Day 4: Still Seeing Sunsets With My Dad

As those of you who are my Facebook friends know, I take and post a lot of sunset photos. I do live close to the Pacific Ocean and I do like to watch the sunset.

So, when I was thinking about putting this blog together I was telling myself not to overdo them and at least wait for a week before writing about them or posting a photo of one. Not surprisingly, I couldn't wait and it is only Day 4 and I am already there!

 

 It wasn't my intention to go and watch the sunset today. Although to be honest, it's not really something I usually plan for, it just happens. It just seems to call me. As I wrote the other day, I live in the area where I was born, where I spent my earliest years, and where that sunset was a big part of our daily lives.

This was (and still is) due to my dad. He is now 80, and he lives in a beautiful house across the street from the ocean. He's also that rare creature in LA; a native Angeleno, which means he's been seeing them set over this same ocean his whole life. I can't even begin to count the number of sunsets he has seen in his life. He never tires of them, nor does his enthusiasm for sharing them ever wane.

Which brings me to why I am already celebrating the sunset. I am proud to say that I was at the Redondo Beach Library doing some research for my book, returning some library books, and renewing my library card and it was almost sunset. As I walked back to the car I looked towards the ocean and that was it, I was once again called to it, and headed towards the Esplanade to see it.

Since it is Wednesday, I wasn't sure my dad would be home. This is his day to volunteer at the hospital; so I drove by and was a little surprised to find him watering his grass. So I pulled up into the driveway and he asked what I was doing in his neck of the woods and I told him, "I came to see the sunset." He looked at the sky, then looked at his watch and said excitedly, "we only have about 5 minutes, let's go down and see it!"

It was a beautiful sunset, and it was even more so because I got to watch it with him. I never imagined that I would still have such a gift in my 50th year, that he would still be here to share it with me. As I wrote the other day, I don't use the word gratitude easily or often, but I am truly grateful for this gift.

Day 3: The Fulfillment of Long-Time Friendship

As I wrote yesterday, this whole holiday thing really has me off schedule, and I am a day behind on everything, Why? Because I thought it was Monday and it isn't. I thought I still had an "extra" day this week. I was wrong. I should have just read what I wrote yesterday about Mondays and I would have realized this sooner.

Add the summer like weather which has given me an early case of spring fever, and I have been hopeless about staying on top of my deadlines. Maybe that's why I had to stay up until almost 1 a.m. to finish my part of the book chapter we are working on. The good news is that I did.

So, since I thought I had this "extra" day I took some time today to write and send off some old-fashioned, snail mail letters, cards and gifts. I am o-l-d after all, that's how we did it back in "the day" (another expression that irritates the hell out of me).

One of these was for my BFF who is turning 50 on Thursday! And yes, DUDE, I am talking about YOU. Not only have she and I known each other since Jr. High---oh sorry, "middle school" (blech), but she is the first among us to be hitting the big 5-0!!!

For some reason, this is really making the fact that this is my 50th year seem even more real. And it makes another irritating expression; "the years go by so fast" seem so true. I find it so hard to believe that we have known each other for 35 years. I mean, I can still picture us "young" and as teenage girls. I remember things we did, how we looked and how hard we were on ourselves about how we looked, how serious everything seemed to us at 15, 16, and 17 and how we mocked everything and everyone (ok, well some things never change). Man, it really does seem like just yesterday (yet another cliched expression).

And, although there was about a 10 year stretch when we didn't keep in touch, I am very happy to say that we have been in touch for the past decade and have gotten even closer as we have gotten older. There's something so comforting about having someone who knows everything about you, warts and all, and who doesn't require any explanations, because she was there and she still is.

I want to thank you, Ivanna, my BFF for being such a good friend, for your incredible wit that always makes me laugh, for listening when I whine, and when I cry, and when I sound like a complete nut case; and for always, always reminding me to "maintain!" Happy 50th year to you, I am so happy to be going on this adventure into the 50s with you alongside me!

"A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world." ~Lois Wyse

Ivanna and Judi, Magic Mountain circa 1979? (not 1879 like it looks like was at Spilikin Corners)

Day 2: Whoo Hoo! Leaf Lettuce in January

With New Year's Day falling on Sunday, but the "official" holiday being today, I am finding myself completely out of whack and forgetting that it is actually Monday. I never need a reason to try to forget Mondays and this really isn't helping.

I always thought that once I no longer worked for "the man" and was writing full-time, that Mondays wouldn't be as irritating as they were when I had to trek to my life-sucking cubicle each week. I was right; they are not as irritating, only about as irritating as they were when I was a student. And, as I remember it, those were some good days, lots of research and writing and reading, but also lots of fun too.

Too bad they don't pay you to be a full-time student. Hmm---- if you look at the tasks that writers do, they are the same. And, just like students, writers are often not paid. And, if we are paid, we are paid little or paid late.

But I digress (I know big shock). The point is that being a writer and working from home gives me incredible freedom and flexibility in return for the lack of actual money and being able to support myself.

The biggest perk is that I do get to go in my garden whenever I want to and that's good since I can save money by growing my own food.

This morning it was another very warm and sunny January day and I was very happy to see my leaf lettuce doing so well. I know my friends and family who live in colder climates are rolling their eyes and sighing since I do live in SoCal, but even so, the raised beds I have don't get much sun this time of year so I tried an experiment to see if there was actually enough by just leaving them in the ground instead of pulling them out like I did the past two years.

And lo and behold, there was enough sun! Because its been so damp and foggy at night and early in a.m., I also haven't had to really water. Check them out. No bolting to worry about this time of year either.

Day 1: New Year's Day

Redondo Beach, January 1, 2012

This morning's weather and a walk from Redondo Beach to Hermosa Beach for breakfast was the perfect way to start the New Year and the "In My 50th Year" blog. Not only for the obvious reason---it is not only one of the most beautiful places to be, but also because I am living in the area that I was born in and that seems really fitting since I am reflecting on my life now.

There was a time that I thought I would never be back and could write volumes about why we left in the first place, how traumatic that was for an 8-year old, how I came back, and all the drama and comedy that goes with that story. But that is not what this blog is about.

It is about remembering and acknowledging the good. And, since I really don't like to use new-agey words like "gratitude" or "appreciation" to describe things, I will only use them when I really am feeling them. Which is what I am feeling today; I really am grateful and so appreciative that I get to live where I do.

Not that this is a big epiphany (big word I know). There's not a day that goes by when I don't recognize this. I live about 1.5 miles from the ocean, and each day, feel the daily sea breeze (so consistent they even named the local paper after it) and within 5 minutes, can watch the sun setting over the ocean whenever I want to.

It's just that some days, I wonder what if, and dream of living other places, think that maybe the grass is greener somewhere else. But today, when I take the time to really look at where I am and all that is here aside from the beauty and enormity of the ocean, I really do feel gratitude about the place I call home.

Redondo Beach Pier & Breakwater

On The Eve Of My 50th Year

Even though I have done everything that I can do to avoid the inevitable, the inevitable is going to happen. So, while not exactly embracing it, I have decided to accept it and in my own, cynical way; celebrate turning 50.

While the big day won't happen until May, the constant reminders over the past 6 months, (the latest coming last week from my doctor who, at the conclusion of my physical nonchalantly said, "hmm, next year we have to start giving you some more regular tests once you turn 50") have spurred me into action.

Why a blog? And, why now? Well, those of you who have known me for at least the past decade know that I usually come up with a "motto" each New Year; intended to motivate me, or to celebrate some change or big event, or at the very least, help me survive. They usually rhyme, i.e. "Going Canine in '99," "No More in '04," and "More fun in One-One." Yeah, I didn't say they were good, just that they rhymed.

When I thought about "2012" or really, the word "twelve" I couldn't think of a word that rhymed, other than "delve" which I am already doing, and which quite frankly, I am tired of doing. So, I thought about taking a new approach (yes, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks).


June 1963, 13 months old and already wearing a patch on my bad, left eye and already sporting the famous pout.

 

I am a writer, so why not write every day about my experiences turning 50? Not just bitching about it (again, a shocking concept considering this is me) but what's not only good about it, but what's good about each day or what I learn each day. And, these don't have to be big things, sometimes they might be, but even the simple things that make me smile or laugh, or that make me think and feel like I learned something.

I also am hoping this blog will help me in the writing process as I write my new book, hoping that it gets my creative juices flowing again.

I will share the good (and maybe even some of the bad if its important enough) each day and that means sharing photos, links, etc. so if there's a topic that you want to add to, please do, especially my friends that are turning 50 along with me in the coming year. This means you my Cleveland High Class of 80 peeps!