On Turning 60 (and returning to a blog I stopped writing seven years ago)

 Absolutely, it sounds cliche in all of it's iterations.  3rd Chapter, Second Act, Golden Years, Other Side of the Mountain, Over the Hill, all of the above.  They summon visions of Pickle Ball tournaments and Walkers, Kick A** hikers at the top of the mountain and Blue Hairs on the patio for Brunch.  They are seasoned, senior, mature, venerable and my personal favorite, experienced.  

I'm using "they" when I should be referring to we, me, I.  Yesterday, I turned 60.  Not sure what I was expecting.  I've had my share of aches, pains and senior moments exponentially for the last decade, easily, but when I explained to my MIL (whom I adore) that I don't feel 60 she responded "No, you never do.  I don't feel 90 either but here we are."  It is so very true that, as you age and change, you never really grow out of being you.  I can very easily identify my inner-child, the rebel without a cause youth, the scared but brave-facing new parent, the school mom and now the slightly confused/slightly bemused sexagenarian.  Oh, how I love that moniker.  I'll hang it up there on the shelf next to my proudly displayed Gen X persona. 

I'm having difficulty identifying my emotions.  They really are all over the Feelings Wheel.  IYKYK.  

Wild at Wonder Lake

I have always loved my birthdays; they rank right up there with New Year's Day, Advent, Lent, the first day of Summer, New Moons.  All of these are great times of the year for me to reinvent myself, a habit I picked up during the many moves my family made when I was young.  Not that the re-invention was ever better or worse than the affectation I wore beforehand, I just really thrive on the attempt at being better.  I embrace change as often as I reject it.  Part of me longing for adventure, part of me wanting to cocoon until the end of days, you have to laugh at how consistantly I make efforts to refashion myself.  

I am newly retired (1 year) and although I love my substitute paraprofessional position, I know from experience that I do not want who I am to be so wrapped up with what I am doing for a living.  I am more than my job, so to speak.  Currently, I am hoping to find a solid direction for the next 30 years of my life (give or take a few). 

OK, maybe not super solid.  More fluid than solid but with no chaos.  Well, maybe just a little chaos.