When I was One,
I had just begun.
When I was Two,
I was nearly new.
When I was Three
I was hardly me.
When I was Four,
I was not much more.
When I was Five, I was just alive.
But now I am Six, I'm as clever as clever,
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever. --- A. A. Milne
Our granddaughter recently learned to count by 10's. She can do it fast! As I thought about my impending 60th birthday, I realized these years seem to have gone by just as fast, so maybe it would be interesting (for me at least) to look at the highlights of each 10 years.
0-10 -- Born. Lived in Richmond, VA, Wake Forest, NC, Burgaw, NC, and Irvington, VA. Became a big sister, and again. Started school, first grade (no preschool, no kindergarten), LOVED the fact that I could walk to school in Wake Forest. Was a Brownie, and a Girl Scout. Became a Christian and was baptized. Started piano lessons.
11-20 -- Graduated high school, went to UR, so back to RVA. First "jobs"---babysitting, lawn-mowing (not a favorite, but my brother needed a driver to get him to some of his jobs), school secretary in the summers during college, math tutor/homework helper, church organist (don't recall getting paid for that one!). Learned to drive, loved driving my mom's Renault with 5-on-the-column! Met a guy at college named Brian Lee.
21-30 -- Graduated college, BS in Math. Went to work in the actuarial department at Home Beneficial Life Company. Had my first apartment, and drove a 1970 Plymouth Fury. Married Brian Lee. Moved to Herndon, VA for about 6 months, then back to RVA. Went to work at Life Insurance Company of Virginia, actuarial department. Bought our first house. Became a mom.
31-40 -- Rebuilt our house after a fire. Became a mom again. Worked as a church organist. Substitute taught preschool. Substitute Math teacher. Became baseball fan, saw lots of MLB games and stadiums. Vacations to Atlanta, Disney World, Lancaster, PA. Learned to quilt.
41-50 -- Bought our second house, Midlothian, VA. Had a child graduate from high school and college. Vacations to New England, Toronto, Niagara Falls, Cooperstown, Kentucky, Disney World, Grand Canyon, Caribbean, Emerald Isle, NC. Always crafting.
51-60 -- Second child graduated high school and college, both graduated seminary. Bought our third house, Glen Allen, VA. Gained a daughter! And again! Became Granna! And again! Went back to work fulltime, Baptist General Association of Virginia. Watched both kids buy their first, and one a second, house. Great traveling, Colorado, Alaska, Key West, Cozumel, Acadia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Emerald Isle, Charleston, SC. Got new knees. Started the annual Christmas Craft Sleepover at Pa and Granna's.
These are just some highlights----there have been 21,915 days to my life. There have been fun moments, funny moments, sad moments, joyful moments. It's impossible to capture them all in a few short lines, but it's been a great life so far!! I'm blessed to have a great family.
So what will the 61-70 paragraph say? Hopefully that I've retired, found lots of time for crafting, travelled, and made lots more great memories.
10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60---Wow, that went fast. But I still don't feel like a grown-up.
