i spent my summer vacation the way i've spent every summer vacation since i began working in the hotel industry. i spent a lot of hours in a hotel (of course, i wasn't "vacationing" in the hotel, but still...)
jack goes to day camp in the summer, so our routine is basically the same as it is during the school year (i just drop him off in a different place!) i was up, every day, six days a week. getting ready for my day. having a conversation with her:
as you might imagine, she and i spent a lot of time discussing the upcoming birthday (40!) how we feel about it. what we are going to do differently in the second half of our lives.
she looks older to me now. and not in a i-have-laughed-through-the-years sort of a way. it's more of a "tired" old. and i let her know that that look will just not do.
she is nervous now about forty. for a while, it was fun to put on a brave face, but now some realities are taking hold. (she even shared with me that it's even harder to work off pesky belly fat now. the horror!)
but she also reminded me that fifteen years ago, we were having a similar internal meltdown about turning 25. and that on that brilliant day in november of 1994, while on a much needed fall vacation, we stood on the back veranda of the biltmore estate, took a deep breath, and realized that it. was. okay.
i will be waking up in a different destination this year. i am looking forward to that moment when i will know that it truly is okay.
after all, i have spent my entire summer vacation planning for it.
18 comments:
Pshaw! Tell that girl to get over it! Does she want to go back 20 years to have to figure it out and gain those same experiences all over again? No way! Embrace it, you are stronger and wiser and that much more awesome for having made it to 40. Just keep up with the snark and the moisturizer and the next 40 are going to be the best yet!
This is a great one Lelly, I'm so glad you're back in the SPT business!
I have similar conversations in the mirror and have noticed an unfortunate aging creeping on me. I know I wouldn't want to go back in time, but it would be nice if my face would slow down!
This was agreat comeback SPT. I'll tell you the 40's are liberating. No more caring what any one thinks and embracing yourself. I love it! Feel free topick my brain on Disney World --it's one of my favorite subjects.
Lori
Lelly, this was my first year to spt, and I love it so much that when you took your blogging break this summer, I was determined to keep going ... so I raided your archives! :) Glad you understand, and don't mind me posting my "old" challenges. Looking forward to more from you ....
Aw, the woman in the mirror can be unforgiving! I hope you relax about 40, it will give me hope as I am approaching 40 too! Have a great time on your vacation - sounds fun!
Lelly! I am so glad you are back doing SPT-
I love your thoughts on turning 40- I have been surprised that after turning 35 I have had similar thoughts, and have had to take time to be more friendly with the lady in the mirror. (and I just called her a lady!)
Have fun planning your trip- vgsmom really does have some great tips!
It will be fun to hear about what you do to celebrate this year.
Love "you" in your spt!
I just loved this very introspective SPT. I'm having sort of similar thoughts about just turning 35. It just sounds so ... adult in a weird way. But, as they always say, getting older is better than the alternative.
I'm glad you're celebrating in an exciting new locale! And I'm glad you're back for SPT.
I will be 40 soon!
Great SPT!
Re-visiting life for a few days with your inner child to celebrate "40" eh? Sounds great to me! Enjoy!!
Once you get over the initial shock of being 40 it really is okay. I found myself relaxing and enjoying all that I am and all I have learned.
i think we all feel this way at one time or another! luckily the person we see is always changing! thank goodness!
i just loved your spt! and i'm so happy that you're back!
that beautiful woman in the mirror is going to have one great birthday! hope it is everything you planned it to be! it sounds simply wonderful!
It's better than okay, it's FABULOUS! And don't you let her tell you anything different.
yeah for SP and yeah to wonderful summer fun!
Now THAT sounds like a great way to celebrate turning 40!
I love the 40's. They are much wiser than the 20's. They are more calm than the 30's. I hope you enjoy them, too.
My most recent post was in the spirit of this challenge except for I was missing one pesky detail: a self portrait!
I have had similar conversations with the woman in the mirror. I just look TIRED. Especially since we got to Paris. I hope I start to look more like me soon...
And I hope Jane is right about the 40s being more calm. I think I could use that!
hang out with older people...that always makes me feel younger :)
oh the woman in the mirror gets to us all - it is nice though that she cannot say a word...embrace the wonderful YOU and tell HER that YOU are AMAZING, because you are! Besides, in my rule book, we all STOP aging at 29...whatev!
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