COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Thursday, June 29, 2017 and it is the 42nd day until my 60th Birthday.

Well I have decided that perhaps so many lists is perhaps a “tad” overboard.

As with most folks over the age of 50, we continue to dream about the future, live for today and cherish all memories of days gone by.

Perhaps somedays our memories are more clear than the present but that is okay.

I intend to live to be 100.

My paternal Grandmother lived to be 97.

There are things to do and places to see during the next 40 years.

After all, I am only 6 six years into my “second” career ….. long way to go until “retirement.”

So perhaps a “Bucket List” to remind me of the things to do and places to see is likely a good idea.

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our everyday lives that we forget about those dreams.

Bucket List is the next thing to do.

I will take an empty notebook and make some notes.

It was an excellent exercise writing down all of the things that I have done thus far ….. the good and the bad, joyful and not.

Sometimes we do need to be reminded of a lifetime filled with happiness, sadness, joy, abundance and lack thereof, and all of that.

Our lives as human beings are far from what we determine as perfection.

So stop trying to be perfect and live your life.

Moment by moment and I do try.

Sometimes my patience runs a bit thin and other times my patience saves the day and there is all that in between.

So here we are …. another day closer to 60…… wow…..

 

Always, Carol

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60.

Today is Monday June 26, 2017 and it is the 45 day until my 60th Birthday.

Okay now what after the 60 favourite things list.

I was thinking about a BUCKET LIST.

What is with all of these lists anyway?

Well truthfully, this would not be a surprise to people who know me as I am famous for writing lists, TO DO LISTS and such.

I like to write things down.

I have often thought a BUCKET LIST would be nice but perhaps today I will do it in reverse.

Not the things that I want to do in the future but some of the things that I have done over the years.

Okay so this is going to be another 60 things list ….. but things that I have done not necessarily favourite things but things that I have done/accomplished, okay.

Because going backwards can be tricky with the counting process I am just going to start at number 1.

 

Here are the next 12 items:

25.  Attended all different schools from Grades 9 to Grade 12 in three different Canadian provinces.

26.  Sold through direct sales:  AMWAY, Fashion Two-Twenty make-up, Tupperware twice in two different provinces and Steeped Tea.

27.  Wrote Eulogies for four different family members and gave three of them.

28.  Started to write poetry at age eight years.

29.  Jobs have done over the years: Babysitting, Berry picker,  Executive Assistant (summer job), Keypunch operator, Bank Teller,  Claims Dispatch Clerk, Mapping Clerk, Reinsurance Underwriter, small town Ladies Clothing Shop, Customer Service Clerk at Retail store with largest sales at West Edmonton Mall, House Cleaning, File Clerk and Housing Clerk.

30.  Wrote Groom’s speech for my friend to give at her brother’s wedding.

31.  Broke handle off new shovel while digging out dead cedar tree from my back garden area two years ago.  Still do not believe that one.

32.  Grateful to have attended concerts for two of my favourite entertainers:  Celine Dion and Sir Elton John.

33.  Good at making meals from virtually nothing.  I love challenging myself to using everything in my pantry and fridge.

34.  Love making up new recipes.

36.   Grew up on the farm and helped with everything from stacking bales when haying, to housework, to looking after siblings, to cooking, gardening and other chores all before age 14.

37.   After moving from the farm in Saskatchewan to British Columbia …. my Mom, Sister and I spent that first summer picking berries.  Hard work but definitely had payoff.

 

Sure is a test of the memory banks.

Always, Carol

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Saturday June 24, 2017 and it is the 47 day until my 60th Birthday.

Okay now what after the 60 favourite things list.

I was thinking about a BUCKET LIST.

What is with all of these lists anyway?

Well truthfully, this would not be a surprise to people who know me as I am famous for writing lists, TO DO LISTS and such.

I like to write things down.

I have often thought a BUCKET LIST would be nice but perhaps today I will do it in reverse.

Not the things that I want to do in the future but some of the things that I have done over the years.

Okay so this is going to be another 60 things list ….. but things that I have done not necessarily favourite things but things that I have done/accomplished, okay.

Because going backwards can be tricky with the counting process I am just going to start at number 1.

1. Started cooking at age 6 (have been cooking now for almost 54 years).

2. Camped with cousins on a dry river bed and did not know and then the rain started and we had to leave.

3. Played in the water at Padre Island / Gulf Coast of Mexico as a child while spending the winter in TEXAS with family.

4. Bought first house on my own at age 52.

5. Adopted first doggie (Alvin) on my own at age 53.

6. Started making jewellery and had own jewellery business at age 53 with my daughter.

7. Worked first real RETAIL job (small town clothing store does not count).

8.  In said RETAIL job even had “number 1 sales per hour” in the whole company (not bad for someone at age 57 working with mainly young ones).

9.  First paid babysitting job at age 8 for neighbours with toddler and newborn.

10. Tasted first FAST FOOD at age 18.

11.  When a child walked from my Grandparents farm to ours which was about five miles away (after disagreement with my Dad and it was at night).

12. Had a mock wedding as a prank on my Mother (so much fun and she loved it, too and honestly she did not believe it).

 

Okay that was definitely harder than I thought but I will attempt to do this.  Likely you may learn things that I had even forgotten.

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 28th day of November, 2016.

Well here we are with only three days including today left in the month of November, 2016.

Can you believe it?

I think that I say this every month but I have found as I get older the months simply “fly” by.

They come in with all of the pomp and circumstance of a new month for that year, and then the days go so quickly that we almost forget that we have had that month.

I guess in a way it is kind of funny, if you think about it.

Sometimes perhaps we spend too much time thinking about time.

Do we have enough time to do all of the things that we need to do?

Time is passing so quickly.

What time is it?

Will I be on time?

I am afraid that I will run out of time to do  all of the things on my “bucket list.”

How many minutes before the bus arrives?

I am late.

The list goes on and on.

That is the human race everything revolves around time.

I understand our need to be on time, to have enough time and about time passing so quickly.

I think “TIME” is the one thought that is constantly on our minds.

So perhaps on this Monday ….. if possible …… just be in the moment.

Do not think about those moments before or those afterward ….. just live in the moment.

Hard to do, I agree.

But if you can well worth it.

Even if you only are able to complete this “task” a few times a day – it will take away from that constant bombardment of “time.”

Take care and have a great day.

Special Hello to: my kids and baby Milo who are living now without their beloved Elton and Penny ….. take care my darlings.  Think of all the great times…you have wonderful memories.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday, the 13th day of March, 2014.

YAY, it is Thursday.

So happy for Thursday …..

Tomorrow is my day off from the office and the store.

So exciting to have two days off in a row.

I have lots to do ….. will start the day with coffee with my friend who leaves for Hawaii on Saturday.

Lucky girl.  So happy for her and her family.  A great trip.  Someday I will visit there.  It is on my “bucket list.”

Then working on the preparations for the Trade Show next Saturday.

We, Dear Stella Jewellery ….. (my daughter and I make jewellery in our spare time).  We rented a table.  First time.

I am nervous but excited.

Also, me and Alvin are hosting a birthday supper for my daughter, his sister Friday night.

Alvin needs a hair cut …..  the laundry ….. stuff ….  there will be time to kick back and watch a movie or three.

What do you do on your days off?

Are you grateful that you get time off from work?

Most people do not even think of anything different.

I know a girl that happens to work two full-time jobs ….. 80 hours a week.

She works 7 days a week.

I admire her ….. and I am grateful that my two jobs total on average 50-55 hours per week.

I know that there are so many people out there who do not have the luxury of working only a 40 hour week with weekends off.

These days most people need at least two jobs to pay the bills.

I remember reading over the years …. especially just before the new millennium arrived that we would all be working shortened work weeks and have more time to relax and be with family.

Well that never happened and in fact, I would say it has lengthened.

Too bad.

Pension plans have all been hit by the economy and by bad management.

So whenever you have time away from work ….. be grateful ….. always take some time to relax and have fun with your family.

I hope that you all have an amazing THURSDAY.

I am so looking forward to today, tomorrow and the next.

Thank you for reading.

Special Hello to:  all those who realize that gratitude does make a difference.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 4th day of December, 2013.

It is now exactly three weeks until Christmas Day.

WOW. …. fast approaching….

It seems like every year now the time just zips by.

We were discussing the passage of time yesterday at work.

I think it is because as young ones we live in the moment.

We also do not have many responsibilities so we do not stack up a big list of things that we want to accomplish.

Once we are adults ….. there are responsibilities, things we want to do and that TO DO LIST or BUCKET LIST.

There does reach a time and I think that I am getting there when you once again live in the moment.

The children are grown, you may be retired, or just plain settled and comfortable with each moment.

You don’t worry about what happened yesterday and what will or will not take place tomorrow.

So let us all try to live in the moment.

Just breathe and take in the glorious world around us.

Right now I am so grateful that I can write and that people all over the world read my words.

Also I am watching Mr. Alvin sitting with his back to the doorway looking at something “???” in the hallway.

Not sure what…..

So have a great day.

Happy Holiday Season.

It is cold here so if you are living in Edmonton area ….. dress warmly.

Special Hello to: my fellow writers ….. one word at a time….

Always, Carol and Alvin