60 is Sexy...

Today I begin to enjoy my last week of being in my 50's.  I am trying to decide what to do.  Should I wear a tube top one more time or maybe wear some hip-huggers?  I have thought about a tatoo or maybe re-pierce my ears again.  I used to love to dress up...maybe I'll wear one of my cocktail dresses and heels and go out to lunch.  I just realized, that I am becoming a senior once again...I remember being a senior in high school.  Doesn't seem like that long ago.  I went to a concert the other night.  They played all the current songs that you hear on the radio, but they also played music from when I was a teenager.  It was awsome to see the young people singing along.  It made me feel young again and I hope it makes the young people realize that us old farts, aren't so old after all.  I keep telling myself....age is just a number, attitude is what counts.  I don't feel like I am 60, but then what should 60 feel like?  I remember when I turned 50, I thought that was so old.  I can remember saying these words, "50 is nifty, but 60 will suck".  I've decided to say, "60 is sexy." Now that I have rediscovered my "inner goddess", maybe I can pull it off.  I honestly never thought I would get old...isn't that ridiculous?  I just always thought I would be the way I always was.  I have been one way for at least 30 yrs. now, so I guess I better get used to being the way I am now.  I am grateful that I am healthy and I am thankful that I am celebrating my 60th.  Growing old is not guaranteed....it is a privledge.  If you look at it like that, maybe I will wear my tube top and hip huggers and sing a little Three Dog Night.

The awakening of my "inner goddess"...

   We made it back home and what a great homecoming it was.  We waited for our bags, which surprisingly appeared after three plane changes and 12 hrs.  We go out by the curb to wait for Regan and the kids.  All of a sudden we hear PA...MIMI!!!!  and our little Karaline is running as fast as she can into our arms...Sean is following right behind her.  It almost felt like slow motion for a little bit.  I started crying and Karaline says, "Mimi, why are you crying?" and I say, "because I'm so happy and I missed you" and she says, "Me too".  

   I left my home and Indiana two weeks ago...pretty burned out.  I tried not to build the trip up in my mind too much, because so often when you do, it fails to live up to your expectations.  This trip was different in so many ways.  Usually, Rich and I get on each other's nerves after awhile and the time just seems to fly by.  This vacation was so different.  The time just seemed to stand still for us.  We laughed more than we ever had and just enjoyed being together.  Rich really seemed to relax, which is hard for him.  He was on his phone for a bit each day, checking in with his e-mails and Seth, but basically, he let all his stress go and he enjoyed himself so much.  I came back with the best tan of my life and my friend Shelby will approve I think.  I just did it a little bit at a time.  I never at any time got even the least bit pink.  There is just something about the Hawaiian sun.  Oh you can get burned...I saw many people that were.  You can lay out in the sun and never sweat...and every little bit, you feel this mist.  You look up in the sky and wonder where it is coming from, because it is all blue skies and sunshine and then you see a beautiful rainbow.  How can this place not be heaven on earth.

   For those of you who have read 50 Shades of Grey, you know what I mean by "inner goddess".  Now, I hope I don't gross out any of you young people who might be reading this, especially my kids.  But, contrary to what you might think....older people do have sex too.  My "inner goddess" has been comatose for awhile. It felt good to wake her up again and rediscover what it feels like to be young and in love again.  50 Shades of Grey was a bit over the top and I still prefer "vanilla", and those of you who have read the book, know what I mean.  I only got to read the first book, so maybe I can keep my "inner goddess" going for awhile longer yet, as I keep reading the books.  Rich got through all three of the Hunger Game books.  He really enjoyed that...do I dare turn him onto 50 Shades?  I think not, I can only handle one of us with an inner goddess....LOL

   I went to bed last night at about 8:00pm , but I was up at about 3:30 am.  I think it is gonna take awhile to get my inner clock reset.  I feel really rested right now, so I thought it would be a good time to blog.  Lots of unpacking and laundry.  Rich and I both said that we took way too many clothes this time.  I took several dresses and two pair of high heels...never wore any of that.  We were in our bathing suits alot and just our casual clothes.  Comfort is the most important thing.  

   While we were gone, we had time to discuss lots of things...we have decided that we will take each one of our grandkids on a cruise when they turn 7 yrs. old.  That means Karaline will be going on a cruise this year with us.  We want to do something special with each child so they will always remember it.  We think 7 is a good age.  They will be old enough to remember it and young enough to want to spend the time with Mimi and Pa.  Plus we will still be young enough to enjoy it with them.  Pa wants to take them snorkeling.  We will go somewhere in the Carribean because the plane trip to Maui, is just too long for a little kid.

   So, I feel like a new woman, ready to tackle the rest of the year.  My Regan is a teacher, so this fall, I will have Nicky full time.  I told Regan that Nick will think he is in boot camp.  He is so dependent on his Momma.  This will be good for both of them.  Life is like a box of chocolates...you just never know what you are gonna get.  I got to sample quite a few this trip and I hope I still have a few more to sample.  ALOHA AND MAHOLO  everyone, for taking the time to read my blog.  I love you all.

Today we leave Maui and I know a little bit of of my heart will stay here.  We met lots of people that come here every year, but we both said, we wouldn't want to do that.  The magic we felt the first couple days was something that we will never experience again.  It will always be beautiful, but all the magic that happened this time, will never happen again.  Seeing that sunrise on top of Haleakala was amazing, but seeing it a second time would probably not be something I would even want to do.  We said we would come back on our 45th Anniversary.  By then, we will need a little magic again.
   Rich and I both said it was fun acting like we were young and in love again.  We friended a young couple here at Kahanna Falls who are on their Honeymoon.  I took some pictures of them with their camera.  They couldn't believe that we were married 40 yrs.  I told them, it seems like just yesterday that we were young like they are now.  It goes by so quickly.  Rich and I have recharged our tanks and we're ready to embrace our lives again.  Routine is comforting, like a favorite old chair, but every once in awhile...you have to get out of your comfort zone and experience new things.  I tried snorkling...I really thought I could do it, but I was so terrified.  I was pathetic.  There was this big ole Texan guy named Mike and he was bound and determined to get me out there.  There was another older lady on the boat too, but I would say she was at least 10-15 yrs. older, so poor Mike, he was stuck with Becki and Sue.  Sue told me she had heart disease and couldn't use the snorkle.  I tried the snorkle mask, but wasn't talented enough to breath thru the snorkle. I did see some fish and the beautiful coral..It reminded me of a 3-D movie.  It was hilarious...I had three noodle things to keep me a float and was holding on to Mike for dear life.  I kept saying Oh God, Oh God and Sue was riding his back, it was the funniest thing I had ever seen.  We were two pathetic women, but Mike just kept trying to get us as comfortable with the water as he could, but I just could not overcome my fear.  I am usually not one to give up, but I was also sea sick, so I just wanted out of the water.  Rich had a GREAT time and I was so happy for that.  Rich is just such a thrill seeker, I used to be able to keep up with him, but not anymore.  I will just take pictures of him...LOL
   I am really looking forward to seeing Regan and the kids at the airport.  I know Karaline will come running into our arms with lots of kisses.  It will be wonderful to see Sean and Amber and Seth too.  We did manage to do Facetime with Amber on her phone, so we got to see Sean.  Technology is a wonderful thing.
   I'm glad our plane leaves at 9:00 at night...hopefully, we will sleep most of the way and maybe beat the jet lag.
   Kat said I need to snap out of it because I am coming back to the dry tundra.  I will always remember the misty showers that would happen several times a day when the sun was shining and after the shower a beautiful rainbow would happen.  Maui is truly paradise and I will miss it, but keep it close to my heart.

If my tomorrows are few...at least I have had today

You know how you anticipate something and then when you get there....it is just not what you expected?  This has gone beyond anything that I could have ever dreamed.  It is truly a dream come too.
   Our dream started out in Indy on Friday morning...While we were sitting in the Indy airport waiting to board, I wanted to get a picture of us at the airport..I have a chalkboard that I wrote Aloha on.  A lady saw us and came over with a box of Hawaiian candy.  She lives there and is going home...I knew right then and there...it was going to be a very special vacation.
   We have two weeks of fractional ownership in resort/condos, all over the world.  This means, we own this and do not have to pay anything ever again, unless we use it, then you have to pay for the maid service and cleanup for the week.  We can leave this to Regan and Seth when we die...I am so glad we did this.  We are staying in a room that is more like an apartment.  We were so tired last night from the Hana trip, that we just wanted to get back and stay in.  We stopped at a grocery store and bought some steaks and grilled out by the pool...we will do this again.  Loved it.  
   We are like all of you out there...you take your mate and love for granted.  You fall into your routine of life.
We are at the age in life, that we are still young enough physically, but we are seeing people all around us, becoming sick or even dying.  It makes you really enjoy these moments.  I am trying to savor them and I am trying to capture these moments on film.  I hope you all have enjoyed seeing Hawaii with me.  For me, this is a dream come true...Everywhere I go, is so beautiful.
   I haven't had any mishaps yet...no falling into a hole or no unexpected pantie whispers either...After our ride to Hana yesterday and being in the car all day....we stopped at a grocery store to get some food.  We both laughed at ourselves...we were both walking kinda stooped over and really sore.  We have to do our traveling to these faraway places when we are still capable of doing it...everything you really want to do takes a great deal of physical exertion.  We walked down to the black beach yesterday.  Going down to it was no problem...coming back up was another story.  Rich literally, put his hand on my butt and just pushed me up.  I felt like the little engine that could....LOL

    If my tomorrows are few.....at least I have had today...these words just came to me on this trip.  It pretty much sums up how I have been feeling.  Yes, being in Hawaii makes it easy to say this, but whereever you are...if you can savor your everyday joys...it will make your life so much richer.  Tomorrow is not ever guaranteed, only this moment, only what you make of it.
 

 
My wish for my kids is that someday on their Anniversary, they can come here and recapture their love.