Julie Zickefoose on Blogspot: Ol' 55

Julie in the Flesh

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Thurs. Feb. 27, 2020, 7 PM: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at Mt. St. Joseph University Theater, 5701 Delhi Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45233. Doors open 6:30 pm. For info call Colleen McSwiggin (513) 244-4864

Mar. 11-15, 2020: Bird Friendly Backyard workshop and Saving Jemima talk at Joint Conference, N. Am. Bluebird Society/Bluebirds Across Nebraska, Holiday Inn Convention Center, Kearney, NE. Right in the middle of sandhill crane migration! Call (308) 237-5971 for reservations.

Mon. Mar. 23, 2020, 6 PM: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at Morgan Co. Master Gardeners Event, Twin City Opera House, 15 W. Main St., McConnelsville, OH. Free and open to the public. Call (740) 962-4854 for information.

Sun. Mar. 29, 2020, 3 PM: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at Sunday With Friends,, Washington Co. Public Library, 205 Oak Hill St. NE, Abingdon, VA 24210. For more information, call (276) 676-6390

Apr. 30-May 2, 2020: Julie Zickefoose at New River Birding Festival, Opossum Creek Retreat, Fayetteville, WV. Friday night keynote: Saving Jemima. Curtis Loew, miracle curdoggie, presiding.

May 7, 2020, 7 pm: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at Campus Martius Museum, Washington and Third Streets, Marietta, OH. Booksigning after. If you missed the Esbenshade lecture/ People's Bank talk in November 2019, this is your event!

Weds. May 13 2020, 5:30 PM: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center's event at Essex Meadows, 30 Bokum Rd., Essex, CT 06426 This event is open to the public.

Thurs. May 14 2020, 6 PM: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at New Haven Bird Club's Annual Banquet, Amarante's Restaurant, 62 Cove St., New Haven, CT 06512. This event is open to the public!

Sat. May 16, 2020: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" for Bergen Co. Audubon Society at Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plz, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 Time to be announced. Call (201) 460-1700 for more info.

Sun. May 17, 2020, 2 PM: "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at White Memorial Conservation Center, 80 Whitehall Rd., Litchfield, CT 06759. Call (860) 567-0857 for information.

Tues. May 19, 2020, 7 PM: Good Reads on Earth Author Series, by PRI's Living On Earth with Julie Zickefoose and Saving Jemima at Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln MA 01773. Includes audience participation, and will be taped for airing on public radio! Get the book first, read up and call (781) 259-2200 for information.

Thurs. May 21, 2020 6 pm: Julie Zickefoose, "Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay" at Bigelow Chapel, Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mt. Auburn St. Cambridge MA 02138. Call (617) 547-7105 for more info.

Well, my time went so quickly

I went lickety splitly

Out to my ol' '55.

As I pulled away slowly

Feeling so holy, God knows

I was feeling alive

And now the sun's coming up

I'm ridin' with Lady Luck

Freeways, cars and trucks

Stars beginning to fade

And I lead the parade

Just a wishin' I'd stayed a little longer

Oh Lord, the feeling's getting stronger

with many thanks to Tom Waits for his lyrics and his song, "Ol' 55."

There are a couple of ways to look at where I am today. I suppose some might look at it and see this.

I consider the alternative and choose

happy.

I'm glad my body is in good working order,

that I have a family to love

photo by Sara Stratton

and that I live in a place I adore.

I like that Sabatia angularis opens into abundant bloom on July 24.

I'm glad that Mr. Antill spares the weedy bank where they grow as he mows the township roadsides.

The chicory and Queen Anne's lace and butterfly weed will grow back. This one is a biennial; it won't.

And so I stand up for it, and it stands up and shouts Hallelujah!

Seems like it's just for me.

Maybe because I'm out there every morning,

listening.

My beloved Piper, ringing the morning bell.

22 comments:

Thanks for sharing all these wonderful pictures. It's like I always say every year I get older...it sure beats the alternative!! Happy Birthday.

Posted by Carol- Beads and Birds July 24, 2013 at 2:58 AM

As a friend of mine would say, 'Happy 16th Anniversary!... of your 39th B-day.'

Posted by cyberthrush July 24, 2013 at 3:00 AM

Happy birthday, Julie! Thank you for sharing your lovely spaces and dear Chet Baker with us.

Posted by Barbara A.T. Wilson July 24, 2013 at 3:56 AM

You always inspire me to look at things in a positive and blessed way. Thank you so much!!! You make a difference.

Posted by David and Brenda Knoll July 24, 2013 at 4:49 AM

Happy birthday Zick! I hope it is wonderful and you are completely spoiled by that great family of yours.
Tickled pink to know ya, and proud to have you as a member of the 55 and alive gang.

Posted by R.Powers July 24, 2013 at 5:37 AM

Happy Birthday & thanks for being so kind to the roadside mowing guy while saving the day for the flowers!

Posted by Lee Loudenslager Adams July 24, 2013 at 5:55 AM

Happy Birthday Julie! Have a great day!
Lynda in Michigan

Posted by WPgirl July 24, 2013 at 5:55 AM

Thinking of you. Happy, happy birthday, baby. Love forever,xxoom

Posted by Anonymous July 24, 2013 at 6:05 AM

Happiest of birthdays, dear Julie! You are living and breathing the poetry of treating every day as a gift. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Posted by Erin July 24, 2013 at 6:11 AM

Happy Birthday, dear friend and Paw Paw Pal. Wishing you a day that's filled with everything you love.

Posted by Anne July 24, 2013 at 6:21 AM

Happy Birthday Julie.
You have and give the best gift of all, the ability to see and wonder at everyday marvels. Thank you from all of us for sharing your generous nature (pun intended).

Posted by JP July 24, 2013 at 6:30 AM

Happy Birthday. I read your blog regularly and so appreciate the way you see the world, it has opened my eyes. Since you are a musician/fan, would an appropriate caption to that last photo be "Piper at the Gates of Dawn"?

Posted by Anonymous July 24, 2013 at 7:39 AM

As it happens, Anon, it is...and was... http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com/2012/09/piper-at-gates-of-dawn.html

Posted by Julie Zickefoose July 24, 2013 at 7:47 AM

Happy birthday friend Julie.
The ones with 0's are a nuisance.
Repeating digit birthdays are somehow different. You realize you are a speed limit now, right?

Posted by Rondeau Ric July 24, 2013 at 8:11 AM

Happy Birthday! A beautiful post for your birthday. Wishing you all good things in this new year of your life.

Posted by Heidi July 24, 2013 at 8:30 AM

I'm trying to think of something witty

Like that cow chip you posted on your Birthday Blog was kinda Sh*T*Y

But I can't think of nuttin' Honey

I Hope You Can Stop That Baby Bunny Hard

From Eatin' Your Swiss Chard.

Happy Birthday, Haiku, Bird, Garden Woman and Thanks for sharing parts of you with US.

Posted by Cheyanne July 24, 2013 at 9:01 AM

Happy double nickle! Mine was last year. My hope for you is many more blue birds singing in the future.

Posted by cowango July 24, 2013 at 10:17 AM

Someone, some famous photographer probably, once said, "Light never knew how good it was, until it hit a wall." Or, maybe, until it provided a canvas for an artist and her loyal companion, drawn in shadows, on the side of an obliging Ohio barn. Love that shot, best of all!

Welcome to 55, land of the suggested speed limit on the roads less taken. Seems like a plan.

xoxoHodge

Posted by KH Macomber July 24, 2013 at 12:00 PM

Happy Birthday, Julie!

Posted by Alan Pulley July 24, 2013 at 3:01 PM

They're all good. Keep 'em coming.

Posted by Murr Brewster July 24, 2013 at 3:56 PM

Happy Birthday! You are I are the same age. I turned 55 in March. I am enjoying this stage in life. Too old to waste time on things that I don't enjoy. Young enough to be creative and find new interests. Wise enough to know what roads not to take and foolish enough to take a road not traveled sometimes. I wish the same for you, but you already know it!

Posted by Island Rider July 24, 2013 at 4:52 PM

Glad to be sharing this planet with you, Julie. May you bless us with 55 more.

Posted by Amy G. July 24, 2013 at 7:41 PM