32 days to go

It's almost here. My 60th birthday. Happy to report I do not face it with the dread that preceded my 50th. I am hoping to spend the next five years being gainfully employed with my current company. There have been changes there recently which should be good for the company and allow growth for me.
However, I know that I do not want to be defined my my work, so have to make plans to do things that are personally more meaningful. The 70 mile commute takes up a great deal of time and I must manage that better. I will try to get myself into the habit of listening to audiobooks for educational purposes as well as pleasure.
On a lighter note, I cut my hair shorter yesterday.  The back is better than the front. I will have to play with that to see what I can do. Why did I choose to do this now with the November temperatures below normal??  It did give me an excuse to buy more fun earrings, have to elongate my round face somehow!
                                 

Spring...Finally

I love the colors of spring. New leaves offer up such clean, green, fresh hues The wormlike seeds falling from the trees are, individually amazing. Yellow and fuchsia I saw yesterday morning.  Even the lichen brings a different color to the garden.
The vegetable garden got a late start due to the uncooperative weather and isn't tilled as it has been in the past. This year it was all about spot tilling.  My Martha-inspired trellises are sturdier than they look. Stay tuned for garden updates.

Good decision

You know that feeling you get - things happen that you did not plan and you just know it's not going to turn out well?  Yesterday's scheduled flight to visit dad was a prime example. My flight the day before had already been cancelled and rescheduled to yesterday morning.

My first clue came early that second morning when I checked online to see if my flight was delayed- my preferred airport is easily fogged in.  Good thing I checked because the flight was actually changed to a different airport. That was just not going to work for me.

I rescheduled for the last flight of the day. A few hours later I was notified about another airport change- this to an even less desirable airport.  I was willing, however, to make that change to visit dad. The rain continued to fall.  The wind continued to blow. I was hearing there were major flight delays...but my flight was only showing an hour delay.

I knew better - how could my flight that was not usually flying out of that major airport possibly be  delayed only an hour?  I cancelled.

Today I couldn't wait to check on the actual departure time. It was more than 3 hours delayed and I would have landed after 3:00 AM. Considering I had gotten up at 4:00 yesterday for that original flight, 3:00 AM today would not have been pretty. The agent at the car rental desk probably would not have let me even have a car.

My kind employer will  allow me to work remotely to go visit Dad. I trust it will be an easier morning of travel then.

Spur of the Momemt

It was one of those last minute arrangements:  Friday morning after a long laborious week and I get the text- the kids and grand kids are coming tomorrow afternoon and spending the night. (Menu planning, child proofing, etc.) Well, what the hell, we may as well invite some overdue friends for dinner Friday night as well.
It is truly best to connect whenever possible. Friday night turned out to be great. Only half of the couple invited was able to make it, but one of their sons was also able to join us.  What a great night. What positive attitudes were on exhibit last night. No complaints about anything - just great conversation and catching up. A sliced finger and a broken dessert dish didn't mar the evening for very long.
I haven't seen the grand kids in about a month. I am really looking forward to it and even though I'm just the "step" grandparent, they don't really understand the difference yet.  I'm just another person who loves to play with them...
I have invited my 2 grown children as well. Hopefully they can make an appearance before the overnight guests leave tomorrow AM.
Wanting to be the stylish Grandma, I'll choose something funky. I've got some great separates from Zara and if the temperature rises as much as it's supposed to, I might just throw together a new outfit. I've rediscovered the garner Fructis Style Surf Hair paste. I had a couple in my cabinet (one stays in my suitcase now).  This stuff is amazing. You can do anything with it and it really controls my marginally straight, slightly bendy hair all day.
Happy Mother's Day weekend to all who have had or are a mother!

Even though we are into May, it still feels like winter here in the northeast. The weather forecast for tonight includes sleet. Perhaps my garden prep and seed planting was too early yesterday. It always amazes me that I am able to harvest a new crop of rocks each spring when I turn over the garden. Glad I've been working out- some of them wee definitely in the 30-40 pound range.

Getting together with dear friends tonight - cooking here. My salute to Cinco de Mayo will be some black bean soup- I've been craving it and this is perfect timing. 

Looking forward to cooking and ironing a Mexican influenced embroidered crisp white cotton blouse. Enjoy your day as much as I will enjoy mine!  Time to get busy in the kitchen.

Admittedly, Happily, Older

This is the beginning of my final year in my 50's. As much as I dreaded that fiftieth birthday, I found it to be very freeing. Not being directly responsible for children any more,making a major career change (not particularly intentionally), and,of course, finding a good colorist, have all made my 50s a rewarding experience. This is not to say that challenges have not been present, but I know I am not alone in that. Aging parents along with illnesses in friends and family members have to be expected and dealt with.
I also know that I am among the fortunate. I have a loving husband, gainfully employed ( well-adjusted) children and step-children, a dad in his 90s with a great sense of humor, that wonderful new job, and because I am Oldernow, I understand that all of those gifts contribute to my past and my present. That 92 year old father told me a long time ago to talk to as many people as I can. I will probably learn something. He's right- sometimes you learn that what they are saying is just a lot of c___p, but sometimes there are some gems. Rarely a day goes by when I don't have that "ah-hah" moment, when I realize that I just learned something new or found a different way to look at something.
So the blog will be a way for me to reflect and share this latter part of my life. While I still feel mentally and (sometimes) physically young, I do accept that I am Oldernow.