Birthday

Tomorrow is my birthday. Again. It seems like my last birthday was just last week.....last month...or something like that. The years are flying by now and as much as I try to throw logs, boulders or banana peels in its path.....it keeps chugging forward.

Since my fortieth birthday, I have tried to do something unique near or on my birthday......a step out of the proverbial box. This year I decided to take snowboarding lessons. I was off all week so I thought....what the heck. Did any of my friends want to accompany me on this little excursion when they found out about my plan? No. No one leaped up and screamed, "Oh can I go with you pleeeeease!". And that was ok. After all, this was something I wanted to try and I wasn't quite sure if I wanted an audience while I was glued to a board careening down a hill. The fewer witnesses to that type of spectacle the better, I thought to myself.

I spent about 2 hours out on the slope giving it my best shot. I did skateboard as a child so I thought this would lend itself to trying to balance on the board. I think it would have if I didn't have to wear "Herman Munster" snowboots. They were heavy and clunky and clung to my calves. It was like I had Hulk Hogan clenching on to my calves as I dragged him through the snow. Yeah.....they felt a bit awkward and the more I tried to steer myself on the board the more my calves began speaking to me.

I must say though.....I did have several brief 15 seconds of brilliance on the hill after I my training. I don't think it was because I was mastering the trainers techniques. I think I was just adapting so that I wouldn't look completely "over the hill" to the other trainees in my group.....two twentysomething Orange County wannabees. I did fall several times in a variety of positions but I did get back up, snapped myself back on to that board and continued down the hill. Needlesstosay, I was soaked, sore and hungry by the time I headed back home.

I wanted to try it and so I did. I think everyone should take a step out of the box around their birthday and celebrate who they are and keep living life. I can't say that I will rush back to snowboarding.......in fact, those boots pretty well cancelled any thought I had of learning how to ski.......but I am satisfied that I made the attempt. Regardless of my grace and presence.........