I'm not getting older, I'm gettin better?

Its really quite amusing when you sit and think about it. When we were kids, we would listen to our parents ( and that generation ) speak about things, saying to us " wait until you're our age" and we would laugh. Guess what? I am that age now. I am 47 and quite proud of it. I dont think I look as old as I am, I definitely enjoy life more at this age, and I dont think of myself as 47. In my daily routine, certain things remind me how old I really am. Last month I received a notice about my 30 year HS reunion. 30 Years??? Last weekend we celebrated my son Paul and my cousin JP's birthdays. Paul just turned 27 and my cousin will be 39 in a week. 27??? How can that be? He was just Paul4 for those of you who remember that year. He liked HeMan cartoons, micromachines, and cheese macaroni. Of course he still likes the cheese mac, but he has outgrown Care Bears and Topsiders. I still think of him as my baby, although I wont say that to his face and fortunately he doesnt read my blog. At least I dont think he does. I look at my neices and nephews and my cousins kids who all call me Aunt Michele, and ask myself if its possible I am that old now. No it cant be true. I look at my brothers who as of this coming may, will all both be in their 40's now, and think to myself, we were just kids. Even my cute little cousin Jeanine, who adored me when I was a teenager, is all grown up with a family of her own. I was at her house yesterday, as she was coloring my hair ( taking the grey out ) , and I playing with her youngest. It blows me away since I feel like it was yesterday I was playing with her like that. I have to admit, some days I feel like I am 97 not 47, after a 10 hour work day sorting and putting away deliveries, but for the most part I still think of myself as young. Am I, Are WE, getting older not better? Or are we getting better as we get older? I would like to think the latter is true, and until I have to believe otherwise, thats how I will think of myself. Its a rhetorical question so please dont comment with an answer ....I prefer staying in dark for now. I am practing for when the dementia sets in.

Only 360 days til.....

Wow! All the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and in a blink of an eye its gone. Christmas has come and gone and I am sad to see it go, yet somewhat relieved. I attended a party at my cousin Karens, which was alot of fun. I got to see her brother Bruce, my son and his gf came and I drank a few Chocolate Martinis. Bruce and I slept over so we didnt have to drive home which was a blast!! A Christmas pajama party for the over 40 crowd.HAHA. Then it was work and get ready for Christmas. Although I was finished my shopping by early October, I still had many things to do. For me, this year at my new job, I was fortunate enough to have wednesdays and thursdays as my regular days off. That really only meant I had more time at home to shop, prep and cook for Christmas eve at my moms. All went smoothly and I actually got to leave the kitchen a few times. We decided last year to do a cocktail party of H'or dourves instead of a sit down dinner. Mom seems to think its actually more work, but I tend to disagree, plus I love the different appetizers going out at different times. Paul ( my son ) came out and spent the evening with his girlfriend and moms hubbys family and kids were all here. It was a nice nite had by all. The next morning I prepared a few things and headed off to Ama's house, after a Lessard Crepe breakfast. The Lessards were all there in full force at some point and Ama outdid herself this year. Traditions were kept and new ones were made. We decided to do a Secret Santa this year which was alot of fun. We all had fun giving our gifts and seeing who had us. We even picked our names for next Christmas, I am finished my shopping now LOL. Months of planning, days of decorating, baking and cooking, wrapping presents and decking the halls are over. On wednesday this week my day off I will be taking down the lights, undecorating the tree, repacking the boxes and putting away the Christmas dishes until next November. New Years now was another story. I had come down with a cold and wasnt feeling well by New Yrs eve. I did some running around in the morning, did all my laundry of work clothes, and was in bed by 630pm. Medicine and exhausted from work, I was sound asleep at 1210am when my son Paul called to wish me a Happy New Yr. He asked if I was sleeping and embarassed I said " No, I'm sick" 47 years old and I cant even stay up till midnite for 2009! How sad is that? My brother Marc came out for dinner on New Yrs day with my neice and my sister in law. I of course cooked up a storm and we played Banana-grams. I was happy to see them but glad to get to bed since I really wasnt feeling well. My holidays are officially over for this year and I will look foward to the next one. They mean alot to me, the memories of Christmas past and the anticipation of Christmas's to come. As Ama wrote in a book for me " Cherish the memories, Keep the traditions". I cant wait to make more to cherish!!