Half a century! Five decades. Fifty years…and counting. Oh, boy, that's old!
Today I turn the Big 5-0, and as I contemplate the many roads I've traveled that got me here, I can hardly believe what has become of me. From a dusty, backwards town south of the border, to the beaches of a southern California island by way of the British Isles, this first generation Hispanic criss crossed borders, oceans and freeways to contentedly settle in this chosen south west corner of the world…and found fulfillment.
After 50 years I've also found the value and blessings of family, friends (both real and virtual), a community, and a city that have grown with me and have helped me reach this milestone. It's been the wonder of seeing the changing landscape of my past that has given me the strength to continue moving forward into uncharted territory — especially now that I have waved goodbye to my first born — not always as rosy as I 'd like to remain.
Trying not to get too nostalgic here, I want to take this time to acknowledge all of you and thank you for allowing me to also become part of your paths. To all of you who have had a hand in my life or extended it to me when I needed it, thank you for being there. You know who you are. I am so grateful to have my parents, my siblings and my entire family around to celebrate, though some are miles away. To the most precious people that I live for, thanks for putting up with me and for living way beyond my expectations of you as my children. You make me so proud to be your mother, and I hope I've done the same (with the occasional well-deserved moments of embarrassment).
And to my dear, supportive, funny and gentle husband, just being able to write this message which will be read for the rest of cyber eternity is an indication of how far we've come together. Did you ever imagine we'd see this age hit us? Granted, it got me first (by one year), but your next, sweetheart!
Finally, as I take off to gulp a couple of glasses of bubbly, take a look at this kick-butt video sent to me by another dear person who has recently touched my life.
Thanks for sending this, Stacey. I'm defenitely kicking it on my Big Five-0!
Happy Birthday Suzette! I am more than willing to turn 50–if I can do it half as well as you! So glad to call you friend–in real life–and online. xxoo, Jennifer
I still remember that happy and exciting young woman, when we all worked together at the court. The famous trio. The countless times we went to clubs and danced until exhaustion. Oh yes and the happy hours. Can't forget that. The many letters you wrote from London, and always called to let us know when you were flying in. You always arrived a couple of days earlier from what you had told your parents. We needed that time to catch up. I remember the day you got engaged. The first one to bite the bullet. Yikes!!! Your wedding, when you walked down the aisle with so much happiness and excitement on your face. Oh and how about at Annete's wedding, when you were several months pregnant with Alex, and as soon as “I'm So Excited” by the Pointer Sisters started playing. The three of us ran to the dance floor. A big belly sure wasn't going to stop you from having a good time. It's been such a pleasure to be your friend all these years and to see you become such a great wife and mother. That I can't wait for the next fifty!!! Te quiero mucho mi Suza.
Thank you, Jennifer. I'm so lucky to have met you and that we have connected in more ways than just online! XX00
Sweet Carmen, thanks for recounting our past 30 (woah! that's a long time) years of friendship, basically, in one paragraph. We've shared so much and I'm so blessed and grateful to have you as my friend. I love you, too.
Don't know about another fifty years, though…my knees still hurt from all that shopping last night!! XX00