Thinking on the porch...

Back to those twenty questions. I have turned sixty and am still here after all. Question # 13. Am I the only one struggling not to {cry } during {  doctor's appt. } {pass gas} during {yoga}? Ah, no.  Every one dreads committing some sort of social blunder. Substitute your greatest shame-fear then know you are not alone...feel liberated. The doctor I see is probably thirty-five I am so anxious about my inevitable tears...just ask me nicely "How are you feeling?" Bwaaa! How can she possibly know what menopause is like??? No sleep, creaking joints, actual sweating thru...I could go on and on! She smiles and says "No worries, just the aging body." Bwaaaaaaa. I know this but I did not want to hear it from someone so young! I do not want to cry in her office. So I make my social blunder worse by trying to make an old lady joke...

The point, the answer to # 13 is that I am not alone. We have all made a social gaffe now and again. Accept that this is a part of being human...

60 and counting on the porch...

I did it. I not only survived the big day but I enjoyed it! My sixtieth birthday far surpassed my expectations. My dear old husband (Sentimental Old You) decorated, made breakfast and my fav, coffee. My first gift, I was expecting this, a 100mm Canon macro lens. But then a surprise a low rise, old lady bike. I love it.
We packed up and traveled to T.C. to my oldest daughters home. On the way lunch at Cut River Inn. My favorite White Fish Chowder and grilled White Fish fresh from Lake Michigan. Oh, and it just gets better from here. My youngest daughter from MQT meets us in T.C. with her family(5 kids, 6 hour drive) her hubby has to fly out to take his boards on Monday . Seven of my Grands greet me with love and excitement. Gifts and a Moomers Black Cherry ice cream chocolate cake sent from my Texas family. T.C. daughter had a lime green feather boa and a  beautiful tiara for me to wear. So diversion complete I go to bed thinking what a lovely family birthday I had!

Unsuspecting I go out to breakfast (Cracker Barrell)with my hubby and then he tells me to take my time at Borders and buy a book of my choice?? Hmmm?
Back to my daughter's and there are cars lining the long driveway...tears of disbelief. I know these cars. My brothers sisters and their children whom I never get to see enough of. Once or twice a year at best. I walk down to the beautfully decorated back yard...Surprise!! My 80 year old Uncle drove from G.R. My niece & family (red heads like me) from Grand Ledge (three hour drive each way)! My sister from Detroit made a Barbie cake!! Her wonderful young daughters. My beautiful slightly older sister & husband from Midland kept the secret. My brother with the garden (he reminds me of all the good things about my Dad) and his wife who is more sister than in-law from my old home town. My baby brother, his amazing daughter (we share camera art love) and his wife who also is more sister than in-law from Sparta. Two friends of my T.C. family whom I love as if they were my own gave me their day for my birthday! My Texas bunch was with us in our hearts and on the phone. My Sis & Bro from Idaho sent me a basket to rejuvenate me! Arizona Sis sent beautiful e-wishes.
The Grands dressed up and decorated and passed around a little heart shaped book for everyone to write in. A tower of tiny Cupcake Wars cakes and my mother's recipe potato salad and grilled hamburgers & gourmet hotdogs with all the trimmings for lunch. My son-in-law (grill chef) touched my heart when after I thanked him for opening up his home said "I owe you 599 more days like this."

I am so thankful for the love and  the gifts of time and effort given by my wonderful family to make a day I was dreading (first day of old age) a shining memory. Sixty is not the new forty but it is an amazing number!

Tomorrow is my 60th birthday...

Today is the last day in my fiftieth decade. Tomorrow my first day as a sixty year old.  Just numbers?? If they are they are sure giving me pause. I think about the aging process a lot. I can't imagine not being here with my beloved family. But I also am excited about tomorrow...birthdays in this family are fun.

Question # 10. What's so funny? Beck says, Regain your youth by laughing at every possible situation.  Funny and laughable list: The Office,  the things grandkids say, "Granny, you are very fluffery!"  "Please, Granny, come home. We have not had any sugar since you left."

Two days left and let the party begin...

I woke up to birthday decorations! A friend took me out for a birthday lunch former co-workers
took me out for dinner and a Bloody Mary. It begins...Friday a.m. I leave for T.C. for birthday surprise with my family...

Question # 11. Where am I wrong? According to Soccrates, we gain our first measure of intelligence when we first admit our own ignorance. Ask where am I wrong instead of insisting I am right.
Hmm... tough one. I do like to think I am right.

Where am I wrong? I wish I was more able to step out of my comfort zone in my daily life. I like every day to be the same, safe. Is that wrong?  Anti-politician, I want them to serve the people and stop helping themselves...Is this wrong? I need to come  back  to this question.

Three more days til the Royal Wedding aka my birthday...

I stopped to get gas today after subbing at school. I paid $4.05 at a full service station. The amount made  me so cranky that I was not going to tip the attendant...he comes up to my car all smiles and cheerful "How was your day today, Ma'am? " To make a long story short he was the younger brother of a dear student at my old school. I tipped him and drove away smiling!!

Question # 4. Why do I like {cupcakes} more than I like {broccoli}? {dogs} {people}? {reading} {exercise}?Every woman has something she likes more than the somethings she is supposed to like and according to Ms. Beck we must stop trying to like the things we don't like and many vices will disappear on their own. So, I'm thinkin' I can stop trying to like, say, salads and my vice, sweets could just disappear. Yah, no, I think I must accept who I am and what I like and dislike...

Four days left...

...in the decade of my fifties. I wonder if I did everything I should have done? Most of the time I feel good about my life. Sometimes I wonder.  which leads to question # 3. Why worry? Beck says worry rarely leads to positive action. It scuttles happiness. By focusing on gratitude we can shut down the part of our brain that worries. So, some gratitude here.

On Saturday evening I went upstairs to put the baby to bed and she cried so I rocked her in the yellow bed room I decorated for the arrival of my first grandson 10 years ago. Sitting with her snuggling in my arms was so sweet. It made me think of all the babies I had rocked in that same room in the same rocker...love and joy. She drifted off to sleep in my arms. I am so thankful for the love my grands give to me.

Six days and counting from my porch...

My neighbor of thirty-six years just sent over homeade sticky buns on a crockery plate. I have brolen at least three of her dishes and a platter and she still does not send a paper plate!

Now for today's question,  # 6. How do I want to be different because I lived in this world? Martha Beck said that in small ways or large  the world will change my life. Make a list of experiences I want to have during my brief sojurn here...hmmm.


A bucket list???  I want to visit my sister in Idaho.  Spend time with my grandchildren, lots of time. Walk in the park...feel the sun on my back. I want to get to know my daughters as adult women. See Europe,  England, Ireland, Spain & Italy would be fine. Travel with my husband, maybe Mt. Rushmore and the redwoods. Sit by a campfire, eat homeade ice cream...how will these experiences make me different? I want to savor each moment of my life, the small joys. I want to be a person who is more aware of moments let stress go....