On Turning Another Zero

I’ve been thinking about this for the last several weeks, or really the last month or so, as I approach this milestone in my life.

Birthdays without zeros come and go, but those with zeros always seem to be more of an event.

Growing up, birthdays were fun. I don’t remember much about them except they were always celebrated at home with a cake. My first BIG birthday was a surprise 21^st birthday party. This was my senior year in college and I had moved out of the house. I’m not sure how Mom got me to come back home, but as I drove toward the house I saw my roommate Vicki’s VW parked across the street. I thought that was strange, but discounted it and went inside to be surprised by friends.

When I approached my 30^th I started to feel older. For those of us baby boomers who grew up in the 60s, anyone over 30 wasn’t to be trusted. Oh my gosh – now I was part of that group!

For my 40^th birthday, my friend Marsha talked my then husband into looking for an old picture from high school that she could display at the state hospital where I worked. Outside my office door off the main lobby for visitors and employees to see was a big poster with me in my high school majorette outfit. The birthday party at home was not quite as exciting.

I don’t remember my 50^th. I was sad to leave a beautiful house I shared for a short time with the previous administration (ex), but so excited to move into my own small house and start a new chapter of my life. How I celebrated that birthday I don’t know, but that was a good year.

Well, I’m coming onto my – I can hardly say it much less write it – my 60^th birthday. How did I get to this age? I still feel like that 21 year old inside. I don’t think I look my age even though I’ve noticed a few wrinkles creeping onto my face and those jowls that appeared 10 years ago have become more pronounced.

I was carded until I was 30. I remember joking – When I’m 50 they’ll think I’m 40. I’m thankful for the genes my parents gave me and even though I may look a tad younger than my age, it’s not the consolation I thought it would be.

I now have lived longer than my mother, my brother and one sister.

I’ve lived long enough to see so many changes.

• Computers have gone from huge machines in rooms to this beautiful sleek Mac on my desk.
• We shared our phone on party lines and now we all have small ones we carry around.
• I watched Mom thread clothing through her wringer washer and now we just throw clothes in and wait for a buzz.
• I remember jumping up to change channels, being the remote control at home for the three television stations. Now we have a remote for everything including this Mac!
• My first camera was a Brownie, but I really remember taking pictures with a Kodak Instamatic. I graduated to a Canon AT1 and now I’m on my fifth digital. Digital – now that’s a real instamatic!
• I still look forward to the mail woman, but not for a letter. Email has taken over my life as the preferred method of communication.
• And talking about Internet, I remember not so long ago when it was Prodigy, just one big bulletin board. Back then in my home office on Gum Street I posted questions and answers on starting businesses and participated in quilt block swaps.
• My bicycle growing up was pieces parts that my brother John put together for me had no gears. The Motebecane I’ve had for 30 years has 10 speeds.

And that’s just a short list. The fact that I can say 30 years ago or 40 years ago I did this or that, is pretty mind blowing!

There are still things I want to do and places I want to explore, but many on my original bucket list I’ve accomplished.

• Newspaper Reporter: In the 80s I worked on a small town newspaper for a short time. I had always thought that was what I wanted to do, but learned quickly that it wasn’t.
• Business Owner: I always wanted my own business. Both sides of our family – both grandparents had been entrepreneurs as were my siblings – so it was just in me to start my own business, which I did and was very successful. However, I found after 8 years it was time to move on.
• Travel – Dave and I took a trip to Italy in 06. I have always wanted to go to Europe especially France, but when Dave asked me where I wanted to go, I decided I would really rather see Italy.
• Newspaper column – I always wanted my own column in a newspaper and finally this year I have one and I love it!
• True Love – I know it sounds corny, but I wanted to find someone to share my life and would be that partner I dreamed about. I found Dave five years ago. I had to kiss a few frogs before I found my prince.

There are more, but this post is getting way too long!

Things have changed at this age more than when I turned 50. Even though I’ve been blessed with good health, I’ve had a few scares in the last several years. I tend to read the obits every day and often see people I know even my age who have gone home.

Another change is my attitude toward this life. It’s no longer about making money or being recognized as the best at a specific skill. It’s about enjoying what is left, being kind, lightening up, and doing my best to serve. I’ve always been a spiritual person, but I long to be stronger in that area.

One of the women I interviewed recently is in her 80s. She told me that it was on her 70th birthday that she discovered that she was old.  I must say that at 80 she’s way younger than a lot of people half her age.

I know tomorrow when I wake up I will still be me. But this year I want to really search my soul and make a new list of what I want to do and what I want to accomplish during this, my 60^th year.

My friend Delores posted on my Facebook page the other day this quote: The secret of a happy life is to think kindly of the past and live fully in the now. Sounds like a great way to start my next decade.