57

On October 12th, I will be 57 years old and I am perfectly OK with that. I am alive. I have a home and family who loves me. I have enough money for my needs and some of my "wants." I have some pretty awesome friends. I can sing and I can paint. I have my faith. I try to remember to be thankful every day for the things I have and the people in my life. 

My birthdays are always a little bittersweet. I miss my parents most on my birthday. I miss the phone calls from Daddy singing his version of Happy Birthday to me. I miss Mama making me my favorite birthday supper of hot biscuits, tomato gravy, and lemon meringue pie. 

This birthday is a particularly sobering reminder that life can be short. At 57, I will be the same age that my mother, my grandfather, and my aunt all were when they died. Although I deal with some chronic illnesses, I have the advantage of having NEVER been a smoker. They all were. 

I am planning to make this a really good year. If all goes as hoped, I want to go to Virginia and find some of my Nelson roots. I am finally going to get rid of some of the stuff that is weighing me down and cluttering my house. I have actually hired a professional organizer to help me with this and we begin this weekend. I want to learn some new songs and new art techniques. I hope to actually go out occasionally as a lay speaker for the United Methodist Church.  

Most of all, I hope to see 58!