Having a cup of coffee with my mom on her 80th birthday.
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I have been thinking about how to mark my 60th birthday, which is in about a week.
For my 40th, we had a big party. Large guest list, lots of food, skits, gag gifts, black balloons, the whole enchilada.
For my 50th, wife sent out letters, far and wide to the people in my life, asking them to write a note…memories, things they appreciated about me, stories etc. bound them up in a keepsake book of memories. Things you might say about someone @ their funeral visitation but never get around to saying it. To this day, it remains my most prized possession. (I will come back to this in a moment)
For my 60th, my mind as been thinking about the book Tuesdays With Morrie, and his answer to what his idea of how to spend the perfect day. Morrie was dying of ALS and he was having these powerful meaningful conversations with a young man he’d taught from college…
Here is where my thoughts are so far. 😉
I am SO excited and thankful as this chapter of my life arrives. Honestly, I love being at this season/ age of my life. I’ve already lived a full, full life. Still have much of the passion and energy I had as a 30 yr old, just tempered with life experience and wisdom. I feel like I am in the prime of my life. Would not want to go back and repeat any of it.
I do not have any regrets.
I have been able to shed much (not all) of the people pleasing baggage I was carrying when I was 20.
I know myself. I have a pretty good sense of my strengths and weakness and can own up to both freely.
I have lived to see my children’s children.
I am in a vibrant relationship with the same woman for almost 40 years. That is no small feat, considering what a rascal I can still sometimes be.
I have checked off most of the things on my bucket list…(except running a mile nonstop, and traveling to the Highlands of Scotland, and Northern German)
Both of my parents are still very much alive, in the land of the living and both of them wrote the most meaningful letters to me for my 50th. What more could I want…
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I have no desire for a large party this time. I hope to take the day off of work. Start out by cooking my own breakfast of little smokies, 2 eggs over easy, fresh pot of Starbucks French Roast whole bean/ not ground) coffee, couple of pieces of white toast, with butter.
I have a new rifle I would really like to zero in. Haven’t shot it yet. Need to set up some targets/ 50 yards/ 100 yards/ 200 yards and fine tune it. I had a gun smith zero in the scope with a laser but still need to take it out to the field. Don’t even know how to clean it for sure so that will have to be part of that activity…..
After that, the day is still open until evening, when I hope to have a dinner of Kentucky Fried Chicken/ extra Crispy/ dark meat.
(Oh, I know I am going to work a nap into the afternoon @ some point. That is one of the life lessons I learned early into adulthood. How to take a nap without shame. How to turn off the workaholic old German that still lives in my head. I’m going to do it, just to remind him of who is in charge….
Going to wrap out the day by renting a movie. Wonder Woman. I’ve watched the trailers multiple times. Looks like a great “escape” movie. Regardless of what those Court Jesters in Hollywood say.
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And finally a shameless plug…
If you’re so inclined/ absolutely no pressure… I would love to hear from you that are part of my blog family… tell me something(s) you appreciate about me….Real good chance your words will end up in my book of memories. If you’d rather not leave your words on the blog/ shoot me an e-mail, or nothing @ all..that’s OK too. 🙂
Later! DM