A good friend stopped by yesterday and we shared some wine.
She asked me to rank the day. Was it okay? Pretty dreadful? Kind of exciting?
This isn't our normal conversation. We're usually all over the map, literally—she just returned from an excursion to Antarctica—or we're deep into politics, relationships, or something else to stir our gray cells.
Yesterday was different. Yesterday was my 55th birthday. She knows me pretty well, and probably already had a handle on what my answer would be. But that didn't stop her from asking the question.
In essence, it went kind of like this: Pretty much okay. Definitely not dreadful. And what I hadn't quite figured out yet, exciting once I finished my reflection.
We talked about there being different measurements/levels of awareness at the different ages in our lives. From blissful ignorance, to professional ambition, to personal focus, to a place where we leave behind our old careers and choose to pay attention to those desires of our hearts.
For me, it's writing. For Kel, it's protecting and building the real estate investments her mom has made over the years, and continuing her educational endeavors which have never ceased.
I've been trying to walk down the writer's path for a few years now. Kel is just taking her first few steps without the crutch of a "title." I have no doubt she'll do well.
LOML took me to dinner at a wonderful restaurant known for its steaks. But I have to tell ya, the lobster bisque was to die for. I've gotta figure out how to do this at home.
As often happens when we're celebrating "days", we talked a bit about where we were in our lives.
LOML has accomplished a lot in his life, has left—and continues to leave—lasting marks on our society. Committed to excellence, equality, relevance and education, his input and value only increases with time.
Mine, except for special days when it's unleashed, continues to be tied up with my writing efforts.
So . . . how was your day? Okay, dreadful, or exciting? And what would it take to get tomorrow to move squarely into the exciting camp?
CR: Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein. (Which, btw, is my first Linda Fairstein. I've gotta say . . . WOW!)
It's all better with friends.
Happy birthday again, Peg! You look 45 at the most! If you figure out how to make lobster bisque, please do post it...
ReplyDeleteI am parenting young children right now (mine are six and about to turn four) and I gotta say, they make every day exciting. From seeing my kindergartener figure out how to use a card to keep the dense lines of text in chapter books straight so she can read, to hearing my son begin to say "car" instead of "tar" or call his teacher Caroline instead of, yes, Taroline...Each day brings something new, precious, and that I know I won't get to experience for very long. And doing this along with my own LOML is a miracle, too, one for which I give thanks every night.
Writing a new novel is always excitement of a fever pitch. A (non-perfect) first draft takes me about five months to write, which is lucky--I couldn't stay at that level of excitement continually.
And then there's snow, and food, and my siblings and parents--all excitement producing in their own ways.
I guess there are the mean times too--when I get a rejection or told to revise something I thought was Perfect (you know I am prone to this, Peg :) or hear that people still want to take down planes or see my kids bicker instead of appreciating that these are about the only years they can say with a straight face, We're going to marry each other and drive a tanker (that's my son's contribution) when we grow up...
I don't mean to say it's all excitement all the time. But the days I don't pause with tears of joy on my eyes, at least for a moment, are few, and for that I'm deeply thankful.
Thanks for giving me a place to write it all out...
What a precious time. You're wise to understand you won't have these kinds of experiences with your children for long. They will give you more, but none like these.
ReplyDeleteFinding and focusing on the things that lift us up every day doesn't wipe out the mean times, but it sure takes away their power.
Happy belated birthday. Sorry I missed this. I think you look great. I met today with my writing group and they all have young children. My oldest is in his 2nd year in college - the youngest a freshman in high school. That made me feel a lot older.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lee.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me feel old is when I see the kids of a friend I haven't seen in a while, and they're grown.
That whole "out of sight, same age forever" kind of thing, I suppose.