Aug 22 2008

Posted by Mama under Dating, Middle Age, Relationships

Time To Grow Up – The Ultimate Midlife Crisis

two of the crumbgobblers viewing photos of me when I was young.

Two of the crumbgobblers viewing photos of my brothers and me when we were young.
My rotten kid just kicked me out of the nest. I thought that it was supposed to work the other way round. How did this disgusting state of affairs come about? I’ll tell you how. It all started as a result of a few days in the Bahamas. My daughter wanted to go to Las Vegas to see the shows, and I wanted to hike in Utah, so naturally, we went to Freeport. It was the obvious compromise. Whether or not we liked it (we didn’t) or had a good time (we did) is neither here nor there. The point is that she asked me to write an entry about our vacation for her blog. I did so, and it was wildly (I mean WILDLY) acclaimed. Well, ok, so there were three comments, but even Tolstoy had to start somewhere. Besides, they constituted a sample and were representative of the views of many more visitors. So one thing led to another, and another, and another, and the next thing I knew, Shanel started making noises about the importance of ‘independence’ and ‘the rewards of personal growth’. I ignored her. I also ignored my son when he refused to give me driving directions, “…because you need to learn how to get around, mom. Just exactly HOW long have you been living here???” And I ignored Flora when she said that it was time for me to take an interest in my finances and that she would be thrilled to discuss them with me. Dominique agreed with Flora that it is time that I started to act my age

The four of them have joined forces to kick me out. My claws are dug into the rim, and I’m clinging to the edge with all the tenacity a desperate 59-year old can muster, but they are stomping on my philangies, uttering the universal cries of offspring everywhere: “It’s for your own good!” And “This hurts me more than it does you!” Right. They claim that I said these very words to them, at one time or another, but I’m pretty sure that I did not…

Nevertheless, I’m letting go and trying to fly. Getting lost in town, but not in the woods, thank you very much, re-entering the absolutely terrifying world of dating (So you think that men are friendly creatures, or at least benign? Well, think again. I just hope that I survive on any given day.), and writing a blog of my very own. You know the ancient Chinese curse? ‘May you live in interesting times’? Well, I am, and at the moment the times they seem to be achangin’ way too quickly. Flora (daughter 2 of 3) said something today that puts it all in perspective, though: ‘If all you ever do is what you’ve already done, then all you’ll ever get is what you’ve already got.’ So I’m sailing blindfolded toward the rapids, no oars, no sail, no life vest, and I don’t know if I could go back now, even if I wanted to. It’s scary as all get out, but it is sure as heck beats sitting around being bored, right??? :> RIGHT!

   
 

 

 

        Above: DoFlo in France.  Below: Photo of the elusive tree-hugging Rat, aka Shanel.

Above: DoFlo in France. Right: Photo of the elusive tree-hugging Rat, aka Shanel.

  

mama signature

8 Responses to “Time To Grow Up – The Ultimate Midlife Crisis”

  1. andrena on 23 Aug 2008 at 9:38 am #

    welcome mama!! am commenting via mobile…but rest assured, when I get home I will check your place out!!! :-)

  2. Mama on 23 Aug 2008 at 2:35 pm #

    thnx! let me know what you think.

  3. SabineM on 25 Aug 2008 at 4:44 pm #

    Lovely new site! Lissa has done a great job! I love your title photo! Is that you?
    Love your site!
    Your Shanel’s mama right?
    Fabulous!
    Love to read your posts!

  4. Mama on 25 Aug 2008 at 7:37 pm #

    i agree - she did a terrific job! i’m so glad you are enjoyihg my posts. i can’t believe how much fun it is to write them. the photo at the top is of my dad & me on our way to a lake in the beartooth mountains. he was a gamewarden, & we went with him a lot when we were kids. yes, Shanel (Chai, etc) is mine.

  5. Shanel on 26 Aug 2008 at 8:50 am #

    Your making progress mama. If we can all grow up and leave the nest, then so should you. Let the journey continue-No pity party for you here :-)

  6. Mama on 26 Aug 2008 at 7:15 pm #

    actually, continuing the journey sounds like a good idea. i think i’ll continue it to southern Africa next year. how about it, kid?

  7. qualcosa di bello on 30 Aug 2008 at 11:10 am #

    don’t say ‘trying to fly’…say ‘learning to fly’ (like the tom petty song, if you know it~~ i love what it says!) sounds to me like your journey will be one wild & joyous ride!!!

  8. Mama on 30 Aug 2008 at 4:45 pm #

    i don’t know the song, but i’ll check it out on you tube. good point about ‘learning to fly’, although at this point i’m flapping my little wings wildly, not at all sure that it’s going to work!

Trackback URI | Comments RSS

Leave a Reply