Reflections on Turning 76

So today I begin the last quarter of my first century. 

I put it that way on purpose because even though thoughts of my own mortality have been prominent over the last day or so, I have every intention of living for a while longer and possibly even seeing the first days of my second century. Who knows? I have a rich and long genetic history plus I am healthy and active and I eat well. And I love life. 

I am not afraid of death as long as it comes gently and without a lot of pain. My faith tells me there is Light and Love on the other side and I will enjoy whatever continuation my journey takes. What I will miss is life here and now. 

I love my family and want lots more time with them to attend graduations and weddings and soccer games and theatre performances; family dinners and special conversations; hugs and tears and laughter and fun.

I love the beach and because I live in the mountains, I need plenty of time to make it to the beach and enjoy the sun and sand and warm salt water. And because I live in the mountains, I need plenty of time to snowshoe and hike and enjoy the tiny wildlife that inhabit the area right off my deck in the summer. 

I am a business woman for the first time in my life. Our AirBnB experiment is going really well and we are meeting extraordinary people from all over the world. It really is a delight to be hosting in this way. 

I’m a reader - yes, mostly of cozy mysteries but also of history and theology  and other genres that catch my fancy. There are so many books and so little time as they say. I love to read and plan on doing so for a long while. 

And so it goes - life lived to its fullest. Sunrises and sunsets. Water and hills and mountains and trees. Family and friends and delightful people who come to stay and leave again. Clean sheets, indoor plumbing, anesthetics. And food ~ 

Chocolate: what a good way to celebrate this birthday. A delicious cookie from a friend last night. Cupcakes from a meeting I attended today. My grandson’s pudding (with whipped cream and a cherry on top) for dessert tonight. Fondue tomorrow night at another celebratory dinner with family. 

I am a very fortunate and blessed human being, grateful to be continuing this journey around the sun. Blessings to you too, my friends, as your journeys continue at whatever stage and age you are!

We Had a Moon!!

I admit to being envious of all my friends who had clear skies and posted pictures of the blood red moon and the eclipse night before last. We had heavy clouds and snow. Last night we had the moon.

Oh it was wasn't blood red, and it was clear and bright and white. And large - so large as it hung low in the sky.

The forest is lovely under a full moon. It reminds me of Clement Moore's Christmas poem: the moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave a luster of mid-day to objects below.

Shadows are stark and deep and just outside them the snow glistens. The world becomes a study in black and white. There is no other view like it. Snow hangs heavy on pine branches while deep within there is no green, only the black contrasting shadows cast by the moon.

Maybe I didn't get to see the eclipse or take a picture of a blood red moon, and I did get to see the  miracle of a full moon on freshly fallen snow and in my soul, if not physically, danced in the Light.

Navigating the DMV

In California if you are over 70 you have to take a written test to renew your driver’s license every 5 years. So off I went yesterday to take the test. I passed. License renewed. No problem. There were some things I noticed, however, that make me ponder. 

Yes, I had to take the test and I also had to fill out an application to take the test! oops. First I clicked on the wrong side of the screen so that took a while to adjust and get me started on actually filling out the form. Most of the questions are standard: name, age, height, weight.  

But let’s think about these for a moment: hair color ~ I have now gone from black to grey so no problem. They do have a place to check “other” and I guess that’s where my daughters and lots of young people would check and fill in neon green, purple, or electric pink. I’m not sure hair color is a solid identifier these days. 

Eye color: my color is there ~ hazel. Hmmm - what color is hazel? As far as I know eye color is the only place we use the word hazel for a color. I think I will paint the wall hazel. Nope. Doesn’t work. Other than eye color, I can only think of two other places the word is used: hazel nut and Hazel, a maid from an ancient cartoon and tv show. I have nice eyes. Evidently if the light is bright and my pupils very small, you can see gold around them ~ so nice eyes with an odd or unique color. 

Of course then I think of my college friend with the classic Irish look: red hair, pale skin and beautiful green eyes. Wow, she had amazing green eyes ~ and then I discovered she wore colored contacts. 

And finally there was the interesting question: have you ever applied for a license under a different name? Well, yes, when I was 16, 60 years ago! And that’s what they meant and wanted. Made me glad I hadn’t changed my name when I got married a second time. 

All in all it took me a lot longer to navigate the application than the test. In five years, I think I will fill out the application on line before I go.