I am getting older and I have had a lot of birthdays. However, next year’s is an especially big one for me. The first number is a 5 for the 1st time! I’m not sure how I will feel. Perhaps it will be a big day and really impact my life or perhaps it will just feel like another birthday.
The question is what should I do?
- Should I have a party with friends and family?
- How about a trip with some guys friends and take in a sporting event?
- Should I do something a little more pricey and meaningful and go to a baseball fantasy camp with my dad and uncle?
- Should I rent a big house somewhere on a beach for a week and invite the people closest to me?
Clearly, I have lots of choices and time to think about what I want to do.
I could use your help:
- What is the best birthday party you have ever attended?
- Where was it?
- Have you ever thrown yourself a birthday party?
- Any other ideas about what I should do?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Stephenie Gordon says:
i have two best birthdays, my 23rd and my 30th. The 30th was fantastic. My husband invited over our 4 closest couple friends and created a beautiful square table in the middle of our back yard where he served the most amazing meal under the stars. we sat there all night, enjoyed wine, and each others company. it was relaxing and perfect.
You only turn 50 once! It’s up to you to decide how to enjoy it. What would make YOU happy? I think i would like to take a nice trip with my husband and get to enjoy some R&R.
janet savoie says:
When I turned 50 I was living with my husband in Orlando and working at Universal Studios. My kids and my brand new 1st grandson were living in Nashville. We flew them in to celebrate with me and that was the best gift in the world. You have to decide what will be meaningful for you.
John Castellano says:
your not 50 yet…!
Fee Sepahi says:
Hi Merrill,
Unlike Stephanie, I’ve had a few more birthdays to celebrate!!! My 30th and 40th were surrounded by everyone I love and care about, in the homes I lived in.
For my 50th my phenomenal girlfriend and I chose to have it be about us. She kept it a secret and took me to the Water Club in Atlantic City and got us a really nice room, followed by a spa and massage for two and swimming at the top of the hotel. WOW!!! It was truly magical. A fabulous, intimate meal and a great time playing Blackjack followed by a nice bottle of champagne. I truly appreciated every second of it and cherish it to this day.
Like Stephanie said, find out what’s important to you and you value in your life and if you really want to, poll those closest to you and see what matters to them, that way, with you being so special, you can thwart any expectations and hone in what you really want . Do that informal research and then choose….
All the best,
Fee
Michael Halberstam says:
Do everything on your list! And, just for fun, try rooting for the Yankees and Lakers. It will put you in a mood where you will appreciate what you have all the more.
Jeffrey Adler says:
I suppose I am now closing the barn door after the horse has escaped, but…
I was going to recommend denial and not telling anybody. 🙂
candace corlett says:
50 is the most liberating decade. Would you ever have created a list like this one at 40? 50s are all about you with a lot less responsibilities: mortgages get paid off, evenings and weekends become free of kids commitments, kids become adults.. Do all the things on your list over the next few years. Start with a big big party to announce your liberation and let everyone know this is your Me Decade — and they better watch out!
Christing Cook says:
M,
Do something you have never done before.
Maybe you’re about nice hotels and fancy meals? Go camping…really camp! Buy the equipment for your B-day gift and load up the fam and head to the woods with Smores fixin’s and truly enjoy the simple life.
Go Jeeping at Moab. This is a rocking great time!
If it’s the first week in August, head to Sturgis. DO NOT TAKE THE KIDS! Way too much flesh. It’s something everyone should experience even if you drive a car there and just check it out. Go to Devils Tower, the President’s Heads, Crazy Horse (as the bikers call them…Mt Rushmore), If you don’t have a bike, hang your head out the SUV window and get some bugs in your teeth : )=.
If you have never been in a Helicopter, get a ride. Amazing!
Or go Paragliding. This is John’s new toy. He has one with a motor. I refer to it as a giant kite with a huge fan strapped to his back. Not tryin this one myself.
Simply celebrate life and go to NY and see the new WTC memorial that is just opening up.
Happy Birthday Mr. Dubrow!
Christine
UNCLE J says:
Merrill, you should definitely go with your Dad and Uncle to fantasy baseball camp!!
Merrill Dubrow says:
Uncle J,
That would be a dream come true – a dream come true!
Miss you!
Merrill
Sybil Stershic says:
I agree with Michael Halberstam – why do you have to limit yourself to only one celebration? Do whatever brings you joy, Merrill. You only turn fifty once – so enjoy it!
John Castellano says:
If 40 is the old age of youth then 50 is the youth of old age…. I embraced my 40th, rather than wear black and sit in a darkened room I decided to take 18 friends/family to Vegas for four nights. I “spread” myself out and might have dinner with four college friends, take my parents to a Sinatra retrospective, have buffet breakfast with my brothers, explore with some and stay out too late with the frat brothers. I brought the entire group together for a private dinner at The Rio. When I came home I picked up my gift to myself a 2007 BMW. With all the fanfare it was fun to turn 40. I like to celebrate the b-days that end in a zero or 5 and lay very low on the 1-2-3-4 ones. Next year has a 5 (second number), I think I will do a dinner in NYC or Phila with friends.
50 really is the 40 of 1975, I was at the PCP with my 85 year old father yesterday and the doc said he has not seen a person die of a heart attack in over 20 years, life will always get better but we are not living in such a bad time now. Pop a pill, keep the mind busy, and walk around the block and hitting 90 is not so difficult. Remember seeing someone 90 in the early 1970s it was like looking at a fossil in the museum as the wakes you went too had folks in their late 60’s early 70’s.
Happy B-Day!
John
Merrill Dubrow says:
John, WOW – great advice… Thanks for sharing your stories – that means a lot to me. I will do something special for sure and share it with a number of different people who have touched my life over the years.
Merrill
Naomi Lenoci says:
When I turned 50 I had a hard time reflecting that probably half of my life was over and wondered what I had contributed to society,etc., etc. I did not want a party, just dinner with my family. However, when I hit 60 I went all out. My daughter’s threw the biggest party ever – at least 80 close family and friends in a wonderful cookout. Friends flew in, drove in and made the day so special for me. I have never felt so much love in one spot – other than our wedding day. Each day is so precious and I count them as a blessing and try to do something nice for someone else each day. It is no longer about “Me” but what I can give to make others happy and feel loved. I say go with your father, uncle and take along your sons – three generations celebrating life ! Nothing better!!
Michelle says:
Candace said it right!
The 50’s are all about you! evenings and weekends are kid-free.
Heck even the weekdays are kid free!
It’s the decade for you to feel liberated!
Do you what YOU want.
No one will take care of you like YOU!
Happy Birthday!
It’s your decade Merrill…. I’m sure it will keep you warm and happy!
Karen Dawson says:
My vote is to make it a special YEAR, not just a Day! So take THE trip, or multiple trips throughout the year with different people…places you’ve always wanted to go.
For me it was sailing through the Greek Isles on Windstar Cruises. But that year I wrote a “Bucket List” of places I needed to go to, or things to do over the next 10 years. Like last year’s Culinary Trip to Tuscany I did with Chef Darren McGrady;
it was magical. I can see you going to multiple Ballparks you haven’t been to before. P.S. I’d say do all 3 things you mentioned above. Enjoy.
Kelly Heatly says:
Pick your favorite idea from the above list without considering anyone or anything except what YOU really want to do. If you like the ideas equally, then choose the one most feasible and economical. Also, consider what you would rather do now for your 50th vs. your 60th!
For my 40th, I chose to go skiing for first time in years. We chose kid-friendly Steamboat Springs so my then 4-year old could learn to ski. Little did I know we would fall in love with the place and visit every year for the next three years.
Happy birthday!!
Laurie says:
How about a trip to Australia ? There’s nothing like being down under with family and friends to celebrate a 50th birthday(s).
Laurie, Andrew, Gary and Stacey.