43 Comments
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Helayne Spivak's avatar

She's right. Nothing worse than kicking yourself in the past.

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Susan Ficek's avatar

Ps. happy birthday.

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Jolina Petersheim's avatar

Happy birthday! Growing older is indeed such a gift. From your posts I would say that you are using it well.

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Trying my best! Thanks!

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Marnie Summerfield Smith's avatar

Happy Birthday, Richard! Shine on :)

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Kaylene's avatar

Happy Birthday, Richard! Wishing you all the best!

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Thank you, Kaylene.

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Benjamin Magro's avatar

Happy Birthday Richard!

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Thanks, Ben.

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John Hazlett's avatar

Rimbaud knew some kindly ladies.

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Richard Goodman's avatar

His sister!

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Michael MacCaskey's avatar

Very happy birthday Richard!! You are awesome. Re looking forward: I hear the same thing. I answer that a prudent look back now & then can help true the path forward. In any case, keep trying. We need you. 😎

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Thank you, Mike! And, yes, a look back now in then is a great motivator!

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Marina Osipova's avatar

Happy Birthday, Richard! When you are 97, you’ll think of the time you were 79 (smile) with pleasure. I like Tennessee Williams’ motto and that made me return mentally to the past when I “starred” in Camino Real as Marguerite in one of the off-off-Broadway theaters. But it is a very pleasant memory. Do you think Tennessee Williams would approve memories of pleasant things?

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Richard Goodman's avatar

I didn't know you were an actress! I would love to have seen you in that play! Yes, TW would be ok with that memory, I think.

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Marina Osipova's avatar

Yes, Richard, I was, but then switched to writing.

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John Hazlett's avatar

Ah, tucked away in the Adirondack woods, recovering from a long flu, I've finally found a spot that provides a very weak internet signal. I'll take advantage to wish you a very pleasant birthday Richard, and warm greetings to Gaywynn!

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Thank you, John!

"Women care for those fierce invalids returning from hot countries."

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Catherine Lane Diehl's avatar

Happy Birthday! You are a very young, vibrant 79! Upward, Onward!

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Thank you, Catherine!

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olivier's avatar

Joyeux anniversaire, cher Richard. C'est toujours un plaisir de te lire !

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Merci bien, mon ami!

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Angela Broussard's avatar

The hospice I work for selected “forward” for the year. It’s disconcerting.

Have a great birthday!

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Why disconcerting? Because it's a hospice?

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Angela Broussard's avatar

We have been through so many changes, it makes sense to not look back too much. I get the reason it was selected.

On the other hand, forward toward your death?? I suppose that can’t be helped 😂

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Yes, I see!

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Angela Broussard's avatar

As in, word of the year

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Gary Gruber's avatar

No one, not one of us, is going back. There's only one way, and that's ahead. I know, simple and a no-brainer. My wife says I am a master of the obvious.

We can look back, reflect on the past, learn from it, entertain some memories of good and bad times. Happy New Year to you! That's what I say sometimes instead of Happy Birthday. I wrote about mine recently under the post "Beginning Chapter 88." Grateful to you and for you Richard. On we go!

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Thanks, Gary! Good words!

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Jody Lisberger's avatar

So glad Gaywynn is there to remind you to look forward. Also chuckling that autocorrect wants Gaywynn to be Gawain. That, too?

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Ha ha. I may be old but not medieval.

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Jody Lisberger's avatar

So glad you laughed.

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Sarah Van Arsdale's avatar

Oh, happy, happy, birthday, Richard.

I had a similar thought this morning: "Richard Goodman is still alive." No, my similar thought was "Oh, I"M still alive. Yipppeeeee!"

And very happy you're still in the world.

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Yes, to both of those things, SVA!

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