{"id":34171,"date":"2021-08-21T00:01:21","date_gmt":"2021-08-21T07:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/barbarafalconernewhall.com\/?p=34171"},"modified":"2026-06-06T12:31:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T12:31:53","slug":"im-turning-80","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/im-turning-80\/","title":{"rendered":"I’m Turning 80 Any Minute. Would You Like to Give Me a Birthday Present?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"I'm<\/a>
The Arctostaphylos “Point Reyes” manzanita is a real beauty<\/a>: shapely leaves, reddish stems, and pink flowers in winter and spring. It’s named for one of my favorite places in the world, Point Reyes. It grows low and wide, so it will look great from the deck above our backyard.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s happening. And there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I’m turning 80 next month, and I will be what I never thought possible — an octogenarian.<\/p>\n

Until I wrote that last sentence, I didn’t even know how to spell octogenarian.<\/p>\n

I did a web search. I got the spelling down. I’m ready to throw that word around for the next ten years.<\/p>\n

If all goes well.<\/p>\n

I’m Turning 80<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Birthday No. 80 is a big deal. It announces the last of the major life stages — childhood, youth, middle age, and now old age. The Big Eighty calls for celebration.<\/p>\n

Which is why I’m asking for presents.<\/p>\n

I’ve sent a request to the grandchildren, ages 2, 5 and 16, for refrigerator-worthy art work.<\/p>\n

I’ve asked the grown-up kids for something alive and growing — plants! Deer-resistant, fire-resistant, drought-resistant, preferably California native, plants for the new backyard<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A Birthday Present<\/strong><\/h5>\n

That done, I’m asking you, my faithful, long-time readers, for a gift as well.<\/p>\n

It’s this: Invite your friends to pay a visit to this website.\u00a0 Give them this link: http:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/.<\/a><\/p>\n

Ask them to sample the stories I’ve written over the years:<\/p>\n