Birthday Reflections and Big Wishes

As we age it is looked on as taboo to share your age. That is, until you hit like 90, in which case you get to (rightfully) be proud that you have “survived the storms” and “made it that far.” In the grand scheme, no one seems to really care all that much about little old number 38. Yep, I said it. I broke the norm (gasp) and actually shared my age with you. Are you shocked? Are you faint-hearted? Of course not, after all, it’s just a number as they say. So, as I sit here, with the whole day laid out before me and the kids still sleeping (that is until the blasted garbage man rolls his giant noisy truck down my street…) I have the opportunity to reflect on the past 38 years. It isn’t considered a milestone birthday in any way really, not shiny new adulthood like 18, or the alcohol induced haze of 21. It isn’t even a nice round number like 40,50, or 60. So what is it?

When I look back to 20 years ago, that makes me a shiny, new, fresh 18 year old. I was getting ready to head off to college with everything in the future set out in a clear, perfect path. Wow. So naive to think that my path, so clear at the time, would in the past 20 years veer so far around, away, and off the originally planned route. But now I’m at least wise enough to know that those curves off the path, the uncharted territories, the hiccups in the plan are what makes those 20 years worth living.

Which leads me to even 10 years ago…28. Still, very different story than what is written today. Even 10 years ago, it was a very different world for me. Again, even the last 10 years were nothing like I had imagined, nothing like, at 28, I had laid out so carefully and planned for so precisely. What has happened the past 10 years has been so wonderfully unimaginable that there is no way I could plan it. So, maybe for the next 10 years, I’ll just throw all my carefully laid plans out the window and just go with life. Hmmm, I don’t know about that. Maybe I’ll let you know at 48.

In true adult form, over the past few years I don’t usually make a big thing over my birthday. Yes, it is nice to hear birthday greetings and perhaps go out to dinner. But nothing like the sweet spot of birthdays. You know what I’m talking about…roughly the 11-16 birthday range. What makes this birthday range the sweet spot you ask? Well, that is the wonderful age of desiring more expensive gifts while not fully realizing how expensive they really are…think electronic gadgets, cars, that sort of thing. Ahh, those were great gift birthdays. Once you hit a certain age, birthday gifts become more like, “my family is my gift” or “my health is gift enough for me…” All those are certainly true and technically things money can’t buy. So this year, I’ve decided to compile my very own, sweet spot of birthday wishes birthday list. Yep, I’ve adopted the 11-16 birthday mentality and came up with my very own, no holds barred, money doesn’t mean a thing, birthday wish list:

• A cruise. Yep, I want 3-5 days of cooking free, sunshine basking, no dishes, no laundry awesomeness. I want to lay in my lawn chair and soak up the rays while my sweet and loving children are playing nicely and safely in the pool. My cruise will be free of all complaining, children bickering, and fussing…ahhhh just imagine…

• A new computer. Not just one. I want two, and I want them to be MAC computers. One desktop, one laptop. My computer work has gotten more creative over the past few years and I hear Macs are good for that. Well, that and they actually function. So yeah, that would be good.

• Then, I’m going to go to Europe. Now, in the past 6 months, this has taken a big leap to nearly the top of the list. Through blogging, I have had the opportunity to make some very good friends that I would really love, love, love to meet in real life. Boy, we’d have some shenanigans if we actually all got together!  I’m talking the stuff that movies are made of kind of great fun. Well, that, and let’s be honest, Europe is just sooo cool.

• I want to take a Photoshop class. See above, as this plays in with the whole creative pursuits thing. Let’s be honest, I think there are quite a few classes that I would love to take. While I’m dreaming, I might add that taking classes and learning could be used as currency to pay for things like mortgages and electric bills. I’ll learn anything…cooking, business, art…

• I want a new lens for my Nikon camera. You may not know it, but those things are super pricey and giant, so like when you give a mouse a cookie…I’ll need some accessories to go with it. And I’ll need a class to go with it. And I’ll need a trip to Europe to be sure I have enough stuff to take pictures of with it….and on and on it goes…(I chose this image in camo for my dear, sweet, hubby- well that and the bird on the end is pretty cool.)

• I want my house on the farm. Yep. Now- let’s keep this within reason. I don’t want a McMansion. I don’t need a zillion square feet and every imaginable upgrade and feature. In the grand scheme it’s even under 200,000 but it is perfect. This home is by Zeilman-James Homes, Inc. it is the Waynoka and it is awesome!

Could I probably go out and make some of these things happen? Sure. But you have to admit, it’s not like going out and picking a new outfit, or treating myself to some ice cream.

Maybe I’ll get some one these things one day, and maybe not. I guess it’s back to the whole planning the next 10 years thing. But most importantly, I’ve given myself the best gift I could ever give—even at 38, I can still dream.

Happy birthday to me.

~Leanne