127 Comments
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Brooke Warner's avatar

Happy birthday to you, Stephanie. Thanks for all the work you do to show us how to age with beauty and grace.

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Thank you for the good wishes, Brooke. Sending you so much love and appreciation. Big hugs.

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Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne's avatar

To walk, work, wonder,

to contribute our something,

and smile at the end.💐

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

So well stated, sweet, poetry loving woman.

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Jeannine's avatar

Sending you many, happy birthday wishes, Stephanie ! Such a heartfelt birthday poem. Survival, courage, giving back, and grace, all of what our lives are made of, oh and love, lots of love.

Thank you for sharing this moment of lifetime memories! Happy Birthday!

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Jeannine, thank you for such good wishes and for reading my poem with a discerning and compassionate eye. Big hugs.

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JoAnn Kuzmiak's avatar

Happy Birthday, I had my 74th on 3/30! I share many of your thoughts for being granted another Spring.

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

And what a glorious spring we've been granted! Happy Birthday, Joanne. May your days be filled with whimsy and delights.

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JoAnn Kuzmiak's avatar

Thank you Stephanie 💐

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Susan Nordin's avatar

Happy birthday! It is also my son’s 26th birthday. Just over one week ago I was present with my father as he drew his last breath. Impermanence and gratitude, growing in grace. May you have a lovely birthday full of wonder

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Happy birthday to your son. And my condolences on the passing of your father. May your memories be sweet. Here's to the grit, the gratitude and the grace of an imperfectly, perfect life. Biggest of hugs.

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Cheryl's avatar

Happy Birthday! And, 73vfor me this year in July. Gorgeous pix as well 😍

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Bobbi Kroll's avatar

I came here to say exactly that. Hello bday month twin.

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Hello bday month twin! Thank you for the goodwill and good wishes. Happy early birthday!

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

73 -- it's bound to be a great year for us both! Thank you for the birthday wishes.

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Jeanne Cowan's avatar

Happy beautiful birthday Stephanie!

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Thank you beautiful friend. It's been a lovely day.

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Chris KD's avatar

I also might add it’s my wonderful grandson’s 24 birthday also - another beautiful gift 💝

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Happy Birthday to your grandson. A gift, indeed.

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Chris KD's avatar

A very happy birthday to you , and may I add you are not getting old - ( aww I do not like that word old !- too many negatives ) you are maturing like a very fine wine ❤️

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Thanks for the birthday wishes -- I fight back the negatives surrounding old and wear it like a badge of honor. And yes, fine wine works too. Biggest of hugs.

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Eric Schimel's avatar

Please remember that it is your birthday all week long. One day is too much pressure and too little scope. Birthdays are an assessment of what pleases us, seven days for seven aspects of what makes us. You are too complex (and wonderful) to be celebrated by a single day.

Happy Birthday, I’m extremely grateful to know you!

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Doing my best to pull the rest of the birthday into the week, Eric. Thanks! Grateful to know you as well.

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Auntie Jo's avatar

Wishing you a very happy birthday! Today is my Aunt's 88th, and I was lucky enough that it fell on our regular weekly coffee date. I'm beyond blessed to still have her, she is the last. Thank you for sharing your beautiful poem. Age is a gift denied to many.

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Yes, It's a privilege to grow old. Happy birthday to your beautiful Auntie. Thank you for your thoughtful and soulful comment. Hugs.

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Karen Oliver's avatar

Happy Birthday Stephanie! Lovely poem.

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Thank you for the kind birthday wishes, Karen. . . and the mention of the birthday poem. Appreciation.

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

Happy Birthday, Stephanie! Thank you for the gift of this wisdom in poem-form. Bill Kloefkorn, the late poet laureate of Nebraska, said poetry is "words on a page, nibbling at something vast." May your nibbling at the edge of that something vast always inspire and enlighten you!

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

LOVE the Kloefkorn quote! May we continue to nibble away with all abundant inspiration. Sending the biggest of hugs, dear friend. Thank you for all of your encouragement and goodwill.

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Bobbi Kroll's avatar

Happy birthday! May it be a joyful birthday 🎉 and may you be blessed with many more.,

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

It's been a great day, Bobbi, replete with love and a happy heart. May we both be blessed with more years -- there's still adventure to be had!

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Seasons of Life With Suzanne's avatar

I am grateful for you,

and can certainly relate.

I will be seventy-five in June

and my husband is seventy-eight!

Practicing mindfulness, realizing that every scar on my body , mind and spirit represents my journey of resilience, I am now the wise old woman who finds and shares joy and gratitude each day.

We are blessed!

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Suzanne, I lit up reading your words. I love being the wise old woman you describe, gathering gratitude and loving what is. Let's walk together in peace and resilience. Big hugs.

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Seasons of Life With Suzanne's avatar

I am so glad! Hugs to you, too! I am contemplating posting a few of my decades worth of brief essays on aging and caregiving (from monthly newsletters) on Substack. Spent my career of 45+ years working with aging adults and caregivers. Have a glorious day! I look forward to journeying with you!

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Suzanne, big encouragement for posting those essays! Insights and reflections on the aging process is foreign territory to most of us, and it's always helpful to learn from someone who has been in the center of those stories. -- I'd definitely read something like what you're proposing. Big hugs.

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Seasons of Life With Suzanne's avatar

I am seriously considering since this is Older Americans Month. Just need to figure out how…

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Seasons of Life With Suzanne's avatar

I did an article on Old School…where we need to go to learn how to be old. Will see if I can figure out how to send it. At our granddaughter’s kindergarten basketball game.

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Nancy Harlan's avatar

Enjoy your birthday, as it's quite an occasion in our 70s and beyond. I am thankful for your posts and look forward to reading them. Happy birthday!

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Thank you Nancy. I appreciate your kindness and yes, being in one's seventies is quite the occasion. I am grateful for you

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