Birthday Reflections

Today is my 55th Birthday... yes... I turned double nickels today!  The weirdest part of turning 55 is that I just don't feel like I am 55... I truly feel like I'm 35.  Even though my body says... "OH YES YOU ARE 55".... my brain says differently.  I have never been one who dreads my Birthday or the number of years I have reached... each one is a celebration, and each day in between is a blessing.  I hope to celebrate Birthdays up into my 90's or even reach 100.... IF I'm still of sound mind and body.  I proclaim my age happily without hesitation, and always will.

On the day of all my Birthdays, I reflect back on the past year, what I have experienced (good and bad), and then I reflect forward on what I want to do in the year ahead.  This past year has had many good times and some of my deepest saddest times as well... and this is definitely my hardest Birthday yet, because my Dear Sweet Dad passed away just 6 weeks ago.  I didn't get to see, visit, or talk to my Dad often... but when we did get to connect it was ALWAYS just so special.  I could always count on him calling me on my Birthday, getting a card from him with a loving message inside, and usually getting a new cookbook as a gift from him.  I can't help but just feel sad today knowing I won't get that phone call from him ever again, and not smiling at receiving the cookbook he had selected just for me.  The year of firsts is always the hardest when a loved one passes from your life... but it's really hard when your first first is your Birthday.  I sure do miss you Dad!!!!!

Moving on to happier times of this past year... my husband Joe and I purchased a new house in Florida.  It is the first house in our 35 year marriage that we bought just because we wanted to live in a certain place.  Our entire marriage has been us "having" to move here or there for his career... never knowing how long we will get to stay in each place, and never knowing where the next move will take us.  We decided it was time to take advantage of the slow housing market, and the great interest rates to purchase a vacation/retirement home for our future.  We absolutely LOVE our new home and have already spent several weeks enjoying time in it.

I had bunion surgery on my right foot 2 days after my Birthday last year, and then bunion surgery on my left foot in January this year... here I am a year later, getting my screws removed next week and pretty much back to 100% with my feet.  It was a long year of recovery, but it felt like it went quickly and the pain was far less than I expected.  It was surgery that needed to be done, the pain prior to the surgery was MUCH worse than any of the pain post surgery, and here I am... all done!

I received a GORGEOUS yellow diamond bracelet from my AWESOME husband this year for our 35th wedding Anniversary!  35 years with my soulmate and love of my life.... I'm just soooo very blessed!

I've met several new friends this year, who have become some of my 'Dearest Friends'.  Other than my Father's passing a few weeks ago, (which I am soooo grateful, and feel so blessed that I made it to his bedside before he passed, and held his hand until he left this world for the next) this has been a really wonderful year, full of love, friendship, opportunities, and blessings.  Sooo much to look forward to in the year ahead of me.

I am looking forward to being a Guest Chef in this year in front of me... a challenge and opportunity I never thought possible.  I am excited about my menu for this Guest Chef appearance, and the evening spent with others who will enjoy my labors.  I look forward to many more trips, and time spent in Florida enjoying our new home with family, friends, and loved ones.  I look forward to being able to play golf again after my year recovery with my feet.  I look forward to continue learning the two new languages I am in the process of learning (French and Spanish).  I look forward to also being able to race my husband's porsche again after my year of recovery.  And with the smell and feel of Fall in the air, I am looking forward already to next Summer... my FAVORITE time of the year!

Who knows what other opportunities and blessings lie ahead of me in my path as I live each day of my 55th year... but I am excited for each day ahead of me, for every loved one and friend who I will get to spend time with this year, and for all the new challenges I will get to engage in.  Getting older is a wonderful thing.  We can reflect back on all our good times, cherish all the times we were able to spend with loved ones, and hopefully change those things we need to change from the lessons and mistakes we have made in the past.  It is only 10:00 am and I have already had a morning filled with loving Happy Birthday wishes from loved ones, family, and friends!  I truly am VERY BLESSED!  Here's to my year of double nickels!!!!