I'm fifty years old, which feels like a special kind of halfway point. It's only a halfway point in life if you're very lucky, but it can be viewed as halfway through your adult life, so we'll go with that. What am I going to do with this gift of time?
1. I have bold plans to see my grandchildren grow up and my children grow middle-aged. When I became a grandmother at 46, one of my more mathematically oriented friends did some counting on his fingers and said, "You're very likely to see your great-grandchildren, and you've got a shot at living to see your great-great-grandchildren." How cool is that?
2. I'd like to live for a fairly protracted period of time in a foreign country--maybe for a summer, maybe longer.
3. I'd like to learn a foreign language. Coincidentally, I am even now taking a foreign language online. Unfortunately for my plan to live abroad, it is Latin, so it would take a time machine to take me someplace where I can mingle with native speakers.
4. Clearly, I need to also learn Italian, since I adore Italy. I already know a few words. Andiamo!
5. I want to spend some time living in a city. Maybe not forever. It would be hard to give up a suburban-sized yard full of vegetables and flowers forever. But I love art and culture and I'm attracted to the energy of a vibrant city. I may achieve this goal next year, because...
6. ...I'm planning to return to graduate school next year for a PhD in English. I write books. I figure I should learn how I do what I do, so that I can teach other people how. I love to teach. So maybe I'll go to school in a big city. It will not, however, be a big foreign city, because I cannot live so far from my grandchildren. It will be an American city with a hub airport from which I can take frequent flights to my kids and grandkids.
7. I spent the first half of my adult life looking for a life partner who wants a strong, intelligent, and deeply feminine woman in his life. To day, when I have found that want, it was accompanied by a desire for that woman to not only take care of herself, but him, too. And his children, if we had them. So I'm focusing on that elusive word "partner," and I'm living a life of my own while I look.
8. I'd like to develop a physical fitness level higher than that of the bookworm that I am. Current efforts include jazz and ballroom dance lessons, which are more vigorous than you might think, when done right. When I slow down and take a moment to do some yoga, I'm always glad I did, so I'm planning to do more of that.
9. I'd like to play the piano better. I'll never be a professional, but I can get better over time. So I will.
10. I'd like to write a lot more books.
P.S., my first book, Artifacts, is currently free in the Kindle and Apple stores. My wonderful publisher has also marked the rest of the series down dramatically. Some of the books are as cheap as $2.50. If you'd like to give Faye's adventures a try, here's the link:
Artifacts: A Faye Longchamp Mystery (Faye Longchamp Series)
Mary Anna
Sounds like you've got some lofty ambitions. It's inspiring to hear your plans. Good luck
Posted by: Michael A. Black | June 25, 2012 at 08:53 AM
I figure it's good to aim high and miss. The worst thing would be to aim low and still miss.
Posted by: Mary Anna | June 25, 2012 at 09:00 AM
If you visit Italy, in Vatican City you'll find something close to native Latin speakers. They even have ATMs with instructions in Latin :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vatican_latin_atm.jpg
Posted by: Amoroso | June 25, 2012 at 01:03 PM
I like your list and your optimism in setting it out. Why not? I just went to a lunch where the speaker made the entire audience cringe when she said new research suggests people may start living to 150 soon. "Not us," everyone at our table murmured prayerfully!
Posted by: Susan Shea | June 25, 2012 at 03:49 PM
Some wonderful things on your list! I like the idea of you getting together with the grear-great grands. They will be very lucky ones indeed.
Posted by: Priscilla | June 25, 2012 at 04:04 PM
I don't want to live to 150, unless I'm still having a good time. If my life is still fun for me and not an excessive burden on others, then I guess 150 would be fine.
Paolo, my daughter is preparing to apply to universities where she could study classical languages and literature. She is a very, very good Latin student, so she would really love those ATMs. :)
Posted by: Mary Anna | June 25, 2012 at 04:08 PM
So you and your daughter are getting ready for college? What fun!
My daughter will be starting in the fall. Makes me wish I could go back as well. Hmm. Maybe I ought to add that to my list!
Posted by: Ann | June 27, 2012 at 10:41 PM
Come study with me! ;)
Posted by: Mary Anna | June 28, 2012 at 05:51 AM