Like sand through the hourglass

Sunday is a big day for me. It’s the day I begin my last year as a 50-something and head inexorably toward the frontier of senior citizenship, a place I never, ever envisioned myself.

Not that turning 60 next summer will be a tragedy. God knows it hardly even qualifies as old anymore. But there is something much more youthful-sounding about 59, and the thought of crossing over into my 60s has me saying, “Uh oh.”

And so, I am treating this coming year, my 59th, as if it were my last. I am going to do everything I’ve been avoiding, some things I’ve always wanted to do, and some things I never thought I’d do in a million years. I look forward to being delighted, daunted, and scared out of my wits. At the end of the year I will be so much smarter than I am today.

Here’s my list (so far) of my modest ambitions:

1.  Travel to Europe. Nope, never been. Just got my first passport this year.

2.  Take singing lessons and join a choir. Up until now I’ve been the lead singer in a band that performs in my shower.

3.  Design and create an outfit from scratch, ala Project Runway. Something that Tim Gunn would NOT call “matronly.”

3.  Write another book. Maybe a children’s book.

4.  Learn to use Photoshop more adroitly. My attempt to soften my crows feet in a recent self-portrait look like someone left a greasy thumbprint on the print.

5.  Stop lying to my dentist about flossing. Either that, or actually floss everyday like I say I do.

6.  Always say “yes” whenever a friend suggests doing something or going somewhere. I find that I regret the things I HAVEN’T done ever so much more than the things I have.

Lastly, I want to take time to reflect, take a dare or two, and when necessary, take a nap.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

© 2010 Mary Hanna