I did it, they did it, he did it, and we did it!

I’ve been reflecting on my life lived since 10 years ago when I thought I was making a huge life changing decision. A decade…a whole decade has flown by. Wow.

It still makes me smile when that ‘big event’ pops up on the September calendar page marking the anniversary of my decision to let my hair go gray.

I did it! 10 years ago I started this blog when I said goodbye to the dye and moved onto life without a routine of every 6 week application of a covering to control my aging process. Oh, the things I’ve done over the years hoping to have control of things mostly out of my control. And I’ve shared many of those tales with you. You’ve become special people in my life, more than I ever tell you – Thank YOU! And thank you to all the visitors who stop by to check things out here in my little corner of the blogosphere.

Was that a forecast moment years ago where I put myself on a trajectory to learn about giving up the desire for control of who I was, or who I was to become? Perhaps. I chuckle now as I look back at myself. The reality is, there’s no effing way I really have any ‘control’ over our lives. Maybe that’s the message the last decade taught me the most. I’ve gone between fighting like h*ll for what I thought I should be (and life should be like) and finally am resolved to embrace:

“It’s okay to let go and embrace life as it comes and love myself and our life as it is, especially as I age.”

Here’s me before the big going gray change:

Here’s me now (note, I didn’t say ‘after’ because I’m still here growing and changing with the same camera in hand that I’ve had all these years!). After Mr.’s stroke, I adopted the up-in-a-bun hairdo. Go-me, it also conveniently works for the grandma look. At least, it reminds me of my dad’s mom who wore her hair that way all the time:

So yeah…by the way, I’m a grandma now! Our little grandson arrived almost on his due date in August. He didn’t appear to care what I look like, just that I was in love with him the moment I got to hold him in my arms. A lifetime of being his mom’s mom flashed before my eyes and my heart melted all over again. Newborns are so precious. Watching your own grown up child become a parent is a next level “WOW, that’s a cool surprise”. I had no idea how it would feel. And how grateful I am for the daily Snapchats and text photos to show him growing so quickly in real time. “They did it – our daughter and her hubby had a baby boy. His name is Kian!” Here he is back when he was just 1 week and 1 day old.

His arrival kicked off a milestone in our lives in many ways. Mr.’s therapy goal was to be able to walk into their house and meet the little guy. With the help of our son-in-law, a make-shift grab bar for the door, the shorter 6′ portable ramp (the ramp I told you about the last post…problem still to be resolved before the snow flies 🤔) and the hemi-walker to get into the house. I followed them with the wheelchair so he was able to sit inside the house instead of outside in their backyard. We enjoyed a real-life meet and greet. A true, “He did it moment.”

A 24-year milestone happened too – “We did it!” After a year of showings, inspections, negotiations, along with guidance and perseverance of a heart-of-gold realtor, Amber, Mr. and I officially sold our last rental property and now we’re retired from Landlord status. The relief of that victory lap is overwhelming. Now, while celebrating our 37th year of marriage this month, we can focus on grandparenting and Mr.’s therapy.

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mr.’s graduated to learning how to use a new 4-wheeled walker. Yes, folks, Lil’ ol’ me put the thing together as Mr. watched and listened to my colorful words of encouragement to get the task done. We have it stored at his therapy clinic so we can learn how to use it safely before using it at home. This past week he took hallway strides with it that surprised us all as he described the strides as “normal feeling”. The hope to accomplish walking free of equipment keeps us dreaming of that day in the future! He’s affectionately named this mode of ambulation, “Forest”. Mostly because of the green color, but we all giggled at the name as we do hope some day we are cheering him along, “Run, Forest, Run!”

Thank you so much for stopping by! I/we adore your comments and prayers and gifts of encouragement that have shown up via the Amazon delivery truck! As always…I’ll be back again, I haven’t given up on this blogging thing yet! 😉