I’m felt especially blessed as I awoke to my 77^th birthday. When I opened my computer, I could not believe the number of birthday wishes that were streaming in. They continued coming in all day as I responded to each of those messages. I could see the faces of those who sent them; many of those faces I have not actually seen for years. In my mind they still appear as they did the last time we were together.

Recently I took on a significant new challenge. I took an important role in a theater production of the drama department at our community college. I was assigned the role of Pope in a play focused on domestic violence. This societal issue is of primary importance to me; thus my interest in taking part.

I had considered my acting career to have ended in 1959 after having a minor part in a high school production. The risks of making my stage debut in my 77^th year were significant. The possibility of falling on my face seemed real. To my delight, it has gone well.

My birthday schedule included performing my role before a large crowd. To my shock, after the curtain call, I was called back to the stage where a single yellow rose was tossed at my feet as the crowd sang Happy Birthday to me. Just imagine!

Why am I sharing all this with you? Just to remind myself and you that life doesn’t end until you have taken your last breath. Until then, keep showing up for new challenges and thrills