It occurred to me today that my life has just reached a major milestone. It can be argued that we all pass one of those every day we're still alive, but this is one of those major ones. Like when you finally land the career you want, when you finally save up enough to buy that boat you've always wanted, or when your last kid finally moves out of the house (I suppose), this is one of those signposts in life where I feel like I will be able to look back and measure time that occurred before and time that has come after it.
So what's the big deal? Well, I've finally reached that birthday I never wanted to celebrate. Not that I wanted to die young, but I never wanted to consider my age as something that made me "old," whatever that means. I am extremely lucky to have accomplished all that I have at this point in my life, and I am blessed to have an amazing family (more on them later) and an amazing career. But for some reason, this number makes me feel old. To me, this is that mystical, ethereal plane in which time fractures and old people go to the right and young people go to the left. I'm headed right. Or at least that's how I feel. I'm not despondent about it, again, how could I be? My life is awesome! At the same time, for the first time, I feel (on some level or another) that my life, my "me-ness," is defined by a number. I dislike it, but it does beat being dead. So there's that.
The other big deal is my family. I told you they would feature again. My much-younger sister is getting married in November. My five-year-old and three-year-old are in the wedding. Wow. Nothing more to say on that one, except "how in the world did this come about?!?"
Beyond the wedding, my five-year-old just finished her last day of preschool. She's going to kindergarten next year. She already reads on a first grade level, so she's going to be incredibly bored. Her care for others will hopefully shape her into a mentor and asset to her teachers. Or she could be like me and cause a bunch (really, a bunch) of problems. How has she gotten old enough to go to kindergarten? How is it possible that she could already be this grown up?
You can't be much luckier than I am really. I will never have gobs of money or live in a huge, tricked-out house, or command tons of respect from people, but I have the best life I could have. So, milestones. It's not a sad day. It's not a day of mourning. I am thrilled to be able to live, work, and play in this time, but it is later now than when it all started. The sun is at its full zenith. Before today, there was morning. From here on out, it's the afternoon. At least that's how it feels. Still wouldn't trade it for anything in the whole world.
Be safe my friends!
The other big deal is my family. I told you they would feature again. My much-younger sister is getting married in November. My five-year-old and three-year-old are in the wedding. Wow. Nothing more to say on that one, except "how in the world did this come about?!?"
Beyond the wedding, my five-year-old just finished her last day of preschool. She's going to kindergarten next year. She already reads on a first grade level, so she's going to be incredibly bored. Her care for others will hopefully shape her into a mentor and asset to her teachers. Or she could be like me and cause a bunch (really, a bunch) of problems. How has she gotten old enough to go to kindergarten? How is it possible that she could already be this grown up?
You can't be much luckier than I am really. I will never have gobs of money or live in a huge, tricked-out house, or command tons of respect from people, but I have the best life I could have. So, milestones. It's not a sad day. It's not a day of mourning. I am thrilled to be able to live, work, and play in this time, but it is later now than when it all started. The sun is at its full zenith. Before today, there was morning. From here on out, it's the afternoon. At least that's how it feels. Still wouldn't trade it for anything in the whole world.
Be safe my friends!