Gathering Roses, Thorns and All

Reflections on a Wondrous Life

Redefining success on my umpteenth birthday

Many years and many loses later, I now consider myself a complete success simply because my tears are genuine and I can still return a smile spontaneously. Beauty in any form still enthralls me. I still wonder at the blue of the sky, marvel at the flight of the falcon, and melt at the open faced charm of peonies. I still can't resist touching chimes in passing or stroking the velvet of petals.  My heart leaps in joy at the sight of my loved ones.  My imagination still ventures undaunted into foreign lands and soars  into delicious flights of fancy. I take pure pleasure in good food, good wine, and good company. The road less traveled is still the one I ant to roam.  My honky-tonk heart still misses a beat every now and then and delights in preferring the impossible.  Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata still casts a spell over me.  I still refuse to believe there is such a thing as a lost cause and continue to reach for the stars—the more distant the better!  Having remained true to myself through all adversity, I have stood the test of time.  And I still celebrate life.

                                  --ZsuZsa Simandy