You Too Can Happily Embrace Change

When a beloved family member dies, one often opens up the old family albums.

That is certainly what I did after my Mom died recently.  I poured over the

pictures of those who have shaped and colored my entire life.  My Aunt Susan

is the only elder left and she is now very frail and has spent the last couple of

years in and out of the hospital.  I speak to her quite often and she keeps 

reminding me to savor every moment of my life because it all goes by too 

fast.  Every time we chat she always asks me "are you having any fun?"

When I was young I thought about having fun all of the time. Everything was so new

and every trip no matter where it led was an adventure. I was very good at

creating fun things to do. I was an only child born to older parents who indulged

my creativity. I don't think I ever said "I am bored" or "What can we do?"

That's me on the right next to my friend Barbie.  Those were carefree happy

days.  My biggest problem in life back then was coming home when my

Mom called me.  I was just having so many adventures with my friends

and I was always late because I didn't want to leave them.

My dreams for my future included the possibility of being the next Annie

Oakley, following a rabbit down a hole like Alice or being whisked up in

a tornado with my little dog Bonnie just as Dorothy had done. I never 

dreamed about marrying a prince charming. I was always dreaming of

doing interesting things in far off magical lands.

Of course I did all of the typical things that young girls do.  I went to elementary,

high school and then college.  My roommate and I joined a sorority.  I survived the

scrutiny and the hazing because I wanted to wear one of the cool jackets with our

sorority letters and go to all the parties.  All of that was fun, but the little girl who 

wanted to live an adventurous life and travel to exotic places stayed alive in my heart.

In my twenties I had a big adventure.  I moved to a middle eastern 

country and I became a First Primary School Teacher to forty-five 

little six and seven years old at the local Sacred Heart School.  It 

was so much fun and the holidays gave me the chance to travel and 

see much of our big wide world.  Notice the great tan.  It was so hot

in Bahrain that the school hours were from 7:30 am until 12:30.

I used to run home after school, have lunch and prepare the next

day's lesson before heading to the beach.  Life was grand.

Next came more schooling. Meeting my future husband and getting

married. The responsibilities started piling up. Career, mortgage, car

 payments and caring for elderly parents. My adventurous and fun days

 were tempered by life. A whirlwind of duties that kept me busy from

early morning until late at night. It happens to all of us and we hardly

notice the time slipping away. With that passage of time our dreams

are put aside too.

Just as quickly, life changed for me once again. We are

living in Texas now. My care giving duties are over. My

husband told me I only need to work if I want to. It's a new

era of my life. A chance to add new photos to our family

album. It's time for me to have new adventures and the

possibilities are endless. I am looking forward to the

ride, but even though I now live in Texas, I am not so

sure that I want to be Annie Oakley anymore ;-)

Perhaps you are at a new stage in your life and are

uncertain of your future path. My suggestion to you is to

embrace new opportunities. Dig deep into your heart and

renew old interests or attempt the ones you were afraid to

try.  With age comes wisdom and a depth of strength just

waiting for you to embrace. Toss away fear and doubt

and always remember, I will be right here to cheer you on!

Wishing Y'All Big Dreams and Happy Trails,

Susan and Bentley

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