Today is my birthday! 50 years old
Or half a century, if you want to make it sound dramatic. But let’s be real: 50 years old sounds WAY better than half a century, so we’re rolling with that. A couple of days ago, I was struggling a bit with the idea of hitting this milestone. It felt heavy, daunting, like some imaginary clock was ticking louder than usual. But as birthdays tend to do, the feeling passed, and today I woke up... fine. Better than fine, actually. I’m embracing it because, really, what other choice do I have?
The LAST hours of my 40's .. Hahaha .. I just couldn't hold back the fake tears
This morning, before heading into work .. I sat in my truck for a few quiet minutes. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and let gratitude wash over me. It’s truly a blessing to have lived this long and experienced so much. Has life thrown a few curveballs? Absolutely. There have been moments of disappointment and unexpected detours, but when I step back and look at the bigger picture, I can’t help but feel incredibly fortunate. I’m here. I’m alive. I’m living life.
And oh, how much I have to be thankful for:
My loving wife, who has been my rock and my heart for over three decades.
Our little bundle of curiosity and energy, Mr. Huxley.
A supportive family and wonderful friends who’ve been there through thick and thin.
A cozy home to call our own.
The opportunity to take vacations that inspire me and fill my creative well.
The list could go on and on .. And when I reflect on all of that, how could I feel anything but gratitude? Sure, 50 is a big number, but when you’re surrounded by so much love and happiness, age feels like just a number.
Of course, it’s fun to think about the world I was born into in January 1975. Back then, gas was around 57 cents a gallon, and the world was listening to hits like Elton John’s “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and Barry Manilow’s “Mandy.” The Altair 8800, the first home computer, had just launched, and the Vietnam War was winding down. What a time to come into the world, with all its changes and possibilities on the horizon.
A Silver Coin To Mark The Occasion ???
Now, I wanted to mark this occasion with something symbolic from my collection .. A silver coin from 1975. It felt like the perfect tie-in, but guess what? I don’t have one. I figured, no problem, I’ll dig through my loose change and find something from 1975 to share... and came up empty-handed AGAIN. That’s when it hit me: 1975 was 50 YEARS AGO (again .. Ouch.) What are the chances of stumbling across loose change that old in my pocket? Slim to none, apparently.
So, instead, I decided to share something else that feels special and symbolic. Meet my 14K gold pocket watch, a treasure I picked up several years ago at an antique shop.
Yes that's me in the photo. This is early 1980s but I think we were still stuck in the 70s. Lol
While it’s not from 1975 .. It instead dates all the way back to 1920 — a full 105 years ago. This watch still works beautifully, ticking away as if time itself hasn’t passed. Holding it reminds me that age is all about perspective. If this watch can stay timeless, why can’t I?
Here’s to 50 years of life and counting
Thank you to everyone who’s been part of my journey so far — I wouldn’t trade a single moment. Cheers to the next chapter!
Thank you for swinging by my blog and checking out the post. Have a great day!
All words, pictures and art pieces are the sole property of B D Miller Gallery, unless otherwise noted and credited, and are not to be reproduced or copied without the prior written consent of B D Miller Gallery.


Your reflection is both heartfelt and inspiring. Taking moments like these to appreciate the journey, with its highs and lows, truly puts things in perspective. It sounds like you've embraced resilience and gratitude as guiding principles in your life, which is something many strive for but few master. Here's to embracing the present and cherishing the path that brought us here. Keep shining and living life to its fullest. 🌟
That's a beautiful and powerful sentiment. Your 14K gold pocket watch is not just a timepiece, but a symbol of endurance and elegance. It’s amazing how such objects can connect us to the past and remind us of the timeless nature of certain things. Just like your watch, your spirit and perspective on life can indeed remain ageless and ever-valuable. Embracing the wisdom and experiences that come with age can make us all the more timeless and resilient. Keep cherishing those special symbols in your life—they are reminders of the beauty and continuity that transcends time.⏳✨
Happy Birthday, my friend! May you have many, many more to come!

Thank you for such a thoughtful and uplifting response! There’s something truly special about objects that hold history—like the 14K gold pocket watch—carrying with them stories of resilience, elegance, and the passage of time. Just as the watch endures, keeping steady through the years, so do the lessons and moments that shape us.
Your words beautifully capture the essence of appreciation for both the present and the journey that brought us here. Time, like life, is fleeting yet rich with meaning when we pause to embrace it. Here’s to celebrating each moment, cherishing the symbols that connect us to the past, and moving forward with gratitude and purpose.
Thank you again for your kind wishes! I’ll keep shining, and I hope you do too.
@bdmillergallerry
🎉 Happy 50th Birthday! 🎉
What a beautiful reminder that life’s truest treasures aren’t counted in years, but in the love we gather along the way. Thirty years with your rock-of-a-wife, raising a little force of nature like Huxley, and building a home brimming with warmth and memories—that’s a legacy worth celebrating.
The way you reflect on gratitude, even as you hit this milestone, says everything. Age isn’t a number when your heart’s this full. Here’s to the cozy nights in that same loving home, the adventures that still spark your creativity, and the friends and family who’ll keep laughing (and probably roasting you) for decades to come.
May 50 feel less like a “big number” and more like a standing ovation for a life well-lived. Cheers to you, your incredible tribe, and all the joy still ahead! 🥂
Well put! Thank you for the thoughtful and warm comment. Everyday is an adventure of some sort and one that I am very proud to be a part of. I am truly blessed for the support system that is all around me. Thanks again for the birthday wishes!
You are welcome
Happy Birthday! I am glad you are handling it well. I don't know if I will be able to in a year or so when that time comes for me. Oh man, the wicker chair. We had one of those too. I think I had my senior pictures taken with it. My dad took them, so almost definitely! I hope you have an amazing week and year!
Thank you so much! I hear you—milestone birthdays have a way of making us pause and reflect. But honestly, when the time comes, I think you'll handle it better than you expect. And the wicker chair! It’s funny how certain things become shared experiences across time. Your dad taking your senior pictures makes them even more special.
Wishing you an incredible week and an even better year ahead. Here’s to the memories we’ve made and the ones still to come!
Thanks! I wish the same to you! Yeah, my dad did a really good job. He is quite talented when it comes to standing behind a lens!
Hahaha.. love it. Yeah my dad as well. Constantly taking photos. Some of them with our mouths open or full of food since we are unaware he is taking them. hehehe
Yes, I am sure he has plenty like that of us!
😆
This Omega pocket watch belonged to my Grandfather, then my dad, before ending up with me. One of these days I'll get it fixed.

Starting to think retirement plans yet? Travel?
Happy 50th @bdmillergallery
I believe I remember you showing this one to me before.. maybe. I love it! There are fewer and fewer people who can fix them now. It's hard to find one that's for sure. I would love to retire in 5 to 10 years.. depending on how investments pay off. Travel yes! Maybe back to Mexico this year.. we'll see.
Thank you for the birthday wishes!
Whoa that's quite a milestone. How does it feel turning 50 years old? Ain't nothing like having a supportive family and a cozy home to get back to. Thank you for taking us down on your trip down memory lane to the world you were born into back in 1975, though you were unable to find a silver coin from 1975 to mark the occasion, I bet the 14K gold pocket watch from 1920, did the trick. Happy Birthday, hoping you have a fun life ahead, and cherish every moment from today.🎂
Thanks! Turning 50 definitely feels like a big milestone, but having family, friends, and a place to call home makes it all the more special. Looking back at the world in 1975 has been a fun ride, even if a silver coin from that year doesn’t exist! The 14K gold pocket watch from 1920 more than made up for it—it’s a great reminder of how time keeps moving and how important it is to cherish each moment.
I really appreciate your kind words and birthday wishes. Here’s to making the most of the years ahead!
Happy Birthday brother.🎂🎁🍺
That’s a really cool looking watch.
Thank you! I don't get it out as much as I would like too. I wore it out once and people were saying "why".. I said because I can. lol. Not everyone appreciates a work of art. hehehe
Cheers to more years, happy birthday !BBH
Thank you very much for the kindness!
Nice! Happy birthday 🎂🎈🥳
We are already half way there, I hope it was a great birthday for you.
Look out! Half way. ugggg. Thank you and I appreciate the wishes!
Happiest of half century marks to you man!
That watch is gorgeous. The family photo is fantastic!
Many, many more.
Thank you! I hope I have many more, but if not I will die a happy man.
It does not get better than that!
Congratulations @bdmillergallery wishing you many more years of life and that in each of them I can congratulate you like today. We just have to propose it. It all depends on us. You guys make a cute couple. Happiness and love are an important part of a long old age. Don't think about how many years you are today, just think about how many more years you intend to live and celebrate. Thanks for sharing. 🤣 🎂 😘
I hope I have a long life ahead.. but if God takes me sooner I am okay with that. I have had a great life thus far. Thank you for the birthday wishes!
🤗🎂
Happy birthday, here is to another 50 years
Thanks!!! 100 would be awesome.. I think.
Happy birthday! And that's a cool watch! I hope it was a grand day.
Thank you! I love that watch. Kind of wish it was a hunters style with a face cover, but love it for it's sleek design.
Happy Birthday to you! Wish you a lot more happiness in your life ahead <3
Thank you and thank you for the kindness!
Happy birthday old man😅 Wait till you hit the big seven, how many tears will there be then😢
Embrace each milestone @bdmillergallery (I'm sure you do!) and remember it's all about one's mindset🤗(just ignore the aches and pains) Oops, this is @lizelle - I commented from our community account! (blame it on the gray hairs)
hahaha.. No worries. I appreciate the birthday wishes. You are right.. it's the mindset I needed to get past and did.
Happy birthday
I’m happy you have beautiful and supportive people around you
I wish you more greater years in life
Awwww.. Thank you. I am very blessed
Happy Birthday Young Man :)
!pimp
Lol. You're right.. Young indeed! Thank you!!!
well age is always relative I have a few years on you and some days I manage to convince myself Im still young lOL
Happy 50th Anniversary, in Celebration of your Birth...
Thank you! The golden years 😁
I can only imagine how incredible it must feel to look back on 50 years of life filled with so many meaningful moments. Wishing you the happiest birthday and many more amazing memories to come🥰🥰
It's a good feeling, but I hope time slows for you and your journey to 50. Thank you for the birthday wishes!
I envy you your youth. At 50, life is just beginning. But I wish you all the best. I wrote the other day about watches. It didn't fit in my article.

Love your watch! It shows a little wear which tells a story all it's own.
50 is just the beginning.. LOVE it!
Thank you!!
😀
!LUV
(1/1) sent you LUV. | tools | discord | community | HiveWiki | <>< daily@bdmillergallery, @trautenberk
A family that welcomes me and friends who are always there, this phrase sums up your gratitude for life, what more could you ask for?
I wish you a happy birthday, a little late but I want to do it, your wife and your pet are a fundamental part of your life and you can always count on them, a wonderful way to live.
Thank you for the kind birthday wishes! Yes I am very blessed to have such a wonderful wife for support and Huxley for a fur baby. Blessed.
Happy 50th birthday🎉Wishing you all the best in this next chapter—more adventures, laughs, and good times ahead!
Awww.. Thank you for that. Made me smile 😊
Damn. Every white 50 year old male looks exactly the same.. plus or minus a couple grey hairs
🤨🤔🤣
Yeah there are many who look like me but not as good looking as me!!! Hehehe
I'm a bit of a bullshitter myself but occasionally, I like to listen to a true professional. Please carry on. 😆
😂
Happy Birthday and all the best.
In Germany you can say "old fart" / "alter Sack" to someone older than 50. 😀
(not to everybody, but to good friends. 😉)
Awesome! LOVE it! You can say it to me.. I would love it.
Thanks for the birthday wishes!!!
The photo is from my former client. We are still in touch and he also understands some of the fun.
Hope you had a nice birthday.
Very Fun Bag
Happy Level Up Day!!!
I like that term!
Thank you very much!!!
Happy to hear that! Hope you had a great day!
Happy belated birthday!!!
And may there be at least 50 more with health, love and prosperity! Cheers!
That all sounds good to me.. like a good recipe.
Thank you for the birthday wishes!
Happy birthday to you.
Your fifty and your marriage is over 3 decades, it seems you married at a very youthful age. How beautiful that sounds.
Happy birthday sir. Enjoy your day.
Thank you for the kind words.
Yes I have been with my wife since high school, so quite a long time. We are one person these days.
That sounds sweet❤️
Happy birthday 🙌🏼🎉
Thank you!!!
#hive #posh
Thank you!
Welcome
Awwwwn happy birthday dear l wish you more long life and more fruitful years in prosperity
That is very kind of you.. Thank you very much!
Welcome love
It is really really impressive to see your loving wife who has been your pillar of this great ladder.
I have few months bto celebrate my 50 years
She has definitely been my rock. A constant reminder of why life is good. Thank you for the birthday wishes and I hope you have a great B-Day is a few months!
Yes in few months to come
😁😁😁
Congratulations and all the best!
Thank you! 😁
You received an upvote of 100% from Precious the Silver Mermaid!
Thank you for contributing more great content to the #SilverGoldStackers tag. You have created a Precious Gem!
Thank you to all who support our community :)
Thank you for the curation and support @ewkaw 😁
Happy 50th Birthday🎁🎂 May this milestone be a celebration of everything you've achieved. Wish you good health, happiness and everything you deserve😍