It Is What It Is

How Did That Happen? Happy Birthday Eldest!

Today my first baby has officially become an adult!  I can hardly believe it.  Never more has the saying "In the blink of an eye" been more true.

 

Here she is right out of the womb...(well actually, she's been cleaned up a bit for the camera.  Did I ever tell you about the time that my dear daughter made me a Mother's Day Card and used the photo of her being lifted out of my womb still attached by umbilical cord?)  Anyways, I  thought I'd spare you the gory details of that part....

Here's her Dad (Beloved) looking like OMG- what now!

 

(It's 1991 people- no cutting on the extremely large glasses....I hear they're coming back into fashion, along with shoulder pads...)

  

That's me, still in a hormonal haze of bliss, thinking life will always be this sweet and pure.  Me and my adorable baby girl.

 

She was our first- we weren't perfect and there are lots of quarters in her therapy jar as proof to that.

 

And now, she's about to graduate from high school in three and half weeks. 

 

She'll be attending her Senior Prom this very night.  (More on that later.)  But before she's goes, there's a few things I want to say.  Eldest, you have pushed more buttons in me than I even knew I had.  You are a beautiful person on the inside and out.  I couldn't be more proud of the woman you're becoming.  You're funny, polite, good hearted and a hard worker.  These will take you far in your life's journey. 

 

I love you.  Happy Birthday.

Surprise!

"I get by with a little help from my friends."
- John Lennon

I promise this is the last time I will mention my birthday.  And honestly, this has less to do with my birthday than it has to do with how lucky and blessed I am to be in the friendship of some very fine women. 

 

This past Friday, these adorable gals staged a surprise birthday luncheon for me.  Can I just say how utterly and completely surprised and humbled I was by this event?!  I've never been given a surprise party before.  Talk about rockin your world.  I'm still so taken back by the thoughtfulness and generosity that was shared with me.

So this group here, weren't they all having a spectacular hair day?  Really, everyone looked so beautiful that day.  The gal in the middle, that's L and she was the mastermind behind this little shindig.  She set the whole thing up- and what a fine job she did.  Totally surprised me- even got the Beloved involved. 

 

That's K and L- they've been friends for a long time.  I was so happy to see them there.

 

G, M and C- hidden is M-

 

Still hidden, M. 

I know these aren't the best photos, (again with too much tablescape and not enough faces) but it's important for me to showcase these fabulous gals- because they mean an awful lot to me.  Not just because they came to a birthday lunch, but because this little group has somewhat become my posse- and I'm proud to call them my friends.

"The better part of one's life consists of his friendships."
- Abraham Lincoln

Isn't that the God's honest truth?  I want to also thank them for their generosity of spirit and for all the beautiful gifts they gave to me.  Again, I'm speechless and humbled.

Ok- now this is where it gets unbelievable-

 

Let me tell you about the dessert!  Well, sneaky little L- contacts Beloved and asks about my favorite sweet stuff- he says, well, she likes chocolate, you can't go wrong with cheesecake, but lately she's been craving peppermint ice cream.  Beloved thinks L is trying to come up with something to order off the menu.  NO WAY- guess what L did?  She researches recipes, can't find exactly what she's looking for- so guess what she does?  She comes up with her OWN recipe for "Chocolate Cheesecake with Chocolate ganache and peppermint."  Let me just tell you- it was spectacular!  I've been picking at it all weekend- and my diet has gone to hell.  (Holding up that cheesecake was no easy feat- I swear to Goodness it weighed about 10 pounds-before a bite even entered my mouth!)    So- to thank you- I want everyone to see just how special you are....(she's hates having her photo taken...)

 

"I count myselt in nothing else so happy
As in a soul rememb'ring my good friends."
- William Shakespeare

44 and Holding

This is the face of a 44 year old me- a self photographed -head on shot. 

 

Tomorrow this face will be 45.  I know that I have been waxing on about getting older.  You're all probably sick to death of hearing me talk about it- frankly- I'm sick of myself.  You will be glad to know that I've come to a decision- I'm embracing 45 in all it's glory.  I'm going to wear 45- loud and proud.  You know why- because I earned it!  I earned every bit of every little thing makes me the woman I am today. 

How did I come to this attitude adjustment?  Well, I had a little unintended heart to heart with a good friend  this morning.  I must say- she filled my soul with insight that I had been overlooking and/or diminishing it's importance.  These things were all notions that I knew in my heart of hearts- but sometimes you need to have it shoved in your face to get it.  I'm blessed abundantly in my life and I wouldn't wish to be at another age or time.  I'm where I'm supposed to be- right here right now.

P.S.  I will however, still talk about ways that I'd like to improve the outside package- so be looking forward to more adventures in Botox, the hope of Restyline and maybe a lift here or there.  ( A girl can dream can't she?) 

P.S.S.  This just in- (as I was writing this post) Eldest informed me that a Senior boy from her school told her boyfriend, "that I was HOT."  What do you think about that?  I'm not sure what I think about that.  My first ever, Hot comment!  Talk about a birthday present!  Thank you, Senior boy and Thank You, B for allowing me to embrace my inner Hotness!  (I'm slightly embarassed and laughing all the same!)

Flash Backs

I'm still on this reflection kick- thinking about my past- the people I knew way back then- where are they now?  What are they doing?  Of course, I have those that I stay in touch with on a regular basis.  Then I have those that I exchange the annual Christmas Card with-and don't write anything of real importance other than their name and kid's ages.  Perhaps since I'm hitting that age thing again- I'm really pondering the past as I think about the future and where I want to go.  So for fun- I thought I'd share some old pics with you.  I'll probably do this occasionally for awhile, primarily because I know how to scan a photo into the computer and then get it posted here.  (I know I'm lame beyond words.....) 

So without further ado- ME- 80's Style and some other Random stuff about me I bet you didn't know...

 

Yeah- I was a sorority girl- what of it?  Can you say Alpha Gamma Delta!  Wha Hoo- Go Alpha Gams!

 

Super Senior girls on the front porch of the Delta Tau Delta house.  Those boys were our next door neighbors.  We knew all their dirty secrets- and they knew ours.  As a matter of fact, they nicknamed us- Alpha Gamma Domino because the Domino Pizza Delivery truck was at our house on a frequent and regular basis.  One year for homecoming, the Domino Pizza Truck pulled our Homecoming float.  Mind you those pesky Delt boys were our partners and they ate a lot o' pizza too!

 

I worked at Burger King.  In fact, it was my first job.  I worked there from my Junior Year in high school until I graduated and went away to college and then for one Christmas break.  Then- stick a fork in me- I was done with the fast food! My baby sister also started there after I graduated and this photo was taken when I worked that first Christmas break.  I mean, really, what a proud moment for our parents.  Do you know how hard it is to get the grease smell out of polyester?  I was not allowed to sit on our furniture when I came home until I removed my uniform.  Now, it wasn't like I wanted to wear it for lounge wear- but still it needed to come off to sit down.  (You can't see our hair nets.)

 

Toga Party = The 80's!  Can you say "Animal House?"  Toga Parties were a requisite theme "Tea."

(TEA's are what we called parties between a fraternity and sorority.  Usually, they had a theme.  Lots of chances to dress up and play....also lent itself to lots of cocktail consumption- but there was always a KEG.) 

If only I could have those arms now!

That's enough for now- Hope you enjoyed your 80's flashback.

New Year- Old Me

January is my birthday month.  So in addition to having to worry about the New Year hoopla, resolutions and such - I actually get a whole year older right from the get go.  I like to ease into things- through the back door- Not fair!    This is a monumental birthday- the point of no return birthday- I'm half way through a decade!  Yikes!  My personal take is the half way years are much more difficult to swallow than the actual start of the new decade.  Case in point- turning 30 or even 40 really wasn't that big of deal to me.  It's once the "0" becomes a "1" and so on- that I start the palpitations.  This will be year "45."  How in the name of all that's holy did that happen?  I don't feel feel "45."  I feel this age-

   

I was 21 years old in this picture.  I don't feel a bit different mentally.   Will I feel "45" when I'm "65?"  How does this aging stuff work?   Alright, I will admit I  do feel smarter and more sure of myself at this age.  I guess that can only come with ("gulp...") aging.  So I guess I need to get over myself and remember all the good stuff that comes with "seasoning."  Truly- I'm happy with the direction my life is going.  I try to not have any regrets.  It's all about looking forward and surrounding myself with positive energy.  And really- it's just a number, right?  So, why does it feel so wrong?!

Hey-How's You're Aging?

Recently my beloved husband has gotten a new hobby- FACEBOOK.  Have you heard of it?  My eldest has been dabbling for awhile with it, but usually spending her time on My Space.  Personally, I don't do either.  However, I can see how this Facebook could really get addicting.  It seems pretty user friendly and it's a great way to connect with old friends. 

This is where the aging and my problems begin.  People like to post photos from their past and share with their "friends."  They post photos from high school, college and from their current lives.  Let me say, I don't necessarily think this is such a good idea.  Especially, if your particular vintage hasn't heldup well.  It's one thing to run into an old friend in person and then have them wonder "what the heck happened to You?"  It's an entirely different situation when folks have the ability to look at "your before and after 20 years later" side by side.  Do people have no pride?  I'm shocked at some of these photos that folks are posting.  Am I an aging snob?  Darling husband says that he personally feels better about himself and feels he's holding up well.  He actually threw me in the mix and said I'm aging pretty well too.  I'm thinking- "Compared to what?"  Those crazy girls you knew in college who obviously have no sense of boundaries in the photos they're posting?! 

I do know that since I've turned 40 I'm very self conscious about this aging process and have made it my personal agenda to try to stave off Mother Nature.  I'm not considering plastic surgery- but I'm not above Botox or the filler stuff.  Wouldn't it be great if you could photoshop your real face and not just the photos?  I'm in favor, I'm just saying....

Menopause-The Musical

This past weekend I attended the stage production of "Menopause-The Musical" with a group of women I know from my kid's school.  It was an eclectic group, which is always fun to mix it up a bit in the social department.  I have to be truly honest and say that I really wasn't up to attending this production on this particular night, but since I paid for the ticket- I felt compelled to get my money's worth. 

When I arrived at the theater, I was struck that there were so many  middle aged and older women there.  Now, I'm sure that sounds kind of funny coming from me, considering that I'm 43- but I truly believe in my heart of hearts- that this doesn't apply to me.  For goodness sakes, I still feel like I'm a 21 year old college girl- having the time of my life!  Sadly- when I look in the mirror- I'm reminded by the crows feet that are ever growing around my eyes- that perhaps, I truly am middle aged.

*Side note- if you are a gentleman of any age who is the slightest bit interested in meeting  women in these age groups, I suggest attending a production of said musical.  The ratio of men to women was definitely in favor of the male persuasion. 

Anyhow- the show kind of started out slow, but after about 20 minutes, I was actually smiling and having several laugh out loud moments.  I would recommend seeing this show if you are a) a women

b) a man hoping to meet a women  c) approaching menopause   d) in throws of menopause

e) you like Top 40 hits from the 60's and 70's

That being said, the funniest, laugh out loud moment of the evening, came from my 13 year old son.

"Mom- where are you going again?"

"I'm going to see "Menopause-The Musical."

"Menopause?  Isn't that a disease?  Oh- wait- isn't that an eating disorder?"

"Yeah-Something like that."