Sixty years has earned me autonomy to do what I like and be who I am. I now do more of what I want to do than what is expected of me or from me. And I like it a lot! I do find that my mirror isn’t always my friend. And that I may even have a bad day now and again. But I’m me… and I’m happy. I’m 60, and life is good!

I’ve finally grown into this skin lined with experience. If I want to go to lunch with friends or just putter in the house all day, I do. If I don’t want to do laundry, I don’t. If I want to eat ice cream, I do. If I don’t want to workout, I don’t. Don’t get me wrong, I take care of myself… I’d like to make 90 after all. I hear it’s the new 75. It’s just that I now know what’s important. I know who’s important. I take more time for me. I’m less critical of myself. And it sure does feel good to be me. I’m 60, and life is good!

I love my friends. I love my family. And my grandchildren have wrapped their little arms around my heart. But, I love me too. And this life will not be left with regrets. I spend time with my grandchildren… whether it’s watching a soccer game, making mud pies or reading a story. I listen. And I hear. I cherish every moment. I treasure each date spent with friends… especially my girlfriends. I continue to learn new things… like this silly game of golf, but we’ll save that for another blog. I relish shared moments and laughter with my husband. And I now rarely worry about what will be. Rather, I enjoy what is. I’m a big believer in postive energy and try to surround myself with it. I especially love my “me” time. I never want to look back to say I wish I had done more of this, or less of that. There will be no regrets in this life… I’m sixty, life is good and I’ve earned it.

First… and most important… little “Charli” is the newest addition to our family. She is 2 months old and a beautiful little bundle of love. Now don’t get me wrong… my GRAND boys are indeed lights of my life and still hold the strings to my heart in their hands. I love everything about them, but let’s just say a girl has been a long time coming. I have 3 sons, 2 grandsons… it feels good to buy dresses and frills for a change. Our “Charli girl” is pure sweetness wrapped in a velvety blanket of pink. What a joy to my world!

Happy New Year… and may 2007 bring a new book from me. That’s my goal. I’m really feeing the need to create again. I’ve got lots of ideas floating around, but haven’t made a decision yet. Any thoughts from you? A book for the kids we love… or for the grown-ups that care? Since I have 3 grandchildren now, I’m feeling a kid’s book about the middle child pulling at me. But maybe, just maybe it’s time for a book with a little more frill and girl stuff. I’d love to hear what might peak your interest. Let’s blog…

And OH MY GOODNESS… almost 60. Now maybe that’s the book beckoning to me to write. I feel young. I’m active. I’m happy. BUT that number. Yiikes. My grandmother was 60. Oh that’s right, I’m a Grammy. Where has the time gone? One thing for sure… I don’t put up with things I don’t want to put up with anymore… time is to short to settle. I expect more for me and those around me and I’m not willing to put up with stuff.

Well, this is a start. Please join in. Add your two cents. I’d love to hear from you. Happy blogging my Grammy friends.

Xoxo,
Grammy P.

The laughter of children and sweet toothless grins
Mom’s chocolate pie and lunch with good friends
Shared time with family and all that it brings
These are a few of my favorite things

Time to just putter and walks on the beach
Being a Grammy, shared time spent with each
Butterfly kisses and swinging on swings
These are a few of my favorite things

Laughter through tears, writing for fun,
Candlelit evenings, a new morning’s sun,
Making new memories and spreading my wings
These are a few of my favorite things

When I’m stressed out
When my spirit stings
When I am feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad

It’s your turn… have fun!

My big job today was photos. I went to Aaron Brothers and bought a bunch of beautiful picture boxes. I’ve never actually stored my photos in these boxes before but since I had 15 years of photos crammed into three built-in cabinets, I figured I had no choice. So, I sorted. I kept it relatively simple - pre-1992 (before I met my husband), 1992-1999 (coupledom but pre-children), 1999-2002 (first son) and 2002- (anything after the birth of my second son).

I know it isn’t surprising to tell you that I had the biggest selection of 1999-2002 photos. I’m not sure if we ever put the camera down. I think we documented everything my oldest son ever did! It isn’t like we don’t have pictures of the growth of our second but its like 3 boxes to 1.5 boxes. So, we basically took double the amount of pictures with the first. I kept telling myself that it was because we didn’t have a digital camera but I think we all know that isn’t just it…

My mother always says, “you should recycle the first.” Now, not being the first child in my family I never really felt too bad about that saying (maybe my older brother does) but I always felt mildly offended for first children. Then I married my husband (first child) and I thought my mother was ridiculous. Well, now having two children I kinda get what she means. We spend so much time and energy obssessing over our first child it is a wonder they all aren’t complete messes… or maybe they are. Whatever, I’m a middle child and people always react interestingly to that one too. Like, “Oh, that’s interesting” or “wow, I would have never thought you were a middle child”… like, what’s that supposed to mean?

Anyhow, back to the photos. So, the most interesting and alarming thing in the photos was not my undying obsession and love for my first son but the way I looked in a bikini when I was 19. What up with that? How come I work out 4-6 days a week now and look like I do? Ok, so my red wine intake may have increased (along with my fishies, graham crackers and string cheese intake) but how interesting is it that when we are 19 and look amazing, we still criticize our bodies and self-loath. Will we ever be satisfied. I’m not sure.

One thing I think we can do, though, is to live in the moment. That means, actually try to absord where we are instead of where we want to be or have been. I mean, how quickly did 19 to 32 go by? So, maybe its a good thing I took all those pictures of my first born. Maybe it means I need to take more of my second or before we know it he’ll be 15 and smelly. Yuck. Where’s the camera…