A Most Auspicious Day!

Here I am, finally on the mend from the dreaded “what ever that was that hit everyone and knocked them on their butts” virus. As predicted, I managed to evade until everyone else was on the mend, then it hit me full force.. if it hasn’t hit you yet.. go stock up on vitamin C, zinc and cod liver oil capsules.. trust me.

As the title of the post says, today is a most auspicious day, and no, I didn’t have to use the spell check to actually spell “auspicious”, so my brain is finally working somewhat again! Honestly, I could look at today as either a huge negative, or as a true positive, and since this is quirky me, I chose the positive. You see, as of today, I have just entered my fourth decade of life. Yes, I can see a hint of crows feet around my eyes, and yes, there are silver strands gracing my thick mane. (and I plan on keeping both of these signs of age, thank you!) I’m not as spry as I used to be and there are things that I can remember that the younger generation will refer to as antiques.. such as record players and vinyl albums. I remember when the only remote for my dad’s TV was one of us kids getting up, walking across the room and changing the channel manually with one of two dials. I remember hard wired rotary phones that you had to rent from the phone company, when public phones cost a dime, a ride on the bus a whole quarter and you could get a decent loaf of bread for less than fifty cents. I remember being able to go to a movie for just a couple of bucks and when a dollar could get you four full sized candy bars. I remember people wearing leisure suits of polyester (back when it was a “new” fabric and everyone had to have it) and I remember when disco was the thing (anyone else remember Disco Duck?). I went to the Rocky Horror Picture Show when it began it’s cult status and was around to hear Meatloaf’s first album when it came out. I vaguely remember Watergate, and I remember Carter running for president. I remember the gas crisis and the odd and even days to get gas. I remember when cars came standard with AM radio. I remember 8 track tapes and concerts on the green (these would be outdoor concerts in the park). I am old enough to know that Jefferson Airplane became Jefferson Starship before becoming Starship (and I am old enough to be able to say that I saw them when they were still Jefferson Airplane). I remember when Donny and Marie had their own show and when the Muppets were a big hit on TV. I am a year older than Sesame Street. I remember a show called the Electric Company where Morgan Freeman got his start on PBS. I remember when Elvis was still alive and I remember the news reports when he died. I remember feminism and women entering the workforce in droves.

I remember being at UC Berkeley to protest the war in Vietnam. Officially it was over, but we were still over there. I remember protesting against South Africa and Apartheid. I remember when hippies were still everywhere and I remember when most of them turned into yuppies. I remember when computers first came out into the market for the masses. I remember the Commodore 64 (which just turned 25 last month). I remember when I didn’t need cable to watch TV and I remember when we first got cable. I remember when they first built the space shuttles and the very first missions as well as the first disaster. I remember Mount St. Helen’s erupting and the dusting of ash that made it’s way to California. I remember when VCR’s came in either VHS or Beta, they were all top loading and so much larger than today. I remember when CD’s first came out in the record stores. I remember record stores. I remember when community colleges were free tuition. I remember the New Wave music with the second British Invasion. I remember HIV and AIDS before the CDC had names for them or even knew what they were dealing with.

There are so many other things that I can remember. All these things should make me feel so old, but they don’t. As I said, this is an auspicious day, a day of good fortune and good omens. Today I can look back and see what is behind me, and I can look forward and see what is still yet to come.

Behind me I leave the drama years. There is no need to go to the “cool” places to be seen, to meet people or to hang out. I leave behind the need to always look just so, the buying the trendy and the fads. I leave behind the obnoxious flirting, the stereotypes that were presumed. I leave behind trying to fit into the mold that the media tries to convince younger women of what they should look like.

Today I look forward. I am now 40. There will be no “over the hill” black balloons to grace my day. For today, the rest of my life really begins! I am the (hopefully) wiser woman who has seen some of life and will be taken for what is in my brain instead of what is on my body. I’m on the verge of “the change” as they used to call it in my younger years. I find that I no longer seem to care about making sure whatever comes out of my mouth is pleasing, but now care that it is honest. As I grow older, I find myself less willing to put up with other people’s crap and more willing to spend that wasted time pursuing the things that I want to do. I no longer surround myself with people who are “cool” but now look for people I can relate to and whose company I truly enjoy. My taste have change, I’ve developed my own style in life and it no longer matters what anyone else thinks. I can be quirky, odd, strange, eccentric and it makes me unique now. (Not like when you are younger and you strive to be like everyone else to fit in!) Today I am liberated and free. Each future year will strip away one more thing that I was supposed to be and allow me to be one more thing that I want to be.

May this year be one that allows all of us to cherish the memories we each have, and to become more of the person’s that we choose to be for ourselves. May life touch each one of us, bless us and allow us to enjoy every glorious day that we are here!