 | |
| My First Photograph Held by a Nurse - At 2-days-old The Camera Flash Reflected on the Window Glass Through Which my Dad Took the Picture |
I woke up this morning, having reached the 60 year milestone; and, I initially found it a tough age to accept.
This birthday, though a long time coming, simply arrived before I was ready - before I could achieve many life goals, to my own satisfaction. My unfinished "bucket list," so-to-speak, includes:
- Completing the BA I began long ago
- Finding myself, life's-work-wise
- Owning more of my house than the bank
- Mastering the piano and ukelele
- Writing a great Canadian novel, and
- Acquiring a few stamps in my passport
I was born 60 years ago today at the Salvation Army Grace Hospital in our nation's capital. My dad always said I was the most expensive thing he ever bought at the Salvation Army. Mom and I spent a week in hospital - as was the custom back then - during which, my first photograph (above) was taken. It was an inauspicious beginning that eventually resulted in:
- The first High School graduate in one branch of my family
- A successful marriage, not once but twice
- Three special children and four treasured grandchildren
- Certificates for Fashion Design and Writing For Publication
- Second place in an international fashion design contest, and
- Oft published in local papers; and, in Reader's Digest, thrice
This taking stock - the listing of my accomplishments - certainly helps counteract the negativity of the bucket list and the unwelcome reality that I'm closer to the end than I am to the beginning, these days. It also brings me consolation through the following four positives:
- I'm happily married to a supportive and loving guy
- The elusive BA is neither time-sensitive nor essential
- I'm still moving forward, so anything is possible, and
- Not all great destinations reside in a passport
So, here's to my next milestone - whenever and whatever it might be! Since I can't keep birthdays from coming, I'll work on accepting them gracefully. After all, now that I think about it, there's usually cake!
