It’s Our Birthday!
As a shameless attention-seeker, nothing was more thrilling than Chi-Chi’s restaurant on my birthday.
“Gosh, I hope they’re not coming to my table,” I’d say without meaning it, as the waiters carried a giant sombrero to my table, popped it on my head, and clapped-sang “Happy Birthday” over a bowl of fried ice cream.
I suspect I was in the minority in public birthday serenades, because I can’t remember the last time I heard one outside a kid’s party. One reason may be that Chi-Chi’s went out of business following a nasty Hepatitis A outbreak, eliminating a key player in the restaurant humiliation arena.
In recent years, I’ve celebrated in more grown-up ways and, truthfully, at better restaurants. And I like gifts. They don’t have to be elaborate or expensive, but I want them wrapped and have a bit of fuss about them.
Feliz Cumpleaños
Our magazine is celebrating a birthday, too, minus the sombreros and singing. Ten years ago, Thrive founder Brad Mitchell of Mitchell Media launched Northeast Ohio Boomer and Beyond magazine. Published six times a year, the magazine celebrated healthy, active aging. We continue today as Northeast Ohio Thrive After 55 with our original mission, but condensed to quarterly print issues and expanded digital content.
Over the past decade, our readers have changed, too: They’re more comfortable interacting with online content. So, we’ve launched a directory of services and companies that cater to older adults, to name one example. And our weekly online newsletter continues to grow, covering fun places to go, topical health matters, estate law, the arts, fashion and more. We’ve also recently started a video podcast, ThriveTalk. You’ll find it, our upcoming events and more at northeastohiothrive.com.
I joined the magazine with its second issue and haven’t looked back. I appreciate our advertisers who allow us to put our free magazine into the hands and inboxes of thousands of readers throughout Northeast Ohio. Their services and companies are among the best our region has to offer, curated for the 55+ audience.
I also want to thank everyone who has let us peek into their lives or contributed their expertise. You’ve told your stories to our writers and allowed us to share them with our readers. We’ve celebrated your adventures, learned from your experiences, and become better at aging because of you.
Most of all, I’m grateful to our readers who keep us honest and read our magazine with an attention to detail that is both gratifying and daunting. We’re all on this journey together — certainly some have an easier path than others — but we want to make the trip a good one, navigating the detours together. Solo travel is fun, but most experiences are better shared, and I’m glad you’ve joined us for the past decade.
We’re not throwing a showy celebration to mark our 10th anniversary, but if you want to wear a sombrero or grab a bowl of fried ice cream, I won’t stop you. The recipe is online.
Gracias,
Marie
