A Reflection of 50

I was born on an interesting day. Not only did my parents celebrate Easter that day, they celebrated my birth. But what of other anniversaries on the day of my birth, April 14th? Well, they include the day Abraham Lincoln was shot, the Titanic struke an iceberg, the 1 billionth Chinese person to be born (in 1989), the French Revolution begun, and Les Miserables opened on Broadway.

From a scientific perspective, it is the recognition of a day the Earth is in the same location in relation to the sun in space. On Jupiter, I would be a lot younger, and on Mercury I would be a lot older. Some say the placement of the stars influences the person’s personality. I have many characteristics of an “Aries”, but I have found more in common with other people named Mary, than with other Aries.

But what about the day for me? My first vivid memory of a birthday celebration, my 5th, was me sitting at the head of the table, with my family and friends around it, singing Happy Birthday, and me, I was crying. Looking back at it, I think I was happy, but the attention was overwhelming. Other birthday celebrations included parties, outings to special places and being spoiled by family. The past several years, I have celebrated with one of God’s greatest gifts, a loving and amazing husband, and two beautiful and healthy children. Today, I was served a delicious breakfast, and will be treated to a “home spa” by my family. They tell me it’s an oatmeal day (which explains the oatmeal pancakes).

As I look in the mirror, I can’t think of what I thought I would look like, on this monumental benchmark. I know others who look younger than I at my age, but most look older, or at least act older. I credit being a teacher and having young children, for why I am active and energetic, (I have to be to keep up). I am healthy, with no health problems that I can even think of. A few gray hairs are shining in the sun, but I don’t need to color my hair to hide my years. Some wrinkles on my face are moisturized nightly, but still accent the edges that frame my smile.

Of all the things I reflect on this year, and lately every year, is the true appreciation of my age. So many people were not as fortunate as I, to make it to this number. For whatever reason, they passed on at a much earlier age. I think of my friend in high school who died from a motorcycle accident, he didn’t get to graduate. I think of the baby who died in the hospital room down the hall who won’t have any birthdays, yet my baby was born alive and healthy. I think of the college student who enlists in the army, doing what he felt was right, and is killed a month later.

There are many people, who don’t and will never have the pleasure of seeing the wrinkles, the gray hair, and to look deep into the eyes of the reflection of a person staring back at them, that hold the memories of a life time, ready to document more. I can’t and won’t ever complain about how old I am, for I am blessed to have made it as long as I have.

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Greet…Each Other Well

The other day I came home from working all day, as millions of others in our world do. But I came home to my home….Think about that for a minute. Everyone person goes home to their home….no one elses. There in “your” home, you have family, loved ones, people you are glad to be around, and people who you like to be around, people who are glad to see you…I can’t wait to be greeted!

I pull up to my house, opened the garage door with my automatic door opener, and before my car wheels roll to a stop, my dog is running out to greet me…running around the car, jumping up to see my face….she is ready to tell me that she missed me soooo much….after petting her, and getting passed her enthusiasm, I enter the house, with full arms, ready to be greeted by my family….what do I see running towards me…my cat! He is meowing, he is rubbing on me, the dog is eagerly interrupts, competing for my attention. I stammer past my animals, no one else is in the house….

Oh, there is my husband, with his hands in the sink, washing the dishes and baking cookies….he turns warmly and says, “Hi Sweety”, obviously I don’t want him walking with drippy hands, so I greet him equally with a peck on the cheek. I don’t see anyone else….”where are the kids?” Neither child (I have two) noticed I walked through the door. Both watching their version of electronic entertainment, they are interrupted by a stern, “Come say ‘Hi’ to your mother”…

I am hurt, I need to do some reflecting on what I am teaching my children. I begin researching animal’s greetings….What I learned, is nearly every animal that has a “family unit” has a specific, understood greeting of loved ones when they re-unite to the family unit. Dogs lick each other’s faces, in submissive body language, wagging tails and yipping sounds. Cats touch noses gently. Bees dance around and learn what the incomming bee has learned about their environment. A most amazing comparison is that of chimpanzees, who greet each other by hugs, shaking hands, even kissing each other’s hands.

As a society, we teach our children, as they begin to understand their world, that they need to be cautious of strangers. But within a family unit, we need to teach children to show true appreciation of each family member. That when a loved one goes out of the house into the world, that upon their return, the utmost appreciation of their return must be displayed. I need to teach my children better, because in life, there is always a chance that the loved one may not come back, at all.

photo credit: Bryce Reid via photopin cc
photo credit: leamaimone via photopin cc