Well, if I HAD to turn 65, this was the best way to do it
My wife is still at her cancer rehab clinic in the Black Forest. I went down there Sunday evening to have a birthday dinner with her in the storybook town of Gengenbach and spend the night with her before getting back to work yesterday. Before I left, a birthday card came in the mail from her, which I didn't open until Sunday morning. Now there is NO WAY she found this card in some tiny village in the Black Forest, so this was planned long in advance. She turns 65 herself in 3 months, but anyone who grabs a card like this 3 months in advance for her husband's 65th birthday is about 30 years away from 65 in her head:
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Maybe when she comes back she'll complete the theme! 
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Stan Lee is an old friend, and he calls her one of my "fabulous females:"
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I've seen your wife before and she certainly is stunning! And that is the coolest thing I've seen today, but it's not at all surprising she'd have a distinguished fan club! Lovely and clever, too!
You both sound amazing. 
Glad to hear that your wife is recovering and in great spirits! That is the best birthday gift.
Sometimes miracles do happen. S to you both.
Glad to hear she is doing well with her treatment too. Happy Birthday! Was it yesterday? My daughter's BD yesterday too.
It's appropriate on so many levels!
And YES, you had to turn 65. We are in no way ready for your demise! That must be decades away.
My dad was told about 12 days before he died, it could be days, it could be months. He wrote, "if I had my druthers, I'd prefer months." It was days.
Well, if I "had my druthers," I'd prefer decades, too. But, my dad rose to the pinnacle of his profession. He was cited in the Congressional Record by Senators and Congressmen of both parties as tough but fair, knew all presidents from Nixon to Clinton, and was elected president of the Gridiron Club of Washington, something most journalists only dream about. So, when it was time for him, and he knew it was coming, he looked back, and said, in effect, damn, it was a great run (and it was). If it happens to me, I'll be pissed if it happens before I'm good and ready, but I had over 40 years with an incredible woman (as you know better than anyone else on DU), two successful, beautiful daughters, a fun job, and some very cool friends I got to hang with. I got to see a lot of the world, and never got bored. It has been a great run.
The only one of my family I know that actually said he was tired and was ready to go was my maternal grandfather. Our last visit was when he was 102. Now HE was one VERY cool guy. When he was 99, he had Christmas cards made up with a photo of him, looking very much his 99 years, with a big caption saying "Compliments of the Seasoned."
This is a guy who survived the trenches of World War I, the poison gas, went back to New York City, fed his family hand to mouth taking odd jobs such as he could find them during the Depression, kept himself alive with his incredible wit, which someone noticed somewhere along the line, and he rose through the ranks of a Madison Avenue advertising agency to become one of their top guys. I'll bet some of the older people on DU still remember some of the ad slogans he invented.
He took up painting at age 80, and left me this--his impression of every board meeting he ever attended:
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He was one of my heroes. He never recognized it, but he had style. That's how I want to go if and when I have to.
Your dad and your maternal grandfather, both. I think you got their storytelling genes in spades.
Well, none of us really know when our thread will be cut.........normally, anyway, so we hope and dream as our lives unreel.
Here's to long life and great days for you and your beautiful spouse!