Growing Older...

"It sucks getting old. I miss the days when I was between the ages of 18 and 49." -- Harriet Korn from Harry's Law

Some days I can relate to that statement - today is one of them, thanks to some neck pain. 

Thankfully, most days I don't feel all of my 55 years and my age falls somewhere between 14 and 40 depending on who I have been talking to and what I have been doing.  There are days when it feels like no time has passed since I was 14 or 15 and other days when I wonder where all the years went.

It's funny how talking with certain people or hearing certain songs can take you right back to a time and make you feel like it really wasn't that long ago. I seem to experience that more and more lately, wonder why that is? Getting Older? Wishful thinking? Denial? 

Getting Older - well, yes, duh. I've done a lot of living (and have lots more to do!) so I enjoy the sweet memories of those that I've met along the way that are still in my life, my wonderful marriage to the love of my life for 26 years (today) and those of my two fabulous kids growing up and learning to make their way in the world.

Wishful Thinking - that would imply regrets or wishing things were different. While there are some things, in hindsight, I wish I had done differently and I am sorry for, you can't go back. In the moment you can only do the best you know how to do. I firmly believe that I am the sum of my years, no matter how I got here.  

Every bad thing or good thing that happened to me, every bad choice or good choice I made, brought me to where I am today. Where I am today is a pretty great place and if I could do it all over again there are few things I would change. I would definitely try to be a better mother, a better wife and a better friend, but I did the best I could at the time. That's all any of us can really do, even if your best isn't what someone else considers "best". 

Denial - I do have friends who are in denial about getting older and looking older and they spend a lot of time and money staying in denial. And sure, there are some days that I don't like what I see in the mirror - but I like my older self much more than I ever liked my younger self, which is unfortunate because she was a pretty great gal and just never knew it.

I am not in denial about getting older - it happens to all of us, no matter how hard we fight it. I'm a grandma and I absolutely love it! But, I don't feel like a grandma (most days) and I hope I never do. I want be an active grandma for as long as I can which is why I drag myself, Pop-Pop and the pooch out the door everyday to run or walk or hike. 

So, I'm growing older but not up. I will keep doing the best I can. I will keep making memories. And while I can't press the reset button, I will keep trying to be a better mother, wife, friend and grandma. Because, no matter how hold we get, we have to keep trying. That is what keeps us young, it's what keeps us alive.

Getting it Right

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. --Oprah Winfrey

In creating a new blog for our travels, The Vagabond News I came across this blog that I have sporadically written in for more than a few years. Sadly, it has been sorely neglected since we hit the road. I blame it on Facebook:). It's much easier to throw up a sentence or two and a picture to let people know what you are up to. Don't get me wrong, Facebook is great and I am so happy for some of the people it has brought into my life - family, new friends, old friends, old boyfriends, school friends... I love that I am once again in touch with people I thought I might never hear from again - it's a good thing.

But writing is part of who I am, even my second grade teacher knew that and told my mother I should write. But I haven't been doing enough of it lately. Each year I say I am going to... write another play, put together the poetry I wrote long ago (first I would have to go through storage and find it!) or try my hand at short stories. And every year lack of organization, procrastination (he has been an unwelcome house guest far too long!) and laziness win out.

So here we are on January 1st and I sit having coffee, while bread is rising, thinking of what, if any, my resolutions will be. In looking for a quote to start this blog I came across one that seems to fit perfectly for me... another chance to get it right, Thank you Oprah!

So 2012 is another chance to get it right. Not that there are a lot of things that are wrong in my life - I'm a damn fortunate woman with a wonderful husband, family and friends that are so much like family you would think we were all related somehow! I am indeed fortunate and grateful for all that I have in my life and for the life John and I have made for ourselves.

But, there are always things that can be done better, things to "get right"... relationships, finances, business, health, being a better person, hobbies. Everyone has their own list. And, if I get this "writing thing" right this year, you'll probably see many that are on my list right here on this blog. Don't worry, it won't be all serious and down, but we all have those days, right? It will be a place to share the good, the bad and probably the ugly, all in an attempt to... Get it right!

So no lists for me this year. They rarely work anyway. Just a simple hope to work towards getting it right.

Happy New Year dear reader, I hope that your 2012 is off to a great start and I wish for you a year filled with love, health and prosperity. Mine is off to a great start because today I got it right and I wrote more than a sentence or two on Facebook! I also get to spend time with those that I love on a breezy but sunny Houston day!

Bring it 2012! Let's get it right!