I’m turning 60 today.

I don’t remember the trees looking so beautiful and peaceful as they grow outside my window.

Or my awareness of them so keen.

I have been given a ticket, a pass, an award, a token to go forth through the gate marked "Only those 60 or above may enter here.

I am passing into a new realm. I have never before felt a birthdays arrival with such acute awareness, almost like I have been waiting for this to come my entire life.

When I was a child I remember thinking forward at my life to come and wondering what I would be like at ages ahead. Then, 60 seemed light years away and now its already here.

Twists and turns, huge curves and long flat roads have brought me to this day. So far life has been a series of interesting and wonderful events, never a dull moment, though some were challenging.

Year 20....Bliss comes to mind. Shear bliss. The kind that only one with a totally naive innocence can ever know.

30...Sad. I didn’t like this gate. Sad, scared, hopeless, worried, fearful and alone. Not entirely alone. I had my two precious sons to keep me company, and they were and are the best a mother could ever wish for.

40....Successful and dynamic...This was a perfect gate for me to pass through. Life was good. Awareness of life was a clear and I attacked it with fervor. Anticipation was high. Expectations of greatness were on the fringe within my grasp. I crossed my T’s and dotted my i’s in all the right places. Life really ticked along well.

50....Contented.

60.....Too soon to tell, however I am thankful and feel a keen sage awareness of life about me. I have a calmness and acceptance and understanding of where I am and forgiveness for all those times I was not where I wanted to be at that moment. I forgive myself for eating those fried calamari with aioli dipping sauce last night. I forgive never having become a millionaire and still having the need to watch my pocket book. I forgive other things that I can’t even remember right now and that is the best part of becoming 60.

I am thankful to be where I am at this moment. My anticipation is high and anxiety is low. By now I have figured that life goes on in spite of oneself. Check back in 10 years. My story is far from ending. My new world is about to unfold.. I have many doors yet to pass through. Many people yet to meet and many place yet to travel to. Though this time I am traveling on my own ticket with a freedom to be exactly who I want to be and not afraid of it,