Zora Neale Hurston Quote

Folklorist, anthropologist, novelist, and short story writer Zora Neale Hurston was born in Alabama on this date in 1891. 

One of her quotes:

"If writers were too wise, perhaps no books would get written at all. It might be better to ask yourself "Why?" afterwards than before. Anyway, the force from somewhere in Space which commands you to write in the first place, gives you no choice. You take up the pen when you are told, and write what is commanded. There is no agony like bearing an untold story inside you." 

Zora passed away from heart disease on January 28, 1960, and was buried in Fort Pierce, Florida, in an unmarked grave. In 1973, novelist Alice Walker and literary scholar Charlotte Hunt found the unmarked grave and marked it as hers. 

Turning Fifty

Today's the big 5-0. I don't feel fifty! I got that AARP application in the mail last week, so I guess it's real!

I did a quick search and found out whom else celebrated/celebrates June 13 as his/her birthdate. I'm in some pretty good company. Here's a quick sample:

Basil Rathbone ~ 1892 - born in South Africa, actor ~ played Sherlock Holmes

Dorothy L. Sayers ~ 1893- British Author

Paul Lynde ~ 1926 - Comedian; Bewitched actor

John Forbes Nash ~ 1928 - American Mathematician

Christo ~ 1935 ~ Bulgarian Artist

Malcolm McDowell ~ 1943 ~ British Actor

Whitley Strieber ~ 1945 - American Writer

Stellan Skarsgaard ~ 1951 ~ Swedish Actor

Richard Thomas ~ 1951 ~ American Actor

Tim Allen ~ 1953 ~ American Actor

I'm thrilled to learn that June 13 is also the birthday of fellow Sister-in-Crime Daryl Wood Gerber (aka Avery Aames). Hope you're enjoying your day today, Daryl!

I came across this inspiring quote:

"I have enjoyed greatly the second blooming... suddenly you find - at the age of 50, say - that a whole new life has opened before you." ~ Agatha Christie

Here's another one, author unknown: "Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age."

There's tons of jokes, of course, about turning 50. Here's a cute one from Digital Dream Door: 

Well Organized Life

---

Two senior ladies met for the first time since graduating from high school. One asked the other, "You were always so organized in school, did you manage to live a well planned life?"

"Oh yes," said her friend. "My first marriage was to a millionaire; my second marriage was to an actor; ,my third marriage was to a preacher; and now I'm married to an undertaker."

Her friend asked, "What do those marriages have to do with a well planned life?"

"One for the money, two for the show. three to get ready and four to go."


Do you have any words of wisdom about turning age 50? I'd love to hear it!