Musings of a 61-year-old on her Birthday......

Yesterday, January 21, I turned 61.  Not so bad.  Except that I'm fatter than I want to be.  More wrinkled than I want to be. Less limber and less graceful than I want to be.  More grey of hair than I want to be.

All outward appearance disappointments....Some of which can be modified with diet, exercise, Mary Kay, yoga, and Loving Care.....Mail order or WalMart should take care of most of these....

Where am I on the Inside matters? What have I done in these six decades to warrant another trip around the Sun? Have I improved Life on this planet?  Have I managed to leave the woodpile stacked a little bit higher? Have I accomplished anything of Merit as a woman way past her Prime?

This is one of the earliest photos of me. Probably the only "baby" picture of me.... Third child. Older sister, older brother....If you look closely, you can Tell that this is an "impromptu" photograph....taken while visiting my parents' hometown in Arkansas. Looks like Mom had hurriedly tucked in the front of my brother Nic's shirttail....My sister Sherry was dressed in playclothes, and why Daddy had on a suit and tie, I do not know. Mom seems relaxed. Almost sensuous.....Like me, she Enjoyed her role of wife and mother....

Below is me in first grade.  I'd already lost a few teeth.  We were growing out my bangs....unsuccessfully, it appears.....I never was a pretty child, and never thin.  But I had an Open Smile, and my eyes always said "yes."   

Birthdays make one think. At least, the more I have, the more I think about these things and where I am in relationship with the Earth, its Creator, and the folks travelling with me......

And, so, I believe, a List is in order.....For no one elses benefit except mine.....

 

 

 

If you continue to read, then perhaps this might cause you to create a similar list....and in doing so, perhaps it might help you sort some things out as well....Tho very few of you readers have orbited around the Sun as many times as I have, maybe the following paragraphs will give you a bit of insight regarding how it feels to live in an aging body with a mind who thinks it is still 17.....

Accomplishments:

  Probably the biggest and best and most important (besides the ones involving God, of course) would be our marriage of 41+ years. This, beyond all else, is the most difficult, frustrating, time-consuming, delightful thing I have ever done. Yep.  Certainly the most Difficult. And I am certain that Bikeman would agree to this. Being married to me is a Challenge at best, Hell at the worst.....And HE's no picnic, either! There were many days, weeks, months that both of us wondered What for and Why we were even Thinking of continuing together.
  As it turns out, we have come to realize that we both admire each other more than anyone we know. Respect and Honor are the hallmarks of our marriage (Lust comes in there as well, but that's another Blog). Understanding and Agreement never seem to come in to play, but give us another 41 years, and we'll see what happens.
  People who were married in the '70's did not tend to stay together.  It was the era of divorce and infidelity.  Look around you.  There are plenty of folks who have celebrated their 50th and even 60th, and their 25th.....but not many 40th...We are a strange and rare item, indeed.  A Great Accomplishment for both of us.

  Then there are the children.  I think they might just go hand-in-hand with this struggle of 41 years.....Whatever the reason, our beautiful (inside and out) daughters, maturing into successful women with families of their own----They are certainly an improvement to this planet....
  If you search the archives, you will see many pictures of them.  They even have blogs of their own. The links are there on the side of this post.

This is Baby Toni and Baby Emily.......We kinda raised each other.....

Here she is with a baby of her own......A true Treasure on this big blue marble.....

 

This one is very like ME....only an Improvement, to say the least. 

 

She tells me very Wise things....I learn a lot from her....

 

 

 

Ah.....Sisters......

And Red Tenting (Have you ever read The Red Tent by Anita Diament?  I will SEND you a copy!)

 

  So.....even though I cannot take much credit, because I certainly was sent some very GOOD raw material.....these women are truly people who continue to improve the planet....At least I can say that I had a small part in developing that.  Stir in a wonderful father, Girl Scouts, love of God, Music, and a sense of Humor, and itsa nice formula.....

 

And the Third Accomplishment.....Helping the Animals of the Earth......

  From the time I was very small, I was always bringing home ill and injured animals to heal and be whole again. My parents were very indulgent in allowing sodden, broken-winged birds and flea-infested mammals and disgusting reptiles into our home. Mostly they were defenseless to my tears, and hoped that I would eventually outgrow this need to comfort the wild things.

  I never kept count of the creatures I helped return to the lives intended for them.  I only know that I got "better" and more aware as more came into my hands.

 

 

  Several years ago I discovered that I could actually communicate with animals, and have been able, through wonderful mentors, to hone my skills and use them to help out the Animal Kingdom.  Plants and Rocks, too....

  This is a mystery that continues to unfold and develop before my very eyes.  ALL I have had to do is keep myself open and willing, and The Creator does the rest.  The most Difficult part has been moving beyond the ordinary norms of society and allowing myself the freedom to continue on this unfamiliar path.

 

So......Marriage.  Children.  Animals.  Not a bad assessment, now that I have written it all down.  I could probably take a few more years of life on Earth....and maybe, just Maybe, continue to improve my surroundings. Please remember me always with a smile....and perhaps a shake of your head....