Milestones

My mother's notes about me as a child. (obviously)
Pretty entertaining and mom pretty much had me pegged from the get go.

In a few days I'll turn 50. In a few weeks my daughter leaves home for college. In a few months I'll celebrate 10 years of being on my own in business. In a few years.....who the freak knows...

Turning 50 is fine with me. It is the number of years I have been in this life. 50 years of life in South Carolina, except for a brief summer of working in Charlotte at a hippie moving company.
50 summers of going to the beach, 50 years of birthdays, holidays and family. 50 years that included: college, work, 2 marriages, 2 divorces, unsuccessful relationships, a child, deaths young and old, working for myself, performing with several groups from the church choir to a West African drum and dance ensemble, establishing or running programs, events, teaching.... I'm just gushing with self importance here....not.
When I look back though it feels like just yesterday I was an 11 year old walking to school on the first day of integration or the 20 some odd years ago spent in a whirlwind, high powered ad agency.
Been some tough times -(its all relative) being alone and pregnant, raising a child as a single parent, hurtful marriages and break ups, friends that end up not really being friends, making really stupid and wrong choices, working too many hours and burning the candle at both ends....
I am ashamed to even say "tough times" when comparing to so many others I have come in contact with let alone the millions on this earth that have had so much tougher and graver experiences than poor little me. From the war ravaged or poverty stricken families I've met in Africa to folks that have lived abusive lives across the street from me...... I really got it so good.
I have been blessed with a connection to something spiritually larger than life, a strong, loving, supportive family, a healthy child that is responsible, smart and creative, opportunities for work in a field that I love, good health, great home and several wonderful friends that I've built relationships with for more than 25 years. Although building new friendships is essential for me to feel like things are always moving forward, changing and growing - it is my long lasting friendships that sustain me and remind me how love, devotion and honesty are keys to feeling fulfilled in a genuine bond with another human.
As I round this corner of a half century and as my baby girl ventures out herself to another leg of her life - I'm completely thankful for what surrounds me and excited about all of life's possibilities.

Here's to milestones!