Much to my delight I (Clare) discovered a column in the Globe and Mail (Canadian national newspaper) by Alan Cumming. Yes that Alan Cumming from The Good Wife, Masterpiece Theatre, Cabaret, and …. His first column was on turning 50. He says “I entered my 40s weeping … at 30, I had the regulation freak-out and changed my life completely….” He continues on:

But turning 50 has been a breeze. I have been longing to be 50 for ages, you see. I just like the sound of it. I like that people can’t believe it’s true. I like that I am dancing in a kickline in a Broadway musical every night with girls half my age and that my body is in better shape than it has been in any of my previous five decades, even though I party like a 20-year-old and can drink those kickline girls under the table. (Well, I am Scottish after all. It’s a national trait.)

I enjoy getting older. Is that so wrong? What I’m not so keen on is other people getting older. They get a bit boring, frankly. They talk about themselves as if they’ve had some sort of debilitating accident and can no longer function as they used to.

He talks about his birthday party bash. After reading the column I felt a real lightness and wanted to give life a hug. Here is the link for the entire article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/relationships/hard-won-wisdom-why-i-keep-dancing-as-time-marches-on/article23049338/

And while I am on the topic of Alan Cumming I highly recommend his autobiography Not My Father’s Son: A Memoir. It was one of the best books I read last year. Cumming grew up in home rife with violence. He escaped but was haunted by his father his whole life. The book is funny, sad, insightful, and beautifully written. Here is the link to it: http://www.amazon.ca/Not-My-Fathers-Son-Memoir/dp/0062225065/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424522351&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=Alan+Cumming

So happy birthday Alan Cumming. I wish I had been at your party because it sounds like it was a blast and you inspire me.