Here it is, the weekend of my 51st birthday, and the world has been turned upside down. And this time, I had nothing to do with it. I sware. (Shut up Kiki and Bunny.) I know, I know, “every where I go, death and destruction”. But not this time.

One year ago I turned 50 and spent my milestone birthday with family and a few close friends, drinking beers by a campfire, chatting, and listening to music into the evening. Fast forward one year, and everything is unstable and uncertain. Between the ‘Rona, murder hornets, dust clouds, political and civil unrest, and the aluminum shortage (yes, it’s real, betcha didn’t know THAT one) how can we even begin to know what’s next? I had big plans for my 50th year last June. I was going to travel to Iceland this year with friends. I was going to start on a journey of living closer to minimalism. I was going to try to excercise more in order to feel better. I was going to get out and go to local places and events more often and enjoy my city. All the dreams dreamt around that campfire came crashing around me though, about mid March this year. My step daughter got married, and immediately after her wedding the world shut down. Iceland? Not any time soon. Cleaning out closets? Yes, and then shopping online to circle right back around to where I started. Excercise? Between working from home and Covid snacks, that didn’t happen as often as I’d have liked. Enjoy my city? Hard to do when everything is cancelled, closed, and boarded up.

Some good things happened over the past year though. As I mentioned, my step daughter got married to a wonderful guy who adores her and it was beautiful to witness. I started taking a few classes again and my desire to learn has been re-awakened. I learned a lot about myself over the past year, good and bad… and I owned it; I made some apologies where they were warranted. Babcia and I both got an Echo show for Christmas and we are able not only to talk to each other more often, but we can see each other when we talk too and that’s been such a blessing! The greatest thing about the past year had to be finding out that I’m going to be a Busia. As my daughter’s pregnancy progresses I begin to see her as not just my little monster but as a mommy herself. What a beautiful thing to watch as it evolves. How did I ever get so lucky and blessed to have known this joy in my life?

The past year has taken much away from me. It has also given me more than I could have dreamed of. Babcia always says we have to keep on going no matter what and she is right. The journey doesn’t wait for us, we have no choice in the matter. Each day is another leg of the travels we experience through this life. Like many people, I appreciate that more and more as I grow older. Life has given me more than my share of lemons to be sure. But it’s also given me an abundance of love and laughter along the way so that the path is navigable as I go. I don’t mean to make light of all the goings-on in the world today; heaven knows that so many hearts are broken right now and so many cry out for peace and for understanding. I continue to pray. But I have hope and I have Babcia’s fighting spirit – from where I stand, 51 looks to go down as a great one in the books. I am thankful and I am ready.