Oh Dear Jaysus, I Made It! Personal Statistics That You Just Don't Need to Know (But Might Be Curious About Anyway)

Wowser!  (Is this a word?) 

Okay. Today I made the big Four-Five. 

It is April 19th, which, before Waco and the Oklahoma City Federal Building Bombing, was known mostly as Patriot's Day in Boston. (This means nothing to anyone who wasn't born in Massachusetts), but still, I hang on to this fact just to keep me going.

I am an Aries, (a.k.a "The Ram), but also fall on the cusp: the last day of Aries and the first day of Taurus. YEA, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. Whatever that means!

This, (reaching 45), is an accomplishment, I assure you, given the nature in which I lived my life as a youth; jumping out of second story windows to "party", skipping Catholic church to ride bikes, smoking cigs, and skipping school for 89 days in my senior year of high school because I could - (and believe me, if my mother knew about any of these things, she would have KILLED me on the spot, as she was a tough Irish broad who took no crap) - so luckily, I am here, still. 

I started planning this blog days ago; it is not the blog I write now. I will post it much later. 

I am winging it.

Here is the reality of my life at age forty five:

I am alive, for starters, which really, is HUGE, (for me), because I never saw myself living past the age of 20.

I was born in Connecticut. An "East Coaster" and a "Yankee" -  if you will. I will always have an inherently strong dislike for "Summer People" because I grew up in a beach town which was inhabited for three months out of the year by what we called "The Rich People." I grew up working in restaurants, so it was a double-edged sword. The "rich people" visited our restaurants in the summer, and that's where we made our dough. But, you couldn't get anywhere in the summer because of them, and you couldn't afford to pay for gas if it weren't for them. Love/hate relationship, I guess.

Being a "Yankee" is a big deal. I was proud of my "Yankee-dom" and still am. However, if you travel SOUTH as a Yankee, you are in a whole different world, and there is still a separation going on. You will forever be known as a "Yankee," and eating road kill will always be strange to you.

I have lived in 10 different states in America, and have driven across our incredibly beautiful country eight times. America is underrated as a vacation spot. REALLY.

I am proud to say that I served in the United States Coast Guard. I actually SAVED PEOPLE'S LIVES, (despite myself), doing Search and Rescue Operations in Florida. I was injured in the line of duty (no biggie, really; it's not like being shot at in a war zone, so I claim no glory here.) I loved being in the Coast Guard. It was awesome, and really was the greatest time and best achievement in my life). 

I have only traveled out of America once by plane, to Ireland, to my family's farm in County Kerry, Ardfert, Ireland. 

And I let my passport expire. Figures.

My maternal grandfather was an immigrant who passed through Ellis Island. He was searching for a dream in America, and he found it.

I have driven to Canada, taken a Coast Guard ship there as well, and have been to Mexico, via San Diego, but only in Tijuana. I bought some excellent blankets there!

I am the oldest child in a family of three kids. My siblings and I are all different, and I love them, and will, until the day I die, despite all those differences (and mine).

My mother died in December of 2008. 

My poor Dad is still alive and putting up with me, the "first kid", and I am sure he doesn't know what to do with me still. 

I will forever claim the right to say that I have the greatest Uncles and Aunts in the WHOLE WORLD.

I have  been diagnosed with Adult ADHD. (Attention Deficit Hyperactiviyy Disorder). I take medicine for this which helps, and a side effect only makes me thinner. (Yeah! Shoot, I figure if your brain has no focus and you feel like a dummy, there must be some sort of trade off. Take a a pill, lose some weight, focus better. Let's see...hmmmmm. No Focus and Fat, vs. Focus and  Thinner. (I choose plan B).) Too bad the 70s and 80s didn't recognize ADHD for what it was. If it did, I might have had a better understanding of why I "just couldn't keep up" in school.

I had a few wonderful and highly memorable teachers who made a difference in my life. One of my favorite teachers and I corresponded for many years until his death in 2008. He awoke in me an idea that there was SO MUCH life to be lived; I'll never forget "Mr. G" and all he gave me. (As well as the other teachers that made me know that they "really" cared.)

I made a lot of really bad decisions in my life. I wish I could have automatic "do-overs," but I know that is impossible.

I wish I had believed  in myself more, and listened to other people's  advice more often.

I wish I had pursued my dream to be a writer, but I didn't. Big mistake. 

Marriage: big mistake (FOR ME.)

I adopted two lovely kids who love me to death. I will wallow in that for a while. Then, most likely will come the problems associated with all growing kids. Yippee, hope like heck they are NOTHING like me!

Overall, I am happy. I have come to know so many people from around the country. Facebook has opened up my life to old friends and  that is fantastic stuff. 

What do I know for sure? 

Death and Taxes are for real.

I am damn lucky to be here.

Anything else is a plus.

I have the GREATEST friends in the world, hands down. I'd jump in front of a train for the 

women that I know and love and have the privilege to call my "friends." I  love my family. (Those that love me for ME, not for anything else).

I love a good laugh.

I love a good cry.

Tomorrow I think I'll get me a new dog. I miss having a dog.

That's good stuff. Forty-five or not, I know I will be okay.  If not, there's always the looney bin for me.  At least I know that, by all appearances, I "look" normal.

That's all I wanted for my 45th birthday. 

Thanks for sharing it with me. I  have achieved that, so I will go. 

Thanks for listening.

Cheers!

Mo

p.s." "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday, Dear Mosie, Happy Birthday to you!"