Sweet Sixteen... Or 61 In Dog Years

Way-back machine:  My "singing telegram" days

Yesterday was my birthday. 61 years of living a relatively uneventful life (and I mean that in a good way... and also, I suppose, in a wistful way). Some missed opportunities, to be sure, but also interesting experiences, supportive family and friends, and so many beautiful things to be grateful for... like our wonderful planet.

Snowdrops growing in the gravel

Loving nature as I do, I try to photograph it whenever I can. When spring finally arrived here in New England, all the trees and shrubs exploded with flowers and then leaves, like this one: 

Pink dogwood in a parking lot against a blue, perfect sky

Yesterday, there was a "virtual party" on Facebook, with 50 or 60 people leaving messages and comments that sweetened an already perfect day, as well as dozens of fun photos as we all reminisced about old times. Lots of laughs and a few happy tears. I got a lovely little box of goodies from my mom and brother, a few thoughtful gifts and cards from my husband and friends. One long-time friend sent me a pad of pastel-colored parchment paper; someone else gave me a deck of angel oracle cards; and another person gave me a plant stake that glows at night. Then: A surprise package from someone I've never met (I only know her as a "friend of a friend"). "I asked the sea to wash up a collection for you and this is what I gathered," she wrote. A simple, thoughtful gesture.

Beautiful driftwood, feathers, beach glass and stones from Washington State's coastline

Remember my old car (see previous post) ? Sold it: It's gone. And my messy upstairs art room? I took a car-load of clothes and other things to Goodwill, and there's more bags and boxes in the car... both have given me more space to play with. Now, as I prepare to go back to my summer job, I should have some spare time and room to write, sew, craft, and otherwise rejuvenate my sputtering creative output. That, you see, will be my birthday gift to myself.

A single poppy towers over my dainty foot

So: Happy Birthday To Me... it looks like this could be a wonderful and busy year!

If I Could Change One Thing...

Midsummer's Night Eve - Edward Hughes - 1908

We all have our faults, our flaws, our failures... tempered with our successes, our triumphs, our victories. Our two sides are inexorably intertwined, forever balanced, like bitter and sweet, happy and sad, or high and low. 

Being born under the sign of Gemini, I truly feel these two sides more keenly than some do and so, as I trudge towards my 61st birthday, there needs to be a reckoning, a solution for this sloppy balancing act I call My Life. If I could change one thing about myself, a thing that would make My Life better, what would it be?

PROCRASTINATE: to put off doing (something) until later; delay

I am a highly skilled Procrastinator. I have spent years honing my talent for never getting around to doing the little things that would improve my otherwise mundane existence. Of course, I put off the more distasteful chores, like mopping floors or dusting shelves (who doesn't?), but there are many other things I could be doing to enhance my productivity or improve my living conditions... like having an organized art space or a lovely garden or a less-cluttered house. Jewelry needs repairing, plants need re-potting, boxes and drawers and plastic totes need emptying, and My Life needs a long-overdue overhaul. But I just end up doing other things (washing dishes, vacuuming the rugs) to make up for not doing what needs to be done, what I've put off for days, weeks, months... and yes, even years.

Old Faithful, back in 2010 when it still ran and we were inseparable

For example, my old car has been sitting in the driveway for more than two years. It doesn't run, it just sits there looking more and more like a hunk of junk. I keep meaning to do something about it, but I never get around to it. My poor husband has been gently asking me when I'm going to do something about this eyesore, but I think he's finally decided enough is enough... and he's absolutely right.

Will I actually do something today? This week? This month? Yes, it's time... Let's see if I've got what it takes to do what must be done.

May The Force Be With You... Today (May the Fourth)

Star Wars poster art

I'm a huge Star Wars fan (hey, I love Star Trek, too - and I don't feel like a traitor to either cause) and I've seen the films more times than I care to admit. But a silly thing happened the other day...

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) & Han Solo (Harrison Ford)

I've been sick for the past week with a cold (or flu, take your pick) and haven't been too active due to a low-grade fever (about 99 degrees - not bad, but my normal temperature is usually around 98.4), just enough to make me feel under the weather. When I told my husband Greg this, he made light of it, implying that I really wasn't all that sick. Well, when you're sick, you're sick and, while I wasn't lying around moaning I wasn't turning cartwheels, either! 

The ill-fated Christmas Special (wish I'd seen it, tho I've heard it was just awful)

Apparently he felt a bit guilty about being so cavalier about how I felt and sent me an e-card featuring Chewbacca saying "I love you" in Wookie-speak. At the end, the card says, "May the 4th be with you" but he had absolutely no idea that Star Wars Day (yeah, it's today) even existed (I'm sure he's not alone - I knew about it because I had looked up "unusual holidays" on the Internet a few months ago). Anyway, the card was funny, I laughed and, so, mission accomplished, dear husband. I'm still sick, but getting better.

C3PO, Obi-wan Kenobi (the brilliant Alec Guiness) and Luke (Mark Hamill)

I flipped through all the cable channels today to see if Star Wars was showing but no luck... So that's why I'm watching the first Star Wars trilogy this weekend (my DVD box set, so no commercials) just to show my love, Wookie-style.

Happy Star Wars Day... from my galaxy to yours.