Let's Go, Jane!

When I started this blog last summer, I promised myself that I would post at the end of every week and not stop until I’d reached 100 posts. I just checked, and I’m up to 26! On the one hand, it feels like 26% of my goal is not very much, but on the other hand I’m proud of myself for sticking with it for half a year. And the best is definitely yet to come.

That said, some weeks are more exciting than others. I didn’t do any traveling or go on any adventures this week. I did, however, have a birthday. I’m now 53 years old, and really, it feels no different than 52. My actual birthday was terrible. My ex-husband chose that afternoon to text me a laundry list of grievances. Maybe he forgot it was my birthday, or maybe he didn’t care. Worst case he did it on purpose. I did my best not to let it get under my skin.

I was looking forward to an evening at home with Carey, as my son was going to his dad’s house for the night. Carey arrived before my son left, and in their brief overlap my son made an offensive remark that made Carey decide to leave. I experienced that moment both as a girlfriend watching someone I love get hurt, and as a parent, watching my child hurt someone. It double-sucked for me. Then my son got picked up, and I spent my birthday evening alone.

But here’s the thing. I called a girlfriend, and she spent half an hour helping me process what happened. Then I watched a movie and when it was over I was still feeling a way, so I called another girlfriend, who, even though she was in the middle of watching a movie with her husband, took my call and spent 20 minutes talking it through with me and helping me feel better. Then I watched a TV show and decided to go to bed, but I couldn’t sleep. I called another girlfriend, a known night owl, and she spent half an hour speaking with me.

My terrible birthday night made me realize how incredibly lucky I am to have close girlfriends who are there for me whenever I need them. And that feeling of gratitude continued the day after my birthday, when I had lunch with one of those friends and went out dancing with another. After a phone call with one of my sisters (I have the best sisters!), and a long conversation with Carey to clear the air, I was ready to move forward. The next day, my son made a very sincere apology to Carey. It was a teaching moment.

The whole experience made me realize how lucky I am. I have an amazing boyfriend. Our relationship is unconventional for sure, but it suits us both. I love that he responds to my crazy ideas by cheering me on. I got a birthday card from my wonderful parents, whose comments make me think they doubt my sanity, but still clearly just want me to be happy. It was very sweet.

That’s a whole lot of words to say not much happened this week, except for a terrible birthday, a super fun do-over, and a reminder that it’s the people in our lives that make life worth living.