Friends, Family, Fun and Follie at Fifty

It's here... the big 5 - 0 ! The half-century mark! The 'if I live to be 100, I'm half way there!' day...

I made it.. to 50.

Damn, it doesn't seem possible.

50 sounds so old to me... so old.

I had a bit of a trying time yesterday as I mused my last day of being in my 40's. I think it would be fair to say that I was upset about turning 50. Pondering where I was in life. Thinking about my future. All sorts of thoughts..... as I cleaned house, set out Christmas decorations, did some errands and made a new lighted garland for my front door....Damn, I'm getting old. Don't like this one bit. Could I have 49 over for another year to enjoy a bit more than I did this past year???

As I climbed into bed, I thought .. 'hmm... when I wake up, I'll be 50. this is my last night going to bed in my 40's.'

* ADVISORY!! Please keep the 'wake up' portion of the above statement in mind. It plays a role in the picture above. **

DING-DONG! DING-DONG! DING-DONG! DING-DONG! DING-DONG! DING-DONG!

Out of a sound sleep, I was roused by the peeling doorbell... and INSISTANT doorbell... in the middle of the night!! Who the hell was this?? What was going on?? I figure any time someone is ringing your doorbell at 3 in the morning in the cold dark, it can't be good. M met me at the top of the stairs with concern. I went down the stairs, looking towards the front window... by damn, son-of-a-bitch.... if my ex is playing another sick attack on me, so help me... I'll call 911 and they can put out the flaming bag of dog shit!! Always on guard, I am... always am now.....

I saw what looked to be one of my ya-ya's go running past my window...away from the door. ????

What the heck is R doing? I started to unlock the door, then changed my mind. Cautious, C...this is a birthday trick... you'll be bombed, attacked, something... this whole thing reeks of trouble!

I peeked out the door window. Didn't see anything.. no flames, no smoke, no gore... hmm... I cautiously unlocked the door... it's black out.... there's no flaming bag of dog shit, or anything else for that matter, on my porch... no one around.... ???? You mean someone is out in the middle of the night playing 'ding-dong ditch'?? And my ya-ya???? I step a foot out the door.. and there it is.... FLAMES!!!!!!!!!!!

oh... but the GOOD kind! 50 little tea lights wearing tu-tu's of silver foil... each one waving a birthday 'hello' to me!! all over my front yard.... a sea of birthday candles....

Dumbfounded, I turn to my left to see where that pinned-up blond haired ya-ya of mine is... expecting to see or hear her car screech around the corner... but no....In a sight that I will never forget... there sit BOTH of my ya-ya's... R and N... in camping chairs in a row, with down blankets, Starbuck's latte's in hand, the most beautiful smiles upon their faces and James Taylor singing softly in the background from the boombox on the grass.... candles glowing in the dark of night...

"Happy Birthday!!!"

they cheered!

My ya-ya's had driven all the way up at 5 am, in the cold and dark, to greet my birthday with me...

and they had made a party of it!!! I didn't know what to do first! So many things went through my mind... 'I don't have to call 911!! My ya-ya's are here! It's dark and cold and they've made a party for us! They've surprised me!!'

It took a minute for the shock and surprise to subside a bit... and I was hustled inside to grab a coat (mind you, I'm in my sleeveless nightgown...and it's proably all of 37 degrees out). Coat on, I charge back outside, sit in the middle chair and sip a venti gingerbread latte with my girls as my birthday candles gently flicker in the night. We listened to words of wisdom by Mr. Taylor...of which my ya-ya bebe' had made! In the dark. In the cold

It was beautifully fun! A riot! Joyful!

We sat out there for almost two hours....

...the shade of night lifted as sunlight stretched its wings

...a lonely, melodic train whistle wafted in from the southeast...announcing its passage through town

...a chevy pickup whizzed by, spitting newspapers onto driveways... wonder what they thought??

...an errant dog trotted by, peed on a rock, and continued on his darken way...

laughing, talking, giggling at the kookiness of it all,

R and N... I thank you from the bottom of my 50-year-old heart... for EVERYTHING that you have given me during the last three days, and during the last year and a half of my life... you are amazing... simply amazing....

my day was sprinkled with birthday blessings from my children and plans for dinner tomorrow, brunch with my ya-ya's (how they look so good after being up so early is beyond me!), phone calls and flowers from 'margarita'... a connection with my 'second son' who is moving to Alburquerque... a call from my 'master's buddy'... a call from a frosty friend up north in her cabin...it was simply the best... the best of life.... best friends, good health, a home, the best of jobs with the best of co-workers...and the ability to enjoy through sight and sound the gift of another day...

is there better?

my attitude about turning 50 is different today... I stand on this side of the peak and I am so thankful to have been able to enjoy such an awesome day in my life... If my today is any indication of what my 50's are to be, then I truly am in for the time of my life!

I am not afraid of tomorrow,

for I have seen yesterday and

I love today.

- William Allen White

oh, one more thing... thank you, Mom

Blessing to all of my family and friends...