Birthday week started out with a visit from my favorite child and grandchild. Singing, gifting and caking were the highlights and they both have exquisite taste of course. Though Joe does like to help "unwrap" as he is eager that I see what they brought. He reads the cards out loud as well. Great start to the week.
This led to an all-day party (all about me) Monday, the natal day, and the start of my 71st year. Gad why did no one tell me-your mind feels 20 but your body says, "hmm just a sec, I have a new physical issue I want to show you". Anyway, breakfast at an old favorite; Christmas shopping punctuated by a stop to pick up my favorite yellow roses and then an hour or two to myself for more shopping. All culminating in a dinner at a "chop house wannabe" restaurant in East Lansing. Although literally loaded with ambience and wonderful service, the food is mediocre at best, an issue which we had wrestled with before. We thought we would give them another chance. Although the soup was exquisite and the roasted califlower marvelous, the walleye feast was blah at best and the $38 steak I was served was so loaded with fat and gristle even I couldn't stomach it. They at least comped me the main course and brought a nice dessert, but the damage is done. All and all though an awesome day.
Hitting a decade milestone does prompt one to review the immediate past ten years and this is a snapshot of how I remember my sixties. The birth of my much loved grandson and the loss of my father-in-law two weeks after his birth. I always believed he chose that time to pass as with his alzheimer's he never would have known his wonderful little great-grandson. Choosing to retire as after knee surgery and a two week recovery, the OH and I decided we could be together 24/7 without major mayhem. The passing of both my Father and Mother-in-law in the same year. Dad never explaining the cryptic message/formula on his sons-in-laws sweatshirts and Jean fighting but then choosing her moment to let go with dignity. Being with both of them at the end was both a blessing and a heartache.
Excited to vote for the first female President on my 65th birthday only to spend the next four years (and beyond) in total disbelief as our entire caring and polite society has descended into chaos and cruelty. We are now at the point where a Congress person posting videos of killing another elected official while sword fighting with the President draws no censure or criticism from the person's party. Aghast watching supporters of the incompetent dictator and his big lie actually attack and attempt to destroy one of our greatest symbols of democracy resulting in numerous injuries and deaths.
Our trip to Great Britain (among other trips) of which I wrote several earlier chapters about. The research, purchase and furnishing of the long-desired lake house. The research, planning and supervising of several remodeling projects. My triumphant comeback to the office as a founding ?Mother? to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the MIOSHA Training Instititute (MTI). Although we had never created a school before, it continues to be a great success in launching safety and health professionals into their field in Michigan.
My finally attaining the Presidency of the Michigan Safety Conference (after 35 years) with the distinct honor of serving two years in the "time of Pandemic" which meant I got to preside over 1) no conference and 2) the first ever virtual conference. Which immediately led into my serving as the first host of another new project for the MSC - Safety Spectrum podcasts. I am a performer at heart and I apparently thrive on projects.
One cannot see the entire quilt of one's life as so many of the squares are folded and only emerge when the blanket is turned or spread out in its entirety. However that is a good thing as it would be overwhelming at best.
This afternoon after hosting my grandson overnight I totally understood my daughter admonishing her son at his constant chatter and singing to himself as she was trying to talk to her Father. I told her that "Joe is the background music of your life".....Peace out.
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