My Blog Circle:

Short, sassy, with more life experiences than I would wish on others - but figure it must be good for some stories to share and questions to ask of my peers!

Have been widowed, divorced, single and happy, and now re-marrying at 61.

After 20+ years of morbid obesity, I had gastric bypass surgery in 2005 and it changed my life in so many positive ways I can't list them all here. 

Life is such an incredible an adventure - not always easy - but always an adventure.  So many wondrous things to be experienced, tears to cry, people to love, and lessons to learn and share ...

Thank YOU all for sharing yours!

How did you get to where you are now?

Grew up a loved and protected military brat in the 60's ... married at 18 a year out of high school, mother at 20.  Found myself in a 23-year marriage filled with wild turns, climbs and drops that ended with his dying of a sudden heart attack.  Remarried 4 years later to someone who turned out to be an alcoholic/addict (pot) and disinterested in anything else (including his children).  Divorced 9 years later.

Have been single the last 4 1/2 years - and am getting married mid-December to a sweetheart of a person who seems actually intent on taking care of me and whom I am confident in calling my best friend.

It's been a long time coming.

How do you see yourself differently now than you did 10 years ago?

10 years ago I was still in a mindset of "If I love him enough, he'll change" ... and "It must be my fault" ... and in the midst of caring for an 80-year old mother. 

Today I finally know that love will not change some things.  People need to want to change themselves.  I continue to grow in self-confidence and aging with humor. 

My favorite saying right now is, "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?" It changes daily and is all over the board!  

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

10 years from now I see myself happily approaching great grandparenthood (or not), still enjoying my (then) adult grandchildren and possibly new younger grandchildren (from my pending marriage), and still helping my hubby with his business.

Mostly I see myself as a 70-year old, vibrant, active, engaged and busy woman ... enjoying life in every way possible!

My grandmother - she was a feminist before it was fashionable ... had a career as a navy switchboard operator and loved it ... used "early editions" of Nair (hair removal cream) on her bikini line as a young woman (ouch!), was the epitomy of a city girl (San Francisco in the 30's - 50's) and a camper/fisher with my grandfather (Yosemite and the rest of the central foothills in California), drove into her 80's ... and cared for my invalid grandfather for 15 years in their home.

My mother - a kick-ass, take no crap from anyone chicky raised in the 30's & 40's - young, single mother of four till she married my dad in 1950 - skated roller derby in the early 40's before it became a professional sport - sang with big bands - was a perfect Air Force pilot officer's wife in the 50's and 60's - and worked outside the home always.  But her family ALWAYS came first.

Both had strong family and work ethics ... were beautiful, loving, caring, spunky, full of laughter (and not afraid to cry) women .... miss them both dearly.