saying goodbye to my forties.......

One always looks forward to the single day of the year when it's time to bring out the cake loaded with candles, in order to celebrate the passing of another year. We always feel a little bit more taller, a little bit wiser, and a little bit more older, and with good reason........ we are!

As a child, the day never comes fast enough, and it seems like an eternity before you can claim the day as yours. It's almost as bad as waiting for Christmas. You know the presents are in hiding, the preparations readied, and the treats already baked or ordered, but the waiting part of the equation drives you into high anticipation. That is until you get to my age. At this point, you do all you can to recall the days, months, and years.... to bring back some semblance of youth and agility that were captured and taken prisoner to the age-Gods. Whether you like it or not, the process is non-negotiable. In order to get here, you must surrender your youth. Not that this is a bad thing to do, as the wisdom you gain is a very big part of the payoff in your favor.

This year I say goodbye to my forties. I turned 49 last Sunday, and I have exactly 362 days left till I hit the half century mark in my life. To say it's been a wild crazy ride would be a slight exaggeration, as the roller coaster knows no bounds to the bends and turns of the track. Whether it's been a fair one or otherwise, it's a ride I strapped into once I left my mother's womb..... and it's been a lot of fun no matter the consequences I've stumbled upon. I'm not wealthy, but I am very rich in other areas. These were always the sustainable factors that kept me from doing things that could have put me into far deeper trouble than I ever bargained for. A good set of standards and morals, a wonderful, loving family, and great friends from all over the globe have been my survival technique..... even though it has taken me this long to realize the secret of my wealth. Perhaps I knew it all along, but for some reason, was never able to identify the actual recipe. What matters is that I know this now.

So being 49 is not a bad thing at all. There are some days I still feel like I'm the 20 year old carefree girl, and some days I feel 80 (especially after a long day on my feet). It really doesn't matter, as it all balances out at the end of the day. I'm only too glad hubby didn't decide to order a cake with all the candles, as it would have resembled the burning of Atlanta all over again. We couldn't have that now, could we?

As for my little get-away to the Smokies...... I had the best time! Nothing greater than a trip to the mountains, family singing Happy Birthday (twice), and lots of cool presents to open. If this is any indication of how the year will go, then bring it on!