32 Good Years
“Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different.”
-C.W Lewis.
Reflecting as another year approaches, and another birthday candle to be lit, I am not one that likes to be flashy when it comes to my birthday. All the attention makes me a little uneasy. Dreadfully, as my birthday approached, I thought to myself, you know what? I’ve had some pretty good 32 years. Even if my day to day doesn’t feel the change, (my back tells me otherwise) I can actually look back & everything is different.
So, I decided for my birthday this year, I will make a list of 32 things that I have done in my lifetime that have been pretty good. Even if that experience was once painful, it deserves to make the list. Why? To show the growth.
Hear, hear to my 32 years!
I’ve danced in the rain and enjoyed the mud squish between my twinkle toes throughout various gardens. Rightfully, before this Peter Rabbit got scolded.
Cliff jumped off into water. Don’t worry my friend told me so.
Learned how to ride a dirt bike with one functional ankle at the time. Super smart I know. My friends physical therapist wife just loved seeing that go down! She didn’t.
Learned how to surf. Swallowed more ocean than caught waves brah! Didn’t feel salty about it.
Learned how to skateboard even after a couple of broken bones. Gotta push yourself!
Learned some fun circus aerial art routines. Yes. I did actually run away from home during my angsty teenie weanie years & joined the circus.
Visited 5 out of 7 continents. Don’t count on me visiting all 8, just putting that out there now so y’all know.
Flew a plane once during a flight lesson. Did a barrel roll as well as a drop with the instructor.. That is not common at all. Told my pal whose the instructor I could stomach it. I barely did.
Did a couple of clowning and acting classes back in the day to get over stage fright & my shyness. I was legit so shy growing up, I didn’t speak in school, at all. Until a bully stole my brown crayon in the 3rd grade. I was so pissed, cried about it, & finally yelled back. After that, I guess you could say I really broke out of my shell. Became a chatty cathy after that.
Moved on my own a lot. Even out of the state a few times. Now I feel like a pro that can pack my life up in an hour. Humble brag much El?
Worked on a few film sets with my makeup freelancing career. “Last looks!”
Surprised my nieces & nephew on the east coast in the best way possible last year. I flew out to visit them right before my birthday. Surprised them again, only to let them smash a birthday cake right on my face! Felt like a dunk tank.
Fell in love once, followed with heartbreak. A few times. Only it taught me that I’m capable of vulnerability. For loving someone other than myself, (even their own). To which I have a better understanding now of what I want and need in someone. Even explained a heavy breakup to a 5 year old by using colors. To which they said, “Auntie Ellie, why did you explain it to me in colors?”
Let my imagination run wild with some pretty cool kids in my life, to which I hold the title of “cool” Auntie Ellie. My brothers will back that up. Our nephew for awhile kept calling them “Uncle Ellies”. Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it?
Traveled a lot on my own, whether it was in the USA or out of the country. Gained independent confidence. Even if in tears catching the wrong bullet train to the wrong small town with not a lick of English spoken.
My awkward puberty kid phase humbly made me funny. To which a dear friend of mine once said to me, “well sometimes.”
Some of my traumas I’ve experienced as helped others with theirs. Hopefully making less poor choices. Was told once from an over hearing passenger that I missed my calling as I spoke with a troubled teenie weanie.
I guess you could say I first learned how to act as a young child to get myself out of head slams into the couch & tickle tortures from my brothers. “But mom! Ellie is faking it! Her tears are fake!”
Was told I made freshmen history at my first high school by jumping to the Varsity volleyball team in my first year. I was not liked by all at first for it. Happened often growing up. Even had some volleyballs tossed at my head in practices over it.
Battled addiction but remain sober. Realized I enjoy being in the present, even if that means I now have to “raw dog my feelings” as a friend once said to me calling me a badass.
Stopped a car robbery by impulse once. Dumb or heroic? Both.
Had multiple emergency situations with my 2 airline jobs. Always managed to lead my cabin to safety.
Climbed & scaled some buildings just for the heights & scenery.
Climbed through and helped dig some tunnels by underground exploring. Splunking? What’s that? Sure.
Learned how to shoot through a film camera. Developing rolls brings excitement like the morning of Christmas Day.
Went sledding, tubing, built a snowman or two, made snow angels, and had snowball fights growing up. Minus the fact I despise the cold temperatures of Minnesnowta.
Built a bed for my van to camp in. My uncle came in clutch for the math part of it all. This gal is not a math magician.
Learned how to cook a couple of dishes to impress. I promise I still manage to mess it up too.
Learned how to drive stick shift once. Probably should relearn that one. I don’t trust me either.
Volunteered on my own time during some holidays. Made some life long friends while doing it. Made the local news for dancing while doing it. Don’t worry mom.
Climbed up a tree or 2. Fell down a tree or 2.
Went zip-lining a few times in different countries.
Happy Birthday Ellie. It’s been 32 good years.