Wake Me Up When September Ends

Yea, it is a song by Green Day, “Wake Me Up When September Ends”. You should look up the lyrics. Unfortunately, it is a bit fitting with all that has gone on this month and this year.

I have never disliked September. September is my birthday month and I have always looked forward to it. This year was different. I turned FORTY! There is always one milestone birthday that hits you hard, this was it for me.

This whole last year has been very trying on me. I won’t bore you with ALL the details but here are the highlights of the lowlights; I haven’t done anything with my life, I didn’t get a real degree/didn’t try hard enough in college (didn’t give it the old college try), didn’t give birth/adopt a Chinese baby, didn’t volunteer enough/didn’t donate enough, didn’t get organized, didn’t get the yard nice, didn’t plant a garden, didn’t compost, ate too much cookie doe/chocolate chips, didn’t save enough money/spent too much on stupid stuff, didn’t do enough for people, didn’t visit grandma enough or other family, been too selfish, didn’t recycle enough, etc.

So how did I make it through this year? With the love of my husband, my family and friends, thank you! My 40th birthday UN-surprise party at Pat’s BBQ was fabulous (of course). Joe with the help of Susie and Lulu planned the party then surprised me with surprise appearances of some friends but best of all Lil’ Jen and Lily.

I get so emotional thinking about how fun of a surprise it was and then how they got to visit with Diane too. Diane was so generous in sharing her kids and grandkids with me. She let me call them my own. She was the best ex-wife a wicked stepmother could have for that reason alone.

Also later in the week, Susie, Barry, his sister & hubby visiting from Germany, my sister and I saw Paul Thorn at Pat’s. He is awesome! Go to my FlickR to see videos. (I suck at taking them)

The other fun thing was that my Aunt Ellen mailed me a funny getting old/40th birthday card every day for two weeks. I felt like Harry Potter getting a daily owl.

It really has not been that bad I guess for the big picture aside from the deaths in the family, and the scares with Max and Kate. My bad year looks quite nice to others. I have so much to be grateful for, I just need to refocus on that. September will always be special to me but as I get older, they are less about me. Damn it, I am getting old and I guess growing up finally. I will be damned if I act mature!

Goodbye September, I don’t know if I will miss you but I know I learned a lot from you this time.