Hi buddy, how are you? I’m really good – it’s our niece’s birthday, she’s 18! A year younger than I was when I met her uncle Joe. How weird is that? We share a birthday, her and I. It’s been really special over the years to watch her grow into an amazing young woman and get to take part in celebrating in that certain way only someone who shares your birthday can. I’m not sure if that makes sense, but I adore her, and I’m excited/sad that she’s an adult now. Where did all that time go?
It’s a totally human condition, this awe in the years that pass I think. I mean, once you are looking back at your life, regardless of who you are, what race, what gender, what part of the world, what you’ve experienced or endured – once you look back after a certain point, doesn’t so much of it seem like it flew right by? Certain moments in time either feel like just yesterday or so long ago, and once someone figures out how we make that distinction, you should really let me know.
self-portrait from high school (check out our niece’s rendition here)
I’ve been thinking about that a lot the last few weeks, actually. Like, for example, this: It feels like just yesterday that our niece was this sweet little toddler, bopping around singing “The Bad Touch” by Bloodhound Gang (and yes, it was totally hysterically inappropriate but that song was EVERYWHERE that year). And then it feels like forever ago that Joe and I started dating. They happened essentially at the same time. What is that?
I think it’s got me wondering because I’m coming up on a five-year-mark-birthday. You know: 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, etc, etc. So it’s one of those, and I’m spending a lot of time looking back and estimating forward and it’s this strange conundrum of time passing while planning time. Also, I think, a totally human condition. Don’t you?
Anyway, I’ve got some plans up my sleeve for the next five years. I want to travel internationally, I want to work from home, I want to sell my art. I want to remodel the house, I want to make something out of the weeds and dirt in our side yard. I want to pay off our debt as low as possible, I want to save for retirement. I want a successful photography/party planning business and I want to do something impossible for this world that we share. Is that asking too much? Maybe. I’m all about pushing myself to the brink to see what I’m made of. It’s the Aquarius in me I guess…
circa 1998
So there’s all that. And you know what else? My sister gave me the most precious birthday present this year by giving birth to my beautiful nephew, Gabriel. Four years ago, she gave me twin nephews. She’s real generous like that, my amazing sister. OH! And painted posies’ birthday is this month (in my head that sounded like “painted posies-es-es” haha). Yep, I’ve been blogging now for two years. Dang.
circa 2011
See? Birthdays all around! I hope you’re liking where this space is going. I’m pretty happy with it so far. I love hearing from you, and I hope you don’t mind that I yapped on so much for this post. Cut me some slack, OK? It IS my birthday, after all.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CAYLA!!! UNCLE JOE AND I LOVE YOU SO, SO MUCH. XOXO
