How to turn 80 with ease - 5 easy steps.

I am back from a great holiday visiting family and celebrating my Aunt Jill's 80th birthday and I am starting a new way of blogging. Taking a tip from all those magazine articles and using my sister Peggy's favorite number, 5, I am going to start coming up with posts that have 5 of something - easy steps, things, thoughts, warnings... you get the drift :)

So back to Aunt Jill and following her example, here are 5 easy steps on how to turn 80 with ease.

1. Live every day with a smile on your face and a laugh ready to bubble up at the slightest humorous anecdote.

2. Open your door and your arms to whoever shows up.

3. Have an Atlantic lobster feast for guests even when you had them at "hello".

4. Be interested in others and be interesting. Listen to stories and tell stories often (especially those stories about doing yoga back in the 60s and getting royalties for your face in a commercial - who knew?!).

5. When your niece phones to say she wants to come out to celebrate your 80th tell her that you are excited about turning 80 because now you can ski (downhill) for free at the slopes :)

Happy Birthday Jill. You look 50, act 20 and you are a great role model for how to get LIFE out of every moment. (And thanks to all the cousins for a great party!!)