Thoughts on Becoming 45

Wow - in a couple weeks I'll be 45.
 
45? 45. 45!

It's really hitting me like a brick to the face.  Why?  I'm not sure, but it feels really strange, and depressing.  For some reason, I have the old Baptist funeral song, "Shall We Gather at the River", running through my head.

45 years ago, my mother was very pregnant with me.  I was due at Christmas, but didn't come out until after New Years.  Being late at birth is ironic, I'm a very punctual person.  I abhor lateness.

There was a blizzard the day I was born - a good reason for not wanting to come out.  I get to hear the story every year - January 1968 was cold and snowy, blizzard conditions, when my mother went into labor.  My father took her to the hospital, and the schools sent the kids home early due to the bad weather.  My two older brothers stayed at the neighbor's house.  This was on January 14th.  I was born January 15th at 4:12am.  I'm sure the Doctor had to pull me out - I'm not a morning person.

So there you have it.  I came kicking and screaming into the world, all 8 pounds of me, coal black hair, dark eyes - a beautiful Italian baby.  What the heck happened???  LIFE!

I'm having a bad case of the, "I've never's".  Such as - I've never met Russell Crowe or Dewayne Johnson (The Rock), I've never been kissed by my love (or the previously mentioned men) under a tree during a spring rain, I've never ran naked through the tall grass on a warm summer afternoon, I've never smacked a politician............the list goes on and on.

What have I done in the almost 45 years I've been alive?  Well, I've traveled all across the country, I've met a few celebrities, I've been to a few concerts, I've eaten some incredible food, I've been to the Caribbean (twice), I've thrown up in the street, whizzed off a bridge (which is no small feat for a female), farted in an elevator, and have given my share of wedgies.  I've lived, loved, and laughed, and I'm still going strong.  I've been so very blessed with incredible friends, and a very tolerant family.

Alright, overall I'd say I've had a pretty great life.  Sure there have been the down times, and I'm sure there will be more to come, but the great times are outstanding.  The older I get, the better the memories, the better the laughter, the better life is.