“Mom and Dad”
Photo Cred – Kris King
In early 2012 I woke up one morning and was struck by the fact that I was going to be forty-six years old about six months from then. Forty-six years old, how did this happen?
I recall as a teenager seeing my parents, then right about my age now, as old. At that time old meant to me, mostly finished with their lives, all relevant chapters come and gone, little opportunity for much beyond the inevitable march to the grave. I asked them at the time how they felt about being that old and I was shocked by their response, “We’re happier now than at any previous time in our lives. We keep getting more content and enjoying our relationships and the choices we make about how we spend our time more fully and freely.”
Earlier this year, as I rounded the bend towards forty-six, I was unable to answer that same question with the bright-eyed yet far from naïve pluckiness of my parent’s answer. Times have changed, many forty and fifty-somethings started families later in life, have been married more than once, and have zigzagging career paths, perhaps several. The economy is in a decidedly more precarious state, as is the environment and the sense of certainty that was once easier to preserve.
But that doesn’t change my desire to be able to say what my parents said, about each ensuing chapter of my life. The seeds of that recognition grew into this trip to Kenya. I am committed to becoming an on-site researcher in this living workshop called life to find ways in which I may say at every age, “This is surely the best time of my life.”
You go girl!! Wonderful intention.
I believe that age is a state of mind. Once in a while I look in the mirror and exclaim, “How the heck did that happen?!? And where was I while it was happening??” But usually, I focus on fun activities I love and my friends and good food. The latter is a biggie. Heh heh. And I stay active, like you are. Now you are having a truly Grand Adventure. Bravo! And thank you for sharing it with us. Age 46 means you are a Spring chicken, by the way. Love you!
You can’t know this yet but you will by the time you get back. Whatever your reasons for deciding to embark on this journey, Africa will change so much about how you see the world and what you think is really important if you allow yourself to really “see” the land and “know” the people there. I can’t wait to read about your journey.
Wonderful! I salute you – whatever you are doing is absolutely the best thing that you could be doing! I resonate so much with your story about your parents – now that I am past the 70 mark I am committed to transform, in whatever way I can, those persistent fear-provoking gremlins generated by much of what is happening in the world today, into dancers on a new path to peace. What else is there to do? Know that I am with you on your journey!
Wonderfully written. I think about aging a lot even though I may be a little younger than you. My parents are wearing down fast, people I imagined would be around for so long are long gone. I am also driven by the same spirit of living everyday as the best day ever.
Blessings,
Simon.
LOVE this photo! AC
Wonderful! xx Bobo
You have a such a great way of expressing, in writing, what it is you are thinking or feeling. You are such a gifted writer. Look forward to reading everything both you and our beautiful son write on this particular journey.
Cheers,
Mark
Oh Boy! Best of luck, you two adventurers. What a treat to record your experiences (here and in the film to come!!)
Love love love,
Holly
Beautiful…inspiring! XO