it comes and celebrate I will. I am a 5 year breast cancer survivor come (June '09) so everyday is a blessing whether you're 30, 40 ,50 or beyond. You still got it my friend. Don't ever doubt that for a minute. I, for one am very glad I've gotten a chance to meet(chat with) my 51 yr young friend in Chilliwack and now thanks to you I even know where it is. Maybe I'll get to Hawaii for my 50th. Always wanted to go. But between yours and Sally's pics I've gotten to see some of it already. Spectacular pics. Chat again soon. ;-)

Hi Liz:

For those who passed away in your life, I'm sorry as it's never easy. All the more reason to live every minute to the fullest.

As for being 51, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Selfishly, thank you for your post. As always your thoughts are wonderful. However, today your pictures took me to paradise. I've got that "warm and fuzzy" feeling inside as if I was actually on the islands for a minute on vacation myself.

Alright enough of the emotions. On to the business of the day. If the day gets difficult, I'll be coming back to your birthday celebration here and basking in the sunshine of paradise!

Happy 29th Birthday Liz! Great photos. Makes me want to go to Hawaii now! One of these days. Have a great birthday. ~Rita

Liz,

Happy birthday to you and many more.

Liz,

May you have a wonderful birthday, and may you have as many more as makes you happy and completely content that you have done all you want and lived your life to the fullest!

50 ain't so bad anyway...I'm kinda liking it!!!

Have a great 51st birthday!

Liz

Great photos again - enjoy them very much. Your blogs consistently show happiness - and that you enjoy yourself and those around you and in your town. Thanks for passing that along to others. I'll be 52 this week - not so bad - excercise is the key to feeling young and happy.

Liz, happy birthday!---cool pictures. Is that you hanging under the parachute or in the grass skirt?

Liz, I'm back again with something for your day. Enjoy!!

Cake

Liz, I am so late to the party. I hope you had a great day today. I am a 17th too, but September. I love your photos, I have never been to Hawaii, I hope I get to go someday soon.

Happy Birthday!!

Well...I want to wish you a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my friend! I'm happy you are here, also. You are a special gift to all of us here at AR. Your kids are beautiful. GBU, my friend~~

NOV

2008

Carol - Thank you ! Its all about how you feel and act eh? lol..........o.k. you must be 30 :-)

Laura - 40 was a breeze, 50 not so....but 51 was great! :-) Thank you!

Thank you Kris :-)- who knows why some years are harder then other? Probably has to do with what other things are happening in your life at the time!

Donna R - You hit the nail on the head -its really about all the things you still want to do and are worried that you're running out of time and may not get a chance to get them all done!

Lenn - I'm trying to remember that 60 is the new 40! lol........Thanks!

Julie - that can be true - you're right....there are times when I feel I can run those circles.....too.......and then I just look at my 20 year old daughter and think.......NoT! lol

Hey bay-bay! Happy B-Day, love. Wishing you the very best in all things! Love, C.

Richard I - Do you guys get birthday cards from Social Security? lol.....its all relative isn't it? :-)

Liz: Still waiting for that picture of you in a grass skirt. The guys are getting pretty anxious, ya know ?

Carolyn my friend - thank you very much...it was a fabulous day!

Cindi - thank you! Unfortunately if I base it on how I 'feel' that can be a bit of a roller coaster! :-)

Gary I love how you went back and baked a cake just for me! Aren't you a sweetie! And I have some good news!

Rich - I do know that in the blink of an eye - 10 years will go by...:-)

Well Bill - thank you! - but I only wish I lived in Hawaii..:-)

Richard W- Aloha to you too! lol.......Hmm there's something I LIKE about Volcanic, I guess its my personality, :-)

Gary - you're just too together! :-) Thank you for the wishes !

Alan - yes clearly, lol.......Actually today I felt 51 years young........it has way to much to do with the mood! :-)

Huiting - thats wonderful.....I want to meet your wife! :-)

Melody - thats so cute.. :-).......actually I'm good with it now too....but its a funny process we have to go through sometimes....to get to where we are..:-)

Ahh Melody thank you for featuring me in Club Chaos.......somehow it feels fitting....the group! :-)

Wow Brad I had no idea you used to live in Hawaii......thanks for the wishes! :-)

Missy thank you ..:-) And I do agree for the most part its more like 30 I feel.......although sometimes I act more like 5..:-)

Thank you Cristal! I think I would be happy if I could live there even for 6 months.......hmmm we must think of some kind of consulting job! lol

Thanks Pat - I would like to celebrate one in Paris very soon too......I've been there once a long time ago and have always wanted to go back - you'll fall in love with Paris!

Karen Anne - I had a fabulous day.....I was spoiled by my friends all day and............dinner out with all my kids.......:-) The hula skirt i might trade in for the belly dancing outfit though..;-0

Thank you Donna B! - and for the cute cartoon.........the day was definitely a reminder of my blessings!

Jon I love your words..........and wow what a cool place for your daughter to get married! :-)

Karen anne YOU ARE WILD and CRAZY- what are you talking about? lol

Pat you're such a dear - and its so awesome your soon to celebrate your 5th year cancer free...what a celebration that will be! And I'm so glad we're able to start getting to know each other too!......And Hawaii.....is not to far away.......just ONE house sale right? :-)

Roger you always amaze and entertain and enlighten me!...glad i could take you on a bit of a virtual getaway to paradise! And thank you for those comments about my friends...........I appreciate them.:-)

Yeah well Karen Anne - you're pretty funny.......i'll have to see what i can doctor up..:-)

Rita.......i'm not sure this twenty-nine wasn't better then the last twenty nine.:-)Thank you!

Steven thanks for you birthday wishes!

Sara - hey thank you - and I love your wishes..:-).......see you there soon I guess huh? ;-)

Liz, I'm telling you, this age thing just creeps up on us doesn't it? It doesn't seem possible that in a few months I'll cross the big 5-0 threshold. 50? I keep hearing that 50 is the new 30 though. haha. I can't say that I still feel 20... I was a lot more agile 30 years ago. :)

I am so sorry - A DAY LATE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! I love the pictures - what beautiful scenery and memories to last a lifetime!

HappyBirthday (a day late) Liz. I have a little over a year on you and at this point it is only a number, too happy to be alive and savoring every detail of every day. Thanks for the great photos too.

And now I see why you wanted Birthday Cake instead of Cinnamon Rolls.....but really with all these fine wishes I'd think you would have liked to just slow down for a minute in my kitchen with coffee and rolls LOL :) Happy Birthday my friend, and from one that will be 57 in a few weeks.....it's not so bad :)

Beautiful trip to Hawaii....

Judy - thank you and what nice things to say! So what day is your birthday????:-)

Charles - Actually Parasailing wearing a grass skirt! :-)

Happy birthday to you Liz!

You're such an amazing person and I had no Idea a mother of three... Me too. I have 3 boys. You're beautiful and have a youthful soul my friend - who's counting? Awesome photos by the way, looks like you had an amazing trip. I have yet to leave my kitchen for the past few birthdays, maybe when I turn the big 40, I can squeeze in something memorable.

I'm having a slice of Pumpkin Pie for breakfast this morning in honor of your birthday - It's not officially a cake and there are no candles, but here's to you "happy birthday!"

You're friend in Oregon!

Gary W - Haven't had any b-day cake so i'll have a virtual slice! :-)

Audrey - 17 has always been my fav number - I wonder why? :-) Well I'm glad you came late or not!........Thank you!

Elizabeth thank you! Its wonderful to be a part of the A/R family - its definitely added to MY life! It was a fabulous day - and the kids were wonderful...........lots of flowers AND they bought me a Barbeque.......! I believe it or not have never had a new one (the odd garage sale clunker, lol).....and we went out for a beautiful dinner - it was a super birthday......!

Well Jesse - agility....age-ility - is definitely a factor!........it certainly can blindside us!

Leesa - wonderful memories.........and thank you for the wishes...never too late..:-)

Liz--I am a little late to the party but WOW I would never have guessed that you were 51! Oh my what lovely pictures. This was the first year in awhile that I was in town on my birthday...for the very same reasons you gave. We are already planning to go away next year...tells you how great a day it was. :) OK...I am rambling here but I think when my 50th rolls around HI is the place to be...I love the photos and if Sally is willing to be the host...sounds like a lot of Fun! Hope you had a wonderful day!

Christine - love the Rose - thank you! I think it IS important to keep THAT focus! :-)

Thank you Kathy - I know you went to Hawaii recently too.........I haven't had any birthday cake...and i'm having a wee bit of a sweets craving..........and those cinnamon buns are looking might fine!

Amber what delightful birthday wishes - you are too kind! 3 boys eh? how old?....We've got to get you out of that kitchen for the next one! Pumpkin pie? yum!

Liz - Happy Birthday - I wish you a great year with much love, health and success. Wow, you are a Realtor,with 3 beautiful children, now that's a hard job to do!

Teri -thank you ! And thats so funny :-)- next year I think I'd like to be in Paris like Pat K and Sylvie C...although Paris in November ....hmmm?...Well I never knew Sally when I went to Hawaii but maybe next time!

Liz - Happy Birthday. What a great way to celebrate. Your kids are beautiful. Treasure every day and every year.

Hye Liz,

If you think 50 was daunting wait till you hit the big 60.

Hi Liz... Happy Birthday! I'm not sure how I missed this post yestaerday, but better late than never! Hope it was a GREAT one!

NOV

2008

Hi Liz, Happy Belated Birthday:))) As the old saying is' better Late then Never'. Obviously it was memorable. I remember, when I hit that benchmark, I had a tough time with it, so we went to Wine Country up in Napa & Sonoma. Remember it is the new 30's so you are not middle aged yet:))

Liz, I have been really busy but stopped by your post to see what you were up to and found it was your Birthday. Beautiful pictures....and I went to Hawaii when I was 20 for 10 days and then went for 3 months when I was 23. I went back to try to get a job and live there but came home because my dad became very sick and I had to care for him. Just wasn't meant to be but I do love the Islands.....

Liz - a belated happy birthday trusting the next 50 will be as good to you as the first fifty

Happy Birthday, Liz! Your photos provoke fond memories for me, too.

NOV

2008

Maria...........its amazing how many people have memories of Hawaii! Thank you ..:-)

Kathy - Thank you! I'm thinking they might be better! :-)

Jane thank you for the birthday wishes and candles! Hawaii will always have a part of my heart....and yours too by the looks of it! How is your dad.....that was great that you came home to be with and help him....:-)

Endre thats sweet thanks - I love the Napa Valley!

Steve thank you ! I had a fabulous birthday - so still smiling..:-)

Susan I'm working on making the next 10 years 'blo*&Y amazing' ...so at 60 I can look back and say...Well done .........all that and only 60? lol

Heather - thank you - and I will! :-)

Sharon - its easy now - when I started they were 14 months and 3 years old............so.........:) phew! lol.......Thank you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LIZ!!!!!! I truly enjoyed the pics. Looked like a great trip with great memories.

Happy Birthday to you, Liz! Sounds like a wonderful trip. The photos are amazing, thanks for sharing.

Thank you Margaret! Last year was beautiful.....this year was wonderful! :-)

NOV

2008

I say you go to one of those nice coffee shops, and order yourself a big slice of cake...make it be your B-Day cake :)

NOV

2008

Liz,

Congrats......and yes Hawaii is certainly a place you never forget.

I took my wife Beverly to Hawaii on a 14 day cruise for her 40th.......

Have a great Thanksgiving.

Kathy - I did I couldn't resist my craving about 11 pm and popped in and got myself a slice of cheesecake! :-)

Dan what a fabulous gift! a 14 day cruise of Hawaii W0W! ;-)

NOV

2008

Happy Birthday Liz! Beautiful pictures for your 50th :) I too turned 51 this past Sept. Life is grand I tell you!

DEC

Thanks Sally - missed this the first time around! You live in paradise!

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