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redstatebluegirl

(12,661 posts)
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 11:50 AM Wednesday

Today I turn 70.

I do not feel 70, but here we are. Losing my Mom when she was 40, makes me grateful for the 30 extra years I have been granted.

I have seen alot in my life, the turbulent 60's, gas lines and no jobs in the 70's, high interest rates in the 80's, the election of an amazing Black President, a woman of color as our Vice President, and the horror of a racist moron trying to destroy our country.

The changes in technology has been mind blowing, growing up with a "party line" and encyclopedias, to now where my phone and the world is at my fingertips.

I hope my 70's are calm but I doubt it. Racists and sexist aholes have come out from under their rocks. The world seems more unsafe than ever in my lifetime, this includes living through the Cuban Missile Crisis as a child, seeing the fear my Mom tried to hide.

Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst.

116 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Today I turn 70. (Original Post) redstatebluegirl Wednesday OP
Happy Birthday! (and may you have many more trips around the sun to come!) Moostache Wednesday #1
Happy Birthday! Irish_Dem Wednesday #2
My mom died of cancer in 1989 when I was almost 40 Walleye Wednesday #3
My mother died in the late 60's from a cancer that would easily be curable today. hamsterjill Yesterday #115
Yes, it seems everything being done by this administration is rooted in hatred. I don't think it's sustainable. Walleye Yesterday #116
Happy Birthday! BeerBarrelPolka Wednesday #4
Happy Birthday my friend. William769 Wednesday #5
Happy Birthday. redstatebluegirl. I turned 70 the end of February debm55 Wednesday #6
Happy belated, Deb! SheltieLover Wednesday #41
Happy Birthday! Loryn Wednesday #7
Happy Birthday!! Hope you do something fun and stress free. 58Sunliner Wednesday #8
Happy Birthday and many or as many as you'd like. a kennedy Wednesday #9
Welcome to the club! bif Wednesday #10
I turned 70 last September, youngster! deurbano Wednesday #31
Happy Birthday! Solly Mack Wednesday #11
Happy Birthday! Quiet Em Wednesday #12
From your keyboard to karma's ear! SheltieLover Wednesday #40
:) Quiet Em Wednesday #42
A Very Happy Birthday to YOU! NCgayguy Wednesday #13
Happy Birthday to you, have a glorious day! SheilaAnn Wednesday #14
Happy Birthday! stillcool Wednesday #15
Happy Birthday redstatebluegirl 🎂 Clouds Passing Wednesday #16
Happy Birthday!!!!! Peacetrain Wednesday #17
Happy Birthday redstatebluegirl JMCKUSICK Wednesday #18
Right behind ya Sistah! OMGWTF Wednesday #19
Happy birthday! nt Dulcinea Wednesday #20
Happy birthday. I'm a few months behind you. We're all in this together. 1WorldHope Wednesday #21
Same here. SheltieLover Wednesday #39
Brightest and most peaceful day MaineNative Wednesday #22
Best wishes ILikePie92 Wednesday #23
I too was in my twenties in the seventies and now I am in my seventies in the twenties. twodogsbarking Wednesday #24
Threescore and Ten.... Mustellus Wednesday #25
Happy birthday young one... MiHale Wednesday #26
Happy Birthday LetMyPeopleVote Wednesday #27
Happy 70th Jughead Wednesday #28
It feels weird I have to say. redstatebluegirl Wednesday #29
Happy Birthday! LoisB Wednesday #30
Happy birthday!! cate94 Wednesday #32
Happy birthday! greatauntoftriplets Wednesday #33
Happy birthday! yardwork Wednesday #34
"" AllaN01Bear Wednesday #35
I Just Turned 72. BBbats Wednesday #36
Right behind ya, BBbats. calimary Wednesday #44
Happy Birthday & many happy, healthy returns! SheltieLover Wednesday #37
Happy Birthday 🎂 Sailingdiver Wednesday #38
Fellow Taurus here Colorado Liberal Wednesday #43
Happy Birthday! redstatebluegirl Wednesday #79
Happy birthday! H2O Man Wednesday #45
Happy birthday to you, redstatebluegirl!!! BComplex Wednesday #46
Congrats! 2naSalit Wednesday #47
Congrats, you've survived the 60's TWICE! DinahMoeHum Wednesday #48
Happy Birthday! Gak73 Wednesday #49
Happy Birthday and congratulations, you survived the 60s twice. surfered Wednesday #50
Happy birthday Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Wednesday #51
Happy Birthday 🎂 🎁 underpants Wednesday #52
Happy Birthday to a Generation Jones cohort! sarchasm Wednesday #53
Welcome to being 70 BeneteauBum Wednesday #54
Hiting that three score and ten feels like an acievement Warpy Wednesday #55
Well then... TuxedoKat Wednesday #56
Happy birthday 🎂 SocialDemocrat61 Wednesday #57
Happy Birthday malaise Wednesday #58
Happy Birthday and a question Buckeyeblue Wednesday #59
In some ways. redstatebluegirl Wednesday #81
Great post and happy birthday! Nt spooky3 Wednesday #60
Happy Birthday! I remember driving alone across SW deserts in my old VW beetle in the 70's thought crime Wednesday #61
Congrats, I "did" 70 6 months ago ... Dock_Yard Wednesday #62
Happy Birthday! Eko Wednesday #63
Welcome to the 70 club! nolabear Wednesday #64
Happy 70th! 🍾 Celerity Wednesday #65
Happy Birthday to you! Sanity Claws Wednesday #66
Congratulations! area51 Wednesday #67
Happy B-Day! ProfessorGAC Wednesday #68
Happy Birthday! Tree Lady Wednesday #69
Happy Birthday, redstatebluegirl! CrispyQ Wednesday #70
Love it! redstatebluegirl Wednesday #80
Happy Birthday! I remember turning 70, long ago... MineralMan Wednesday #71
Wishing you the happiest of birthdays!🎂🎉🎁 Phoenix61 Wednesday #72
Happy birthday Duncanpup Wednesday #73
Happy Birthday. HarryM Wednesday #74
Ah, to be 70 again. Happy Birthday redstatebluegirl! FailureToCommunicate Wednesday #75
A very Happy Birthday to you, redstatebluegirl! HeartsCanHope Wednesday #76
Happy Birthday "redstatebluegirl" Fla Dem Wednesday #77
Happy birthday and I get it. Kath2 Wednesday #78
Happy Birthday! canetoad Wednesday #82
That Seventies Show! Starring: SupportSanity Wednesday #83
Happy Birthday, redstatebluegirl! MIButterfly Wednesday #84
Happy Birthday! La Coliniere Wednesday #85
Congratulations !!!!! beemerphill Wednesday #86
Happy Birthday Girl! May we all survive to see another. I am of similar "vintage" so thank you for the post! Evolve Dammit Wednesday #87
75 going to 76 in redneck city tmars505 Wednesday #88
Happy Birthday redstatebluegir, I an a couple of months ahead of you. c-rational Wednesday #89
Happy 70th Birthday redstatebluegirl! Hope you livetohike Wednesday #90
Happy birthday. love_katz Wednesday #91
Just for you. Hotler Wednesday #92
Happy Birthday 🎂 Emile Wednesday #93
Happy Birthday !! IbogaProject Wednesday #94
Happy Happy Birthday! nt Xipe Totec Wednesday #95
Happy birthday!!! Saoirse9 Wednesday #96
Happy Birthday to YOU, Happy Birthday to YOU!!! 🎂 🎁 🥳 nt Raine Wednesday #97
Happy Birthday and welcome to the 70's mountain grammy Wednesday #98
Happy Birthday!!! CaptainTruth Wednesday #99
Happy Birthday! Scrivener7 Wednesday #100
Many happy returns of the day! lapucelle Wednesday #101
Happy Birthday bdamomma Wednesday #102
Happy Birthday, redstatebluegirl! sheshe2 Wednesday #103
Happy Birthday!!!!! Katcat Wednesday #104
Happy Birthday! redstatebluegirl Wednesday #106
Happy birthday 🎈🎂 MustLoveBeagles Wednesday #105
Congrats its a milestone Figarosmom Wednesday #107
I turned 70 last March... William Gustafson Wednesday #108
Happy birthday!! ❤️ littlemissmartypants Yesterday #109
Happy Birthday 😁🎂 Meowmee Yesterday #110
Happy Birthday AKwannabe Yesterday #111
Happy birthday, youngster! Straw Man Yesterday #112
Happy birthday RSBG Magoo48 Yesterday #113
Happy birthday Duncanpup Yesterday #114

Moostache

(10,460 posts)
1. Happy Birthday! (and may you have many more trips around the sun to come!)
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 11:53 AM
Wednesday

Hope you have a great day and many fond memories to come.

Irish_Dem

(68,614 posts)
2. Happy Birthday!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 11:53 AM
Wednesday

Your post is very well stated. I agree with all of it!

Celebrate your milestone birthday!
Enjoy what we have right now.
We don't know what the future holds for us.

Walleye

(39,776 posts)
3. My mom died of cancer in 1989 when I was almost 40
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 11:54 AM
Wednesday

She was 70 and now I’m 76 so I have six years on her. The past 30 years have brought a lot of advances in cancer treatment. She probably would have survived, these days. Of course RFK Junior wants to mess up all our cancer research. happy happy birthday, keep a good thought. There really are many good people left. They’re just being beaten up right now.

hamsterjill

(15,771 posts)
115. My mother died in the late 60's from a cancer that would easily be curable today.
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 10:49 AM
Yesterday

I was quite young when she died.

I am grateful for the advances in treatment, and I bring this up to illustrate the importance of the continued research and advancement. The idea that someone would try to curtail that research and advancement is disgusting to me.

And yes, there ARE many good people left, and they certainly are beaten up right now. But we have to keep fighting1

Walleye

(39,776 posts)
116. Yes, it seems everything being done by this administration is rooted in hatred. I don't think it's sustainable.
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 11:31 AM
Yesterday

bif

(25,224 posts)
10. Welcome to the club!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 12:04 PM
Wednesday

Happy Birthday. I turned 70 Last October. I feel like I'm about 30. We'll get through this. Just like we got through Reagan and the Bush idiots. Hang in there!

deurbano

(2,965 posts)
31. I turned 70 last September, youngster!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 12:58 PM
Wednesday

I feel much younger, too, but maybe I was just wrong about how 70 would feel? (I went back to finally finish my BA at Berkeley at 68, and now I'm planning to attend graduate school.)

Yes, we will get though this! (Not sure about the 401k...)

Quiet Em

(1,820 posts)
12. Happy Birthday!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 12:14 PM
Wednesday

Here's hoping we eventually return to calmness for your 7th decade by ridding this country of the con and his cult.

twodogsbarking

(13,431 posts)
24. I too was in my twenties in the seventies and now I am in my seventies in the twenties.
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 12:44 PM
Wednesday

Give peace a chance. Eat some Ice Cream.

yardwork

(66,326 posts)
34. Happy birthday!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 01:07 PM
Wednesday

I'm close to your age and am very sad that the country has come to this.

I believed that Harris would win the election and that the good reforms Biden put in motion would continue.

As bad as I thought Trump II would be, it's even worse.

Tough times to live through.

SheltieLover

(66,824 posts)
37. Happy Birthday & many happy, healthy returns!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 01:11 PM
Wednesday


I know what you mean about how fast tech has evolved.

I think about my parents' generation & I'm sure they felt the same way living through The Great Depression, the advent of cars, WW II, the highway system, etc., etc.

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(121,996 posts)
51. Happy birthday
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 01:59 PM
Wednesday

I'm only 2 1/2 years behind you.

In spite of all the bullshit in the world one can still remain positive. One thing about getting older is you learn to count your blessings.

sarchasm

(1,262 posts)
53. Happy Birthday to a Generation Jones cohort!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 02:02 PM
Wednesday

Right there with you bluegirl! Analog to digital. ... (71 in may.)

Keep up the good fight, and get in some of that good trouble.



BeneteauBum

(125 posts)
54. Welcome to being 70
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 02:04 PM
Wednesday

Got there three years ago……and yes, we are living in scary times.
Peace ☮️

Warpy

(113,251 posts)
55. Hiting that three score and ten feels like an acievement
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 02:06 PM
Wednesday

along with a large dose of "How the fuck did this happen?" Age really does tend to creep up on you except when it starts to gallop. There's also a bit of satisfaction when we reflect on some of the rotten assholes we've managed to outlive, Limbaugh comes to mind immediately but there have been others.

So happy birthday. May you have many others in good health, going forward like the Energizer bunny, banging the left wing drum for many years until the batteries just quit and the exit is peaceful.

And my own feeling is that anyone over 70 should be able to eat any food or drug s/he desires. Period.

TuxedoKat

(3,827 posts)
56. Well then...
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 02:07 PM
Wednesday

a very, very Happy Birthday to you and a wonderful year and wishes for many more!!!

thought crime

(163 posts)
61. Happy Birthday! I remember driving alone across SW deserts in my old VW beetle in the 70's
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 02:21 PM
Wednesday

The retread tires had inner tubes, and sometimes they would wear through until I could see the tube. But off I’d go! With Stevie Wonder’s “Songs to the Key of Life” playing crackling on the radio. Now I don't leave home without the cell phone fully charged.

But love is certainly still in need of love today.

Dock_Yard

(194 posts)
62. Congrats, I "did" 70 6 months ago ...
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 02:25 PM
Wednesday

... just as Election Day happened. I was so crestfallen and angry and mystified.

The first 26 years of my life, it seemed net progress towards a "more perfect union" every 4 years was largely assured, despite the criminality of Nixon/Watergate and plenty of more minor Nixon/Agnew gross-ness prior. Then came Reagan in 1980, which definitely swung the tide for the next (ongoing) 44 years. Yes, we have interrupted the "bad tide" for terms (Clinton X 2, Obama X 2, Biden X 1), but overall the negative societal trends and attitudes have become much more entrenched. We all know why and how, I won't get into that here ...

With my life-span split approaching 1/3rd of a "progressing" nation and 2/3rds of a "regressing" nation, I've decided to just the rest of my life how I want to, no matter how negative the trends are. I worry -- a lot -- for what my adult children will have to confront after I'm gone. I will continue to vote and protest, as we all should.

nolabear

(43,666 posts)
64. Welcome to the 70 club!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 02:36 PM
Wednesday

I’m a few months ahead of you. Seeing the things we believe in and have worked so hard for beaten bloody is dispiriting at best. But I plan to hang around out of pure cussedness and work as I can for my kids and grandkids’ (and everyone else’s too!) future.

Happy Birthday! All in all it’s a time of strength and perspective.

Sanity Claws

(22,181 posts)
66. Happy Birthday to you!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 02:40 PM
Wednesday

It won't be long until I'm at the milestone too.
I'm hoping for the best too --- for you and all of us.

Tree Lady

(12,363 posts)
69. Happy Birthday!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 02:57 PM
Wednesday

I know the feeling the years go by so fast especially as we age. I hope you have a wonderful day.

I am not far behind you, turn 69 soon.

CrispyQ

(39,513 posts)
70. Happy Birthday, redstatebluegirl!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 03:02 PM
Wednesday


I consider myself a winner in the human lottery in terms of when & where I was born, especially as a woman. Here's a BD card to cheer you up! Okay, I stole it but I love this map!

HarryM

(356 posts)
74. Happy Birthday.
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 03:33 PM
Wednesday

I am close to 70 myself. Less than 3 weeks away. We have been through a lot. As an activist for the past 55 years or so, it has been almost a full time second job to keep up with all the crap we normal folks have had to fight for. I get depressed when I think about all that we have worked for, only to get it wiped away by a schmuck from Asstoria, Queens. (my misspelling). It was a lot of work to get all the things for WE THE PEOPLE that we have worked for over our lifetime. I am not as energetic as I once was, but will fight until my last breath, to do whatever I am able to do. Granted, I am not in very great health, and cannot physically do what I once did, but I feel that things may get worse if we all don't step up and work hard for out rights, the environment, and against greed, future generations will suffer.
There are some young folks who have taken on the banners that we used to carry, and I look forward to the day when they take the leadership out of the hands of greed, and uncontrolled capitalists.
Godspeed. Stay healthy and happy.

Fla Dem

(26,544 posts)
77. Happy Birthday "redstatebluegirl"
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 03:57 PM
Wednesday

As you can tell by my posting name, I too live in a red state. One of the most deplorable one. But for the 1st time in a long time I'm seeing Dems stepping up and pushing back. It's a steep hill to climb but we're climbing it.

Have a great birthday.

Kath2

(3,154 posts)
78. Happy birthday and I get it.
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 03:59 PM
Wednesday

66 here and these are terrifying times. Absolutely appalling. And, yes, the racists and sexists are out in force. Hang in there sister. We are in for long few years. Hopefully, his crimes will catch up with him and he will be impeached.

SupportSanity

(1,398 posts)
83. That Seventies Show! Starring:
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 04:52 PM
Wednesday

us!

Happy Birthday to ya’

70 was so last year.

I was told it’s all downhill from here. I’m still looking for the hill.

I’m not all seventy.

My eyes are 80
My teeth are 60
My belly is 95 and way too old for exercise
My one hip says it’s too old and is asking for a replacement
My nose is 105 and should be smelling smells that are now only a memory
And my brain is a twenty year old trapped in an older man’s body.

All in all, it’s as it should be.

Happy Birthday!

MIButterfly

(304 posts)
84. Happy Birthday, redstatebluegirl!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 05:17 PM
Wednesday

I wish you many happy returns of the day!

I can relate to every word you wrote. It's been a heck of a ride these past 70 years. Some good times; some great times; some not so good times; some awful times; a lot of laughs and a lot of tears.

Sto lat! (meaning: 100 years; it's a traditional Polish song for best wishes and a long life.)

beemerphill

(554 posts)
86. Congratulations !!!!!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 05:36 PM
Wednesday

I am 75 myself. I can remember talking to my grandmother. She went from a time when people used horse drawn carriages for transportation to seeing a man walk on the moon on live TV. We live interesting times, and I am glad that we do.

Evolve Dammit

(20,539 posts)
87. Happy Birthday Girl! May we all survive to see another. I am of similar "vintage" so thank you for the post!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 06:28 PM
Wednesday

tmars505

(9 posts)
88. 75 going to 76 in redneck city
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 06:59 PM
Wednesday

just wait. One day you will wake up and realize you've never been this old before

livetohike

(23,392 posts)
90. Happy 70th Birthday redstatebluegirl! Hope you
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 07:47 PM
Wednesday

are having a wonderful day. I can’t believe all that we have seen in our years (I’ll be 73 in July).

love_katz

(3,001 posts)
91. Happy birthday.
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 08:04 PM
Wednesday

We're the same age. Welcome to your seventh decade of life.

Those of us who have lived this long have seen a lot of changes.
Sadly, we don't get to relax and enjoy our golden years.
We fought for social justice and environmental healing throughout our lives. We just have to Keep On Truckin', as Freewheeling Franklin used to say in the old Zap Comix.
Sigh .

Saoirse9

(3,856 posts)
96. Happy birthday!!!
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 09:16 PM
Wednesday

I am right behind you. Turning 65 Sunday. Definitely a depressing time to be getting old.

mountain grammy

(27,725 posts)
98. Happy Birthday and welcome to the 70's
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 09:27 PM
Wednesday

I’ve been here 7 years.

It’s a challenge but we’re still here!

Figarosmom

(5,298 posts)
107. Congrats its a milestone
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 11:20 PM
Wednesday

I'm right there with you. I hit 75. Never thought I'd see 50. But, man, when you think back at the developments in science, it's amazing. A Black President brought tears to my eyes, but then I knew the racists would rise to the surface and try to make us pay. I just hoped there were fewer of them.

But wow, we can talk to each other face to face from anywhere with our phones. I remember what a big deal a speaker phone was. And color TV.

William Gustafson

(444 posts)
108. I turned 70 last March...
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 11:36 PM
Wednesday

I agree with your sediments to the change we experienced.
From growing up on a small horse farm, where we got our first tv... Black and white monster that could heat the entire room from the vacuum tubes and picture tube heat.... there was the evolution of the TV's to now flat screens, we got to witness.
Our home was a few miles from my hometown, so as I grew older, I would hitchhike into town to hang with my friends, and had to be back home before the sun went down... We never worried that anyone would kidnap us, because most people were happy to give me a lift...
We had great music, great cars, great friends and great family's.... There wasn't one weekend a month where the family would get together, with Aunts and Uncles and all our cousins. We were close back then....
We, too... had a party line, but when my father worked for Bell Telelphone, we got a private line because he was on call all the time.... with five teenagers, the phone was always used. We had to remember our friends phone numbers by heart because phonebooks were scarce until the 60's.
In order to find our friends, we looked for bikes in front yards, and then later, look for cars in the driveways... there was always a lot of them either way.
Vietnam affected me because my oldest brother went there... thankfully, he came back. We worried everyday he was there. The protest on the TV... Kent State shootings by National Guard... I enlisted in 1974 into the USCG, one year before the war ended, and luckily, my draft number came up, but I was already signed up with the Guard... spent five years in the guard.
A lot of things have changed, and I have been able to keep up, but this last 8 years, what I have witnessed going on, and now with this administration doing everything they can to destroy what millions of people before us, created. It's astounding to watch everyday people believe that this group of Administration officials are actually making "Make America Great Again".
We lost Allys we have had for 80 years, turn our backs on the people that are being bombed by Russia, Destroying the economy and any retirement that people saved for - gone! Destroy the government, including 80,000 getting fired for the VA... It's all been done in just 90+ days...
I hope I get to live to see the end of all of this, so I can see the justice that will be required and "Build Back Better"

Meowmee

(8,720 posts)
110. Happy Birthday 😁🎂
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 01:15 AM
Yesterday

Yes we lived through or remember a lot of that too... what is happening since psycho is far worse and not even comparable imo. I had hoped to finally have some peace after the disasters caused to my family. But it seems it will only get worse.

I also have outlived my mother by a long time now. I don't want whatever is left marred by this insanity anymore.

Straw Man

(6,860 posts)
112. Happy birthday, youngster!
Thu Apr 24, 2025, 02:37 AM
Yesterday

(I turned 71 in February, so I can say that. )

It's strange to have lived through things that young people now think of as ancient history: the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK; the Vietnam War; the Kent State massacre; Watergate; the Iran hostage crisis; 9/11 ... Well, happy birthday, and many more!

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Today I turn 70.