Milestones ...

Oh, wow .. I cannot believe I have hit the big "6-0" .. should I celebrate today or mourn with sackcloth and ashes? Probably not the latter - we live in Florida and quite frankly, 60 is probably quite young by most people's standards!! Snowbirds arrive ready to live life to the fullest and some of them are well into their 80's!! I hope I grow up to be like them!!

However, I remember when I was just a little girl, looking at the big "5-0" as being the end so to speak. I dreaded my dad turning 50 and was sure he would die right then and actually grieved that happening even when I was little. I was certain that life would come to a screeching halt and my dad, the anchor in my life, would be gone ... and what would I do?

The years began to roll by ... and it seemed like they rolled by faster and faster. I learned to drive -- and scared my dad to death a few times, I'm sure. I don't remember him spending much time teaching me that .. my mom did that. I didn't always view her as having more patience than Dad but perhaps they drew straws (hardly) on who was going to teach me that! Of course, it then became an asset as I drove my siblings around town. I did that just recently when Tim rode with me to meet Susan for dinner .. and I scared him, too, when a car pulled out in front of me -- and, yes, I had the right-of-way!! I guess I should go to 'driver's training' for older (not old) folks!! Ugh!!

By the time I was a little over 25 (another milestone) I had four children and I learned what it meant to be a parent. I probably grew to respect my parents more during those days. I'll admit -- I was not the perfect, model mom by any stretch. I admired those moms who were so organized and who seemed to take everything in stride. I just couldn't seemed to master that and if I tried too hard, it flopped -- big time!! But, I have been so very blessed by our girls and their families!!

Jump ahead to my 40th birthday -- all you North Carolina friends can bow now!! Imagine this -- I am working there -- my boss was Eddie Beaver and Ed Arthur -- the "Ed's"! I think it was the latter Ed who had the brilliant idea of how I should celebrate my 40th birthday. Now mind you, when I tried to reciprocate, he ran out of the restaurant (his 40th)!! Back to that morning -- I arrived at my office .. it had been transformed!! My 'crazy' co-workers had gone to the local cemetery (I assume) to find a 'dead' wreath! Very dead!! And it had a sign on it, "Our sympathy at the passing of your youth". Now wasn't that just tooo sweet?!! Ha!! It got better -- my office chair had been replace by a rocking chair with a cane nearby. There was some sort of knitting there (like I knit?!). I should have hung on to that for these past few years! But .. the biggest thing they did was put a big sign on the front of my desk which said, "I'd rather be 40 than pregnant!" Well, ain't that the truth but did they have to put it right there for everyone to see?? Oh, well ... it was lots of fun. We did get payback, I believe, for Eddie one year when we had someone come in to serenade him!! I take that back -- Ed (yup, it had to be him) had Eddie "Fiddle Skunked"!! Now, THAT was funny!! We were wondering whether he was going to fire us all!!

Time flew by and I was at my 50th .. what a neat celebration. Sandi changed our family room into Arthur's Cafe, a 'play' on the 50's .. and the era when I was a kid!! Complete with poodle skirts, the old records (33/45) hanging from the ceiling, card tables, root beer bottles chilling on ice, etc., etc. Lots of friends came to join us -- fortunately our house is large and wide open so it literally felt like you had walked back in time!! Loved it ..

Memories .. so here it is my 60th .. #50 has come and gone and my dad lived until he was 84. While I knew I would miss him when he went on to heaven, it wasn't with the same dread that I experienced as a little girl who thought all of her security was wrapped up in her dad. Roles changed over the years and it was the 'little girl' (and her siblings, especially her little sister) who brought a sense of security to her dad. How times had changed!

I will miss my dad's call today -- the call that always took me back in time for a few moments. He would describe that day -- what time I was born, where, how much I weighed, my length, etc. And often he didn't stop there but talked about the next few years -- and finally, to the day when my sister was born!! A day that changed my life -- after four brothers, whom I love dearly -- but a sister!! I was excited beyond measure!!

So, today .. I am blessed! Milestones? Yes .. and I can celebrate that the senior discount is now mine, too!! Then again, it will constantly remind me that I am getting older -- but aren't we all??

Thanks to everyone for the impact you have had on my life .. I have so many facebook friends who have been an important part of my (our) life!! I am so blessed -- memories by the boatload! Some serious, some funny ... but all are part of who I am today!! And I am grateful!!