Six months into 60

A year ago this time I was staring down into the jaws of turning 60. I did not wake up wearing Depends and I am not eating early bird specials but I have done a lot of evaluating of what is important and what is not. Only age can give one this very special perspective and perhaps this is what is meant by the adage "with age comes wisdom". So, what are my thoughts now and what have I learned? I have learned that my valuables are not held within the walls of my home or the boxes that hold my jewlery. They are held within my heart and are the precious moments of connection.
Nothing has solidified this more than reconnecting with two wonderful women I met in eighth and eleventh grades. Of course when we met we were all girls and had e's at the end of our names. DeDe, Susie, and Debbie now live their lives as Deedra, Susan, and Deborah but when we talk the e name slips out and they are the only ones who make me smile when it does. DeDe had a rough time and memories of her have often brought pain but the friendship of those once young girls made living those experiences tolerable. Being able to talk to them again is nothing short of a true blessing for me. Each of them took very different paths in life but all of our core beliefs and true natures have remained so it didn't take long to catch up on the events that turned into the years that separated us. I talk to them once a week and our conversations that were once filled with dreams for our future center now around our philosophies about God and life. I guess this is the wisdom that has come with age.
Susan and Deborah I love you both. Thank you for being my friend then and now.


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My son,Rob, had never seen me dressed in this. He was used to the St.John's, Chanel's, and Gap T-shirts but never anything like this. As he and Randi walked in last night there was an audible gasp. "Mom, you're wearing an apron!" This was a special moment in his life. I, his Mother, was going to make dinner and I was dressed for the occasion. Chef Andy you would be proud.

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Forgot to thank Dixie for her kind words of wisdom. She needs to meet Chef Andy as they have similar philosophies.
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The cooking class with Chef Andy was wonderful! I don't think he quite believed my e-mail regarding my lack of culinanary skill but once we started all doubt had vanished. Thank heaven his patience level was on par with my enthusiasm. We spent every minute of our three hours together working and learning. I went home with a brain full of new knowledge, a stomache full of healthy food (with left overs for the fridge), and a soul full to the brim with awe and wonder that I had finally recovered from years of serious eating disorders. God is, indeed, good.
Now, as soon as the tip of my thumb heals from slicing it yesterday as I was removing a new knife from it's package, I can start practicing.

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I can't believe I want to start cooking at this age! When I tell you that I never cooked I mean--I never cooked. You can read whatever you want into that statement and probably be right. All the reasons added up to creating a wonderfully empathetic eating disorder therapist but a lousy cook. I'm excited to hear back from Chef Andy. What an adveture this is going to be.
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Classes

Dear Chef Andy,
I looked at your picture and thought if anyone can teach a 60 year old woman to cook you can! Not unlike many of my peers, I made the money to bring home the bacon but relied on others to cook it. I've grown tired of using my smoke alarm as a food timer and slicing my fingers instead of the tomatoes. Help. I've fallen and I can't get up. Please give me a call.
Deedra Hunter
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An open letter to Stephanie:
Dear Stephanie,
Your response to my last entry was beautiful and unexpected. For whatever reason I never thought young girls would be reading a blog about turning 60. When I was 18 my Mother was 50 and her Mother (who lived with us) was 83. Unfortunately, neither had been role models for me. Jackie Kennedy was. She was 36 in 1965 and was the older woman I wanted to grow up to be like. Poised, intelligent, fashionabe, and cultured--she had all the right stuff for me. At that time. I realize now she forgot to show me and thousands of other me's what was much more important than what to wear and how to act like a lady. She forgot to show us how to be real. Jackie Kennedy died at 64 and I never had one clue as to how she felt about anything. Of course she didn't owe the world any of her feelings but gosh darn it I sure would have liked to have known. So, Stephanie, my beautiful young blog reader if I am your role model the greatest gift I can leave you with is the gift of knowing that I am real. Some days are good and some days are bad. Looking back I can honestly say I don't know how I made it through some of them. But I did. And by doing so can now be here to tell you and thousands of other you's that every day was a gift, it really was all happening for a higher purpose, and your comments confirm that. I made it through all those tough times to tell you all you will too.
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At 60 I would like to think I know myself well enough to know that when I think I am handling things well enough I am not handling them well enough at all. The Eagle did land on the 17th but I had closed my eyes so tightly I didn't notice it was a crash landing. Two weeks later I realize I've been grieving and feeling I have nothing left to look forward to. Intellectually I know I'm being ridiculous but my feelings have been ruling my life and I feel awful. Going out on a blind date the other night didn't help. The age appropriate man looked old enough to be my grandfather and he was rude. Check please! I need some encouragement from cyber-space. I welcome any hopeful comments.

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Arrived

The Eagle has landed! I've been 60 years old for twenty four hours and I'm amazed. All my parts and pieces still work, I remember the children's names, and I have yet to utter the words "back in my day..." Allrighty then, maybe this age thing is going to work out.

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