Well, it is that time again.  Time to look forward to yet another year in the new forty.  I started this blog on my initial foray into the new forty and today at day seven hundred and thirty of the new forty I open the door to my third year in the new forty at the official age of 52.  Wow, this would be a good time to be dyslexic and go with age 25 I think…then next year I would be 35 and the following year I would be 45…this could work for me for awhile. 😉

I remember how anxious I was when I was under the age of 21 to become 21…it seemed like it took forever.  I also recall thinking upon the arrival at age 25 (the first time) that I was getting old quick.  Ah, yes…the folly of youth – believing 25 is old.  For the record, 25 was not old then and it isn’t old now either (so says the newly faking dyslexic in me).

I must say though that I kinda’ love being in the new forty.  It has been a time of great exploration and liberation of self.  It is a brave new frontier where one comes to appreciate more fully that life is not a trial run – it is all here in the present.  And as for the past, there is something about having a half century or more of past experiences to make one reflective.  You come to understand in the new forty that the past accumulates quickly whether you are having fun or not, whether you are present in the moment or not, and whether you want it it to or not.  Time marches on with or without you.  I prefer with.

So, as has been my custom in the new forty it is time to revisit the goals of years past and to set the goals for the next year of the new forty.

The year one goal of writing everyday that carried over into year two will carry on into year three.  At this juncture, I cannot envision letting go of this outlet for self-expression.  It has been, hands-down, the best gift I have ever given myself.  So, The New Forty blog goes on.

The year two goal – the best body ever – will likewise go on. This too is no surprise as that was never the type of goal that could be abandoned; however, I must note that there was a re-commitment ceremony to this goal that occurred a couple of days ago that still makes it painful to go up and down stairs.  You see, the best body ever goal, was going along quite swimmingly until the end of September and early October when the first sump pump failure and the Galleria fire affected my home and family.  After that there was a whole list of calamities to point to, none of which propelled progress backward (well maybe the poutine in Canada sent me a little backward or added a little to my back ward) , but because of a series of unfortunate events I did not progress as hoped.  My lower level where my bike and punching bag are located are still off limits since the most recent sump pump failure in April and round two of reconstruction.  The enduring state of affairs ultimately forced a recognition on my part that moving forward I would have to choose alternative activities in the short term (but I cannot express emphatically enough how much I miss regularly using my heavy bag – that really is the only healthy way to address frustration with ex-husbands – all that kicking and punching is wildly therapeutic).

So year two’s best body goal continues with a renewed focus and not much progress to report over the past year – more a push in blackjack terms than anything else.  I am not thrilled to report less than a stellar outcome, but it fits with my perfectly imperfect self and I believe some days success is demarcated by the fact that you rise another day to try again.  And I have risen (even though raising my legs to go up and down the stairs these past few days has been painful).

My lovely photographer  (Misty of Dreaming in Color Photography) who took last year’s photos gave birth to an adorable baby boy over the past year and has of course had her hands full, but I will still hope to move forward this year with a pictorial documentation of my progress.  As you will recall, Misty took the photo from last year that has now become infamous (the 80’s rock band cover as it has come to be known by family and friends) and which is represented in sketch below by a very talented family friend, Brian Jackson.

If you would like Brian to do a sketch like this from one of your photos you can contact him at Rhunyc@hotmail.com – he does great work for a very reasonable price (but I should note and thank Brian publicly for giving me this as a birthday gift).  This artwork is printed as an 11 x 17 print – very cool.  I should also note that Brian is a young fellow – only 23 like my son Cory (Cory and Brian were classmates in their days in the Kindred School District).  As such, he is on the front-end of his talent…I can only imagine how he will develop and mature his talent into the future.  As someone who can’t even master stick people I am in awe of those with creative talents such as this.

Ah, but back to the present discussion and my present to myself this year – my goal for year three of the new forty.  I spent a lot of time thinking about this year’s goal.  Both of my previous goals were fairly self-serving – writing for my pleasure and becoming more healthy and fit.  This year I wanted to set a goal that was a bit more focused outward – a goal that was meaningful to me, but that was more contributory to the universe than talking about LoveFifi’s marketing skills, the price of underwear or displaying new-found muscle tone (although I know these topics have their time and place).  Increasingly, I have been wanting to lend my voice to other topics that I am uniquely interested in.

Those who regularly read The New Forty know that it is best labeled as a potpourri of thoughts, musings and gleeful self-deprecating humor that spans the topical universe.  I don’t write about the same topic daily; I don’t use my academic writing skills; and, I don’t follow the beat of anyone else’s drummer (even though my personal drummer is clearly down to one stick and uses an old rusty coffee can as a drum). The New Forty is the clearest expression of the whole of me.

However, as I said above I have been wanting to lend my voice to other topics – topics that matter to me, but that are much more focused than my regular writing.  I believe that by setting this goal I will be marrying two important things (and I use “married” in the least matrimonial way – so never fear friends and family): 1) the circumstances that life has brought me to; and 2) fulfilling my purpose for being on the planet.  Heavy…I know.

I become more and more appreciative of the way the universe brings us to challenges as I age  and this year’s goal is evidence of that. So today I share my new goal for year three of the new forty – two new blog sites. On The New Forty blog you will now see two pages that explain the two new sites and provide you links to them.  The two new blogs are titled: My Heart is on the Spectrum and Veteran Suicide – America’s Shame.

These two blogs will allow me to collect very specific material in a one-stop location.  These blogs will not be like The New Forty as I will not be blogging daily for these sites.  These sites are designed to allow me to share with readers the things I have heard about, collected or found concerning these topical areas.  I created them to both allow myself the freedom to stockpile information on them (like the good hoarder I am) and to free The New Forty from becoming too myopic.  You will still see blog entries on these two topics (autism and veteran suicide) ocassionally in The New Forty, but I want my daily blog to continue to reflect the whole of me in the same nutty, eclectic way it always has.

Thank you to all of you who have come along with me as I skip down the garden path and sing out-of-tune…it has been a great honor and joy to hear from so many of you.  You have helped make my days thus far in the new forty full of daring, delight and deep reflection.  Here’s to another year! 😉

Day seven hundred and thirty of the new forty – obla di obla da

Ms. C