Some days I wake up and I just am amazed that I am almost 62 years old. I mean, really. How did I get here? Sure I know that I am growing a little bit older every single day but honestly. – in the big scheme of things I find it very difficult to believe that my life here on earth is basically (hopefully) 2/3rds completed. I hope to have many, many more good productive years left in me but as we all know – you just never know.

It’s like I went to bed one night and in the blink of an eye, or the closing of eyes to be more accurate, I awoke and found that I am at this place in my life.

I absolutely love this place in my life. It is relatively stress free and since I am no longer in the working world I don’t have the demands of a boss and business to contend with. Unless you count the demands of Maksim who insists on morning and evening meals.

We have a beautiful grandson, our boys and their wives are living good productive lives, Chris is happily working and actually having a great time doing it, we live in a beautiful place and are able to enjoy 70 degree weather this week, and the list goes on and on. No one deserves to be this happy, do they?

When I was younger I honestly don’t remember giving much thought to “some day”. I just went along living life, doing what I needed to do and enjoyed it for the most part. Honestly, when you are a child isn’t that the way you want life to be? Carefree and happy? Oh if only every child could have that existence.

I got caught up in looking at some old pictures (can you tell?) and sent my sister some that we were just laughing over. I think the sun must have been in our eyes on this one.

I don’t ever remember seeing this one although I have had it on a thumb drive for years. My mom and Grandma–love this one.

Of course I have creative license here and did not include some of me that are absolutely horrid. Have mice to scare away? I have the pictures that will work. To say I was an awkward child is an understatement.

But through it all, the awkwardness of it all, I have made it to this place in life. It has been filled with so much laughter and fun and adventure and I wish that for every single one of you.

Today take time to think about where you are today and how far you have come. You are amazing and I am so happy that you are a part of my life – even if it is just virtually.