|
Whoever you are, thank you. I received a beautiful floral arrangement for my birthday today and unfortunately, the card is not signed nor does it have the sender's name on it. I will do a little recon to see if I can figure out who the rascal is. I have to tell you, the sentiments on the card caused this sixty-year-old broad to cry like a baby. Everyone wants to be seen, heard, and loved. Every. Single. One. Of. Us. As a single person who lives alone, one of the few downsides of that is, I don't have person to talk with each day about how we were in the world. The words on this card... well, let's just say I feel very seen, heard, and loved.  My Aunt Vicki sent this photo of me taken when I was almost 5 years old. My Mom Mom made this sundress for me. Wah. 😭 My Aunt Susan sent me handkerchiefs once owned by Mom Mom and an Atlantic City pillowcase own by family for my birthday. Wah. 😭 What treasures! I don't have many artifacts from my family or childhood, although that has changed over the past couple of years. I have NOTHING from my mother's side of the family, which makes me sad, because items like the ones I do now have from my father's side of the family hold history and tether me to it. This is important to me. I have to wonder if I fill my own home with so many things so Lila will have her own set of artifacts. What a little cutie I was! 🥰 
0 Comments
So. I turn 60 years well lived on November 22. I can't believe I just typed 6-0. How did this happen?! It is mind boggling that I have been around for six decades. I'll tell ya something. I am having a little bit of mixed feelings, some trouble, with this 'milestone' birthday. On one hand, I am really proud of myself in so many ways. But on the other hand, I look so old. On some days, feel old, too. Well, I feel old mostly when I look in the mirror or at some of the photos of myself and see the Dennise in the photo on the right. I feel like the photo on the left. But I see the photo on the right. Both of them were taken two weeks ago. Both of them are me. I am not looking for platitudes on this share, folks. I am being vulnerable, sharing something that is on my mind and my heart. And, yes, make no mistake - it is a post about vanity, too. I also know that I have the privilege of living a marvelous life experience full of loving connection and creative expression. I am one lucky and blessed broad. Being a woman of a certain age is loaded with lots of expectations, and most are not such good things when it comes to our culture here in the US. 95% of the time I feel like a beautiful soul and other times like crud. I guess that's what it means to be human, yes? Sometimes its great. Sometimes, not so much. Now what? I suspect I will be leaning into this age thing all week long, so get ready. I so love the photo of me on the left. It reminds me of my days of a freewheeling 30-something self! The one on the right is old age staring right back at me and I don't like it. There will be mostly celebration on Friday and also reflections about what is like for this particular broad to age in America. I live in an 'and/both' world these days. I will feel both the joy to be alive and also the grief about aging. And that is okay.  I had a little bit of an emotional hangover this morning. With the surge of cortisol and stuff after the election, I felt a bit wiped out. But I also felt some inspiration about what might be a step in a direction that feels right. My friend Lisa created Crossing Party Lines, an nationwide convening of folks to have tough conversations that lead to understanding. I participated in one of her beta sessions in Oregon about a decade ago. I totally remember the experience and have shared it with folks over the years. I was very involved in progressive civic activities at the time and it was at the session I was paired up with the then chair of the Republican Party for the state of Oregon. What an enlightening experience! Today, instead of stewing in hatred and anger, I want to see where connection and seeking to understand might lead. Perhaps setting up a local CPL chapter through my Bell Street Chapel Community with another church might pan out. Perhaps reaching out to people in my social media circle who have different political views might lead to a step in that direction as well. Of course, I have no idea where either of these will go, if anywhere but as I continue to swim in my feelings and also look at being in a place to see if one conversation might lead to some kind of healing, why the heck not?!  Happy November 1st everyone! I am kicking off the new month, the month I turn The Big 60, with some challenges and joy. This is National Novel Writing Month and for the next 30 days, I have challenged myself to just write each morning. What I am NOT doing: writing a novel nor going to freak out if I don't make my daily intention of just writing; striving for a word count or page goal. What I am doing: leaning on a creative collaborator to help me stay accountable; keeping my expectations in check and commiting to a SFD. I have been working on a book idea for a freaking decade, so no hurry. 🤣 But I am using that creative project as fodder for this month's challenge. In the meantime, I am loving the colors of the season and also pursing another creative passion. I was asked to submit for a healthcare acting project and also a self-tape for a drama. Just call me Dr. D as in determined to live an adventurous life, baby.  |
AuthorLet's create a BIG life one small adventure at a time! Here are a few of my experiences - perhaps you may find a little nugget or two that inspires you to take your own baby step to living your dreams! Archives
November 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed