Halfway To Ninety

Tomorrow is my birthday.  The "big" four-five.  Forty-five.  Five years short of half a century and, as Mr. Snark so sweetly reminded me, halfway to ninety.  Let that settle in for a few minutes.  Half way to ninety.  Our beloved Hester The Great is only five years from ninety.  That adds a little bit of focus for me...but it's still just the oddest feeling.  I've been thinking about the events of this first forty five and wondering about those to come.  Walk with me...this should be interesting.

In the first forty-five...
  • I was born.  (Going for the low hanging fruit, right there!)
  • I learned to walk and talk and read and write.
  • Broke my femur and had to learn how to walk all over again. 
  • Became a big sister.
  • Discovered that my uncle dressed up as Santa Claus at a local department store.
  • Learned how to ride a bike and roller skate.
  • Made friends. 
  • Played dress up with Kim Hopper's mama's old prom dresses.  I'm talking from the late 50's-mid 60's.  She'd haul those things the three or four blocks to my granny's house and we'd exhaust every bit of sunlight parading around in those confections of chiffon and organza!
  • I was the new kid about eight different times between kindergarten and fifth grade.
  • Lived in Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina (for a VERY short amount of time), Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.
  • Learned how to sing and that I had my family's predisposition for doing so quite loudly, without much effort.
  • Gave my heart and life to Jesus which, in all honesty, should be at the top of this list.  Without this, the rest of my story would be so very different.
  • Watched as Joanie married Chachi.
  • Wrote my first protest letter....when ABC cancelled "Joanie Loves Chachi."
  • Watched as Lady Diana married Prince Charles...and cried when she died.
  • Lost friends.
  • Fell in love and had my heart broken.
  • Struggled with the complications of poverty.
  • Middle school cheerleader...I was living the dream, people!
  • High school band geek.
  • If there is a hole in the ozone layer, I'm fairly certain that me and my use of Aqua Net hairspray contributed to it.  BIG HAIR!
  • Watched movies like the first "Star Wars" trilogy, "ET," "Footloose," "Back to The Future," "Top Gun," "Sixteen Candles" and "Dirty Dancing" on the big screen.
  • Met the love of my life.
  • Graduated high school and went to college.
  • Married the love of my life and graduated from college.  Twice. (I graduated from college twice...I didn't get married twice.)
  • Got my first teaching job.
  • Became the mother of two incredibly beautiful, magical, unique, hysterical, precious sons.
  • Buried all four of my grandparents.  Buried dear friends and a precious FIL.
  • Returned to the work force after fourteen years of being a stay-at-home mom.
  • September 11, 2001...beyond my imagination and comprehension.
  • Started surfing the web...holy cow! 
  • Made three trips to Ukraine...forever cementing my love for that country and her beautiful people.
  • Stood at the top of the Eiffel Tower with tears freezing on my cheeks, as quickly as they fell from my eyes.
  • Saw the beauty of Oahu.
  • I've seen some pretty amazing sunrises and sunsets.  Wondered at the stars glittering in the night sky.
  • Probably not been as grateful as I should be for all the blessings of these first forty-five years.
In the next forty-five:
  • At some point, I will stop coloring my hair.  I don't know when.  My friend "Elisabeth with an 's' " says she will tell me when we are ready for this.  The Buddy System, folks...it works!
  • Both boys will graduate high school and college.  Find jobs, marry sweet girls and fill my front porch with grandbabies!
  • Funerals....his mother, my parents...the aunts and uncles.  I don't like to dwell on it, but this will happen.
  • Maybe Mr. Snark will get to live out his dream of driving an 18-wheeler. 
  • I will get shorter.  That brings me no joy.
  • Music will get louder and aggravate me.  I'm in training mode for this.
  • People will excuse me saying what I think because I'll have reached an age where it's cute to be slightly rude. 
  • Eating supper at 4pm will sound very inviting.
  • I'd like to visit the French countryside...Ireland, Scotland, Portugal and Spain.
  • Maybe Jesus will return.  I shudder to think how much darker the world can get before this happens.
  • My boys...and their little families will bury me.  Maudlin, I know...but reality.  And I am leaving instructions for this celebration.  It's going to be quite the party.  I hate to miss it.
  • Maybe someone will discover the cure for cancer.  This cursed demon has claimed the physical well being of so many I've loved. 
  • The invention of the self cleaning kitchen....and laundry that takes care of itself.  A girl can dream, what?????!
  • I am likely to develop an affinity for dressing baby dolls.  Granny did...so did Aunt Jewel.
  • Or....I could be like my paternal grandmamma and be excluded from activities at the nursing home because my language is disturbing to the other residents.  Read the book of James.  The struggle is real.
  • Suddenly, I will always be cold....even when it's 112F in the shade!
  • Hover cars....we will have hover cars!
Longer post than usual...and a little meandering, but since it's my birthday (well, TOMORROW is...if you have to be technical) and perhaps you can indulge me.  Call it your gift to me.

(Happy birthday, Peepaw...it's just not the same without you!)

Comments

  1. I just love your posts! I'm right behind you. The big 4-5 is exactly two weeks post Christmas for me. Hard to believe! And, you can thank Mr. Snark for the 'half way to 90' perspective. LOL Can't say I was thinking of it that way despite the fact that my mortality becomes more and more real each and every day. I'm not looking forward to the exit ceremonies of my beautiful grandparents. The hubby and I are the matriarch and patriarch in training. Not a position I ever saw myself holding. We never do know what's around the corner, do we? Happy Birthday to you, beautiful friend!

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