55 at 55

My beautiful, loving daughter Erin and her friend Kenna were talking about their moms and the topic of LIVING came up. They realize now that "living" life is sometimes put on hold when you become a parent. Once you have kids your life changes (mostly because you learn that you never really were the center of the universe and it is definitely no longer all about you). It is somewhere in a sea of orthodontist appointments, band rehearsals, teacher conferences, sleep overs, Christmas programs and football games that you lose yourself and become "____'s mom." I am no less guilty of getting lost in it all and readily confess that my children are now and have always been (since I first laid eyes on those big beautiful eyes) my reason for drawing breath. However finding yourself again after so many years of running a household can be daunting.

Erin (L) and Kenna (R) ... circa 3/2011

While it is true that I managed to go back to college when the kids were still home, get my Paralegal degree and then continue on to get my Bachelors degree, it was not an easy road. Now I find that I am entrenched in an endless cycle of same old, same old, day in and day out.  Same hair, same tired body, same car, same experiences every day.  As a parent, I had a schedule, a rhythm that I needed to maintain to keep the kids, house, critters and pandemonium moving ever forward. The days were different because the kids were growing and the challenges associated with them kept a mom on her toes. With the kids (and critters) all gone, life is flat. Erin and Kenna recognize this, understand that we are stuck in the muck ... They can see that now their moms have the time to live life and actually do the things we have put off, ignored or honestly never considered because we ARE moms. 

As I sit here today I realize that I never started living again after my kids grew up. I was so accustomed to the mom cycle that I didn't realize I was lost.  So here is my list of 55 things at 55 that we have been working on.  Some things will have to be modified due to affordability and scheduling but I am going to get through 55 of them.   I have included a few alternates on my list, just in case.  Here goes:

Health and Beauty

1. Colonoscopy - IMPERATIVE and have been putting this off long enough.
2. Lose at least 30% of current weight.
3. Chemical peel.
4. Get long term false eyelashes.
5. Learn Tai Chi. 
6. Mud bath/wrap.
7. Take a salsa dance class.
8. Take a swing dance class.
9. Go skiing.
10. Do the Color Run.
11. Try a sweat lodge.
12. Archery.
13. Yoga.
14. Hot Yoga.
15. Laser lipo treatment(s).
16. Wear a fun wig for a day.
17. New bold hair cut or color (or both)!

 Financial

   18.  Pay off one credit account.
   19.  Research and invest in a stock.
   20.  Consolidate student loans.
   21.  Buy a house.
   22.  Buy new car.
   23.  See financial planner.
   24.  Minimize crap/consolidate before move.

Work

   25.  Learn Summation database software.

Hobby/Crafting
   
   26.  Learn to knit.
   27.  Learn to sew.
   28.  Make stained glass.
   29.  Take a cooking class.
   30.  Re-purpose something into something else!!!

Life Experience/Fun stuff

  31.  Do a Glam/Pinup photo shoot.
  32.  Attend a music festival (Rock in Rio).
  33.  PBR Rodeo event.
  34.  Go geo-caching.
  35.  Learn wine appreciation.
  36.  Steve Harvey show/Chicago.
  37.  Audition for Wheel of Fortune.
  38.  Be an extra for a movie.
  39.  Ride the tram.
  40.  Take firearms class/get concealed carry license.
  41.  Karaoke.
  42.  McCall's in October.
  43.  Go to the Mal Pais/Volcanoes.
  44.  Dress up for dia de los muertos.
  45.  Set up home office.
  46.  Decorate my bedroom.
  47.  Get a corset.
  48.  Volunteer at V.A., Watermelon Ranch, ASPCA...
  49.  Write and submit opinion piece to a newspaper.
  50.  Spend the weekend at the Stanley Hotel in Colorado.
  51.  Pay it forward (NICK 3 someones - for info see https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicks-Epic-Battle-to-Defeat-Osteosarcoma/511809668865876).
  52.  Make moonshine.
  53.  Get new tattoo.
  54.  Get new piercing.
  55.  Read a classic - Frankenstein, Alice in Wonderland

  56. Zip lining
  57.  Eat a Voodoo donut in Portland
  58.  Play messy Twister
  69.  Learn a foreign language
  60.  Take a martial arts class.
  61.  Take the LSAT ... again.
  62.  Take the GMAT.
  63.  Write a weekly blog.
  64.  Visit a brewery.

 Well, there you have it ... 55 things in my 55th year. My love and thanks to my kids for nudging me along.  I will update my progress, complete with photographs, in a monthly blog.

Here's to life!  Live it, love it ... get messy and enjoy it!!!