As you know, I have had some difficulty accepting this aging thing. I don't like it. However, growing old is inevitable and considering the alternative, I have decided that it is time to embrace my oldness.
Yesterday was my 54th birthday. Good grief, that's hard to think about much less admit to the world. However, September 20th was a gorgeous day and I celebrated it with gusto!
It started at 6:45 a.m. when my neighbor called me to say that she had left a lemon meringue pie on my front porch. She knows lemon meringue pie is my favorite dessert! My buddies at work took me to lunch at Ted's for the best Mexican food in Oklahoma City. Last night, Hubby and I and two other couples went to Pop's on Route 66 for dinner. I splurged and ordered a chicken fried steak and a vanilla milk shake. So, it was non-stop eating all day long.
I received 20 birthday cards, several greetings via e-mail and telephone, a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and a Supreme Court justice actually sang Happy Birthday to me! The sweetest phone call was from my grandson which totally made my day.
The birthday greetings I received from many dear friends and my precious family remind me that life is good. It's a lifetime of relationships that makes 54 years on this earth seem worth it.
My health is good. I enjoy going to work each day. My home is comfortable. I have a husband and a mutt who love me. My children think I'm okay. My grandson tolerates my hugs and kisses. Life is good.
So, happy birthday to me. I'm just glad I can take in a big breath and blow out all 54 of those darn candles!
Friday, September 21, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
BAGPIPES, BOOTS, AND A BIG BLUE WHALE
Last Friday, Hubby and I went to Tulsa for my pre-birthday celebration. Soon after we settled in our hotel room, our daughter and her boyfriend picked us up and we went to dinner together at Café Ole, a trendy Mexican restaurant at Brookside. After a wonderful dinner (which I enjoyed with equally wonderful margaritas) we went to the Gathering of the Clans ceremony at River Park. Our specific clan was not represented so we didn’t experience the shout of the Maclean battle cry Fear eile airson Eachainn, meaning in Gaelic "Another for Hector", which oddly enough sounds like something a burly Scotsman would shout in a barroom rather than on a battlefield.
Cowboy Trade Day was on Saturday. It is a cowboy-stuff flea market and located on Route 66 just outside of Catoosa, Oklahoma. We arrived around 9:00 a.m. and shopped until a few minutes after noon. This year we weren’t looking for anything particular, however, I did purchase two antler candle holders, which said antlers at one time sat on the head of a six-point buck. The candle holders are made by Dan Porter from central Kansas and his work is exceptionally good. I looked through lots of vintage cowboy boots but didn’t find a pair that would work for me. We were disappointed that the cowboy music and poetry were cancelled and there were not as many vendors as there had been in past years.
After leaving the cowboy sale, we stopped at the Big Blue Whale which is also on Route 66. The whale is the main attraction of what was a water park many years ago. The whale was built in the early 1970's and the water park closed in 1980. Because it was declared a Route 66 roadside attraction in 2002, hundreds of people stop there to explore and take their photo in the mouth of the big blue whale.
Of course, I snapped a few photos of Hubby posing as Jonah just prior to being swallowed by the big fish. A hand painted sign was posted on the old ticket booth which stated NO SWIMING. No swiming? I understand the intent of the sign is NO SWIMMING but it made me laugh anyway.
For those of you who have read my past blogs, you know I love Route 66. Cowboy Trade Day and the Big Blue Whale are only a couple of endless reasons why I get my kicks on Route 66.
What a wonderful way to celebrate my impending birthday!
Cowboy Trade Day was on Saturday. It is a cowboy-stuff flea market and located on Route 66 just outside of Catoosa, Oklahoma. We arrived around 9:00 a.m. and shopped until a few minutes after noon. This year we weren’t looking for anything particular, however, I did purchase two antler candle holders, which said antlers at one time sat on the head of a six-point buck. The candle holders are made by Dan Porter from central Kansas and his work is exceptionally good. I looked through lots of vintage cowboy boots but didn’t find a pair that would work for me. We were disappointed that the cowboy music and poetry were cancelled and there were not as many vendors as there had been in past years.
After leaving the cowboy sale, we stopped at the Big Blue Whale which is also on Route 66. The whale is the main attraction of what was a water park many years ago. The whale was built in the early 1970's and the water park closed in 1980. Because it was declared a Route 66 roadside attraction in 2002, hundreds of people stop there to explore and take their photo in the mouth of the big blue whale.
Of course, I snapped a few photos of Hubby posing as Jonah just prior to being swallowed by the big fish. A hand painted sign was posted on the old ticket booth which stated NO SWIMING. No swiming? I understand the intent of the sign is NO SWIMMING but it made me laugh anyway.
For those of you who have read my past blogs, you know I love Route 66. Cowboy Trade Day and the Big Blue Whale are only a couple of endless reasons why I get my kicks on Route 66.
What a wonderful way to celebrate my impending birthday!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
IT'S LIKE SAYING GOODBYE TO AN OLD FRIEND
This past weekend, I worked a shift at the National Cowboy Museum where I serve as a volunteer. I love working as a greeter because it never fails that I meet people from literally all over the world. On Saturday afternoon, I had the opportunity to welcome folks from Poland, Michigan, Arizona, and some first time visitors from right here in Oklahoma City. Many art lovers came to the museum to see the Prix de West Invitational show before it closed forever on September 9th.
After I finished with my duties, I walked through the galleries to view the artwork entered in the Prix de West. As I stood before Curt Walters’ paintings of the Grand Canyon, I felt tears sting my eyes. Even after looking at the pieces he entered in this year’s invitational at least a dozen times, I still experience the emotion I did the first time I saw them.
I continued through the galleries and said silent goodbyes to Howard Terpning’s piece entitled Lady of the House which sold for over $750,000 at the silent auction, Craig Tennent’s pieces with water features that look incredibly real, and Gerald Balciar’s stunning sculptures, to name just a few.
Because most of the artwork were sold to private individuals, I know that it is likely I will never see the original art again. That truly saddens me. Many pieces in the Prix de West spoke to me personally and brought me so much pleasure and enjoyment.
Then, I reminded myself that at this very moment, these same artists are now working on pieces for next year’s invitational show and sale. I’m sure I will be just as excited next year to see the amazing works of Martin Grelle and Wilson Hurley as I was this year. So, I await in great anticipation to fall in love all over again.
After I finished with my duties, I walked through the galleries to view the artwork entered in the Prix de West. As I stood before Curt Walters’ paintings of the Grand Canyon, I felt tears sting my eyes. Even after looking at the pieces he entered in this year’s invitational at least a dozen times, I still experience the emotion I did the first time I saw them.
I continued through the galleries and said silent goodbyes to Howard Terpning’s piece entitled Lady of the House which sold for over $750,000 at the silent auction, Craig Tennent’s pieces with water features that look incredibly real, and Gerald Balciar’s stunning sculptures, to name just a few.
Because most of the artwork were sold to private individuals, I know that it is likely I will never see the original art again. That truly saddens me. Many pieces in the Prix de West spoke to me personally and brought me so much pleasure and enjoyment.
Then, I reminded myself that at this very moment, these same artists are now working on pieces for next year’s invitational show and sale. I’m sure I will be just as excited next year to see the amazing works of Martin Grelle and Wilson Hurley as I was this year. So, I await in great anticipation to fall in love all over again.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT
Do you remember the 1983 movie, The Big Chill? If so, you must be forty-something or even older or maybe you are young and enjoy the "classics". I consider The Big Chill to be a classic.
The soundtrack to the movie is a fantastic collection of songs from the 1960's. Remember the dinner clean-up scene where everyone is dancing around the kitchen and singing along with The Temptations’ "Ain’t Too Proud to Beg"? How about the funeral scene at the beginning of the movie when you hear, "You Can’t Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones?
The words go like this,
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes well you just might find
You get what you need
Oh baby, yeah, yeah!
Well, it seems to me that those words apply to my life a lot. The truth is, I don’t always get what I want.
I want the slim figure I had in my 30's. I want to be able to go without makeup and not worry about covering the gray. I want to wear jeans with no concern for the dreaded muffin tops. In other words, I want to stay young forever.
I want a sexy sports car, a convertible sports car. And I know exactly what I want. I want a silver, 5 speed Mazda Miata with a Bose stereo. Yes, that’s what I want.
I want to jump out of bed every morning feeling energized and excited about going to work. I want to anticipate exercising and walking every evening with the same excitement that I have for chips and salsa.
But, you know, you can’t always get what you want. However, sometimes you get what you need.
I need to be content that, at nearly 54 years old, I am able to exercise and walk everyday. I need to be content in knowing that I make every effort to dress in style, keep up with the latest hair and skin care, and stay away from "mom" jeans. I don’t drive a sports car but I do drive a nice car that is paid for. I am fortunate to have a great job that provides me security and fulfillment.
So, I’ll admit it. I am shallow and I place too much importance on immaterial matters. It’s true that I don’t always get what I want. I never have and I never will. However, I do have everything I need. Oh baby, yeah, yeah!
The soundtrack to the movie is a fantastic collection of songs from the 1960's. Remember the dinner clean-up scene where everyone is dancing around the kitchen and singing along with The Temptations’ "Ain’t Too Proud to Beg"? How about the funeral scene at the beginning of the movie when you hear, "You Can’t Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones?
The words go like this,
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes well you just might find
You get what you need
Oh baby, yeah, yeah!
Well, it seems to me that those words apply to my life a lot. The truth is, I don’t always get what I want.
I want the slim figure I had in my 30's. I want to be able to go without makeup and not worry about covering the gray. I want to wear jeans with no concern for the dreaded muffin tops. In other words, I want to stay young forever.
I want a sexy sports car, a convertible sports car. And I know exactly what I want. I want a silver, 5 speed Mazda Miata with a Bose stereo. Yes, that’s what I want.
I want to jump out of bed every morning feeling energized and excited about going to work. I want to anticipate exercising and walking every evening with the same excitement that I have for chips and salsa.
But, you know, you can’t always get what you want. However, sometimes you get what you need.
I need to be content that, at nearly 54 years old, I am able to exercise and walk everyday. I need to be content in knowing that I make every effort to dress in style, keep up with the latest hair and skin care, and stay away from "mom" jeans. I don’t drive a sports car but I do drive a nice car that is paid for. I am fortunate to have a great job that provides me security and fulfillment.
So, I’ll admit it. I am shallow and I place too much importance on immaterial matters. It’s true that I don’t always get what I want. I never have and I never will. However, I do have everything I need. Oh baby, yeah, yeah!
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