It's been a while since my last blog. In fact, it's been more than a year. I really can't explain my absence other than to say that I promised myself a long time ago that if I didn't have anything interesting to write, I wouldn't write. I suppose I must feel that I now have something interesting to impart...you be the judge!
Over the past year, one son graduated high school and another is finishing his last year of college. My daughter became a teenager (although she seems to think she by-passed this stage and instead went straight to 20) and I am now married to a card carrying AARP member.
How did these things happen? In my mind, I am still a 24-year old trying to figure out how to take care of my first baby and taking advice from the much older and wiser women in the office. Today, I am that much older and (not so) wiser woman giving the advice to anyone who stays still long enough to listen!
As my husband and I were enjoying dinner with friends the other night, I laughed to myself as the women started talking about night sweats and hormone deficiencies and the men were discussing arthritic knees and bad backs. Sex is now openly discussed between both sexes and no one needs to use the "headache" excuse anymore. We have all been married way to long for that to work, any way. It's refreshing to see the diversity of our friends and the love we all have for each other. I have watched the children of our little village grow from T-ball players to almost self-sufficient adults.
We have all grown into our own with separate and shared interests. One of the things my friends and I have in common is a love of physical activity. Whether it's running, swimming, walking or tennis, we all have our own passion and it is fun cheering each other's accomplishments. Whether it's finishing a 200 mile adventure relay, competing in a first-ever 5K or a 100 mile bike ride, it's not uncommon to see familiar faces in the cheering crowd.
As I enter this new season of my life, I am grateful for all that I have learned and the people who taught these life truth's to me. Things like: life isn't fair so suck it up and move on. I have tried to pass this one on to my children. When they came home from school telling me that their teacher hated them, I usually asked what did they do to make the teacher hate them. When they would scream, "that's not fair", my response was usually "You're right, life's not fair. Deal with it."
I also learned that holding anger and grudges only hurt me. I let it all go. I'd like to say that I also forgive more easily. I do as long as the "I'm sorry" is sincere. Insincerity often leads to "you are dead to me". Along with this truth is its sister: I am not a big one on trying to get everyone to like me. I am who I am. If that works for you, AWESOME! If it doesn't, well, caviar isn't for everyone either.
I'm done trying to look younger. I look the way I do. I try to look my best, but I will never look 21 again and I'm not really sure I want to have big hair again anyway! In fact, during my last birthday, I told everyone I was 60. Everyone thought I looked good for 60 (as opposed to looking really old for the 21 I was claiming to be on birthdays past). I'm not sure what age I feel. I don't know what 47 is supposed to feel like. I run most days and eat as healthy as I can. Although, I have given up giving up Oreo cookies. I love my Oreos, darn it, and I deserve them!
Insomnia and hot flashes are setting in. I fall asleep at red lights and get easily distracted by butterflies. It is not quite as easy to lose weight as it used to be and it takes me a little longer to "hop" out of bed in the morning. In fact, I'm not sure I "hop" so much as slowly roll out so as not to surprise my muscles and bones!
I'm embracing it all. I have lived a full life, a great life. I have a few regrets and one or two things I'd like to redo, but I can honestly say that while I didn't make all the shots I took, I took my fair share.
