Happy new year!!!
Happy happy new year to you and yours! First off let me start by saying how lucky and blessed we truly are. If you are like everyone else in the US we are very aware of horrifying event that took place January 1st in the heart of Bourbon street in New Orleans. And if you are following along with me you know we spent our holiday in NOLA, located on bourbon street.
The top Picture is of Patti and I along canal Street on the opposite side of where the driver turned, you can see all the trees lit in the back behind us, which you will often see in the TV video.
The next picture shows where we were staying, the Royal Sonesta. Which is exactly where the driver ended his rage of driving, and sadly injured lots of people and killed over 10! Bourbon Street is typically blocked off only for pedestrians, so that is the main street that people would walk to from point A to point B because it has all the excitement and most of the people especially if it is late at night. So a pedestrian would never expect a car coming that direction down that street.
If you know me I am a bundle of anxiety and have the most random fears that if I let my brain get the best of me I would never leave my house. For fear of “what if this happens” and then my brain goes down a horrible path of unrealistic issues that can be quite debilitating. But on the other hand, I genuinely have a zest for life where I want to see everything before it’s my time! So luckily, the FOMO (fear of missing out) outweighs my anxiety and I have to work on thinking of the exciting things I get to do and see, not the fear of what could happen.
Well, the unthinkable did happen and I was fortunately back home and safe when it occurred. And oddly this isn’t the first time there has been massive tragedy within days of me being somewhere. We were in Itaewon, Korea shortly before the people were all trapped and smashed killing 159, we also were to fly out of the airport in Belgium but changed our flights for the next day when a bombing went off in that airport, and there was one more maybe someone that has followed along can remember I was within days of another tragedy.
Either way it is all terrifying and I know I am extremely lucky each time that I get to make another beautiful memory and continue on another day. But if you’re ever around me, you will also know I try and live my life daily that there’s nothing I regret or miss doing that if today happened to be my time, I don’t have any regrets or “wish I did” feelings. And please take that as me making decisions in life to explore things that interest me and visually excite me, not I couldn’t have changed actions or been a better human. I of course have those and strive daily to be better, but in living my life and exploring and learning about a new part of the world or different way people live, definitely isn’t something I have shied away from or put into an area of “someday”.
And with that being said, this year I turn 50!!! Wow. That is crazy to admit, and not too long ago my girlfriends and I were arguing about our maturity and I can’t remember if we were almost 30, or 40 laughing about how old we were getting and not changing, but I don’t feel I have changed much since then either! Maybe a few more spots, wrinkles and creaks…but I feel I get better as I age. If you are young reading this and not comfortable in your own skin yet, give it time. Not many people are fully okay with themselves until we have even more barnacles on our body, and additional rolls, but once you hit the point of being okay with who you are, and embracing what our body is, we are unlimited. 😜.
That’s a post for another day, but since we are talking about my birthday, I would love ideas of something special to do for my 50th! Shannon and I have discussed so many things, figuring out what would make me happy. If I had a magic wand to be able to celebrate my mid life birthday (I have zero desire to live to 100 so past mid life…) I would find a place to stay for an extended period of time and have those I love join me to help me celebrate and to enjoy the location. But you all know that sounds like herding cats, who would commit, where do you do it, some don’t like to leave the US, some don’t like boats, and this list goes on. But that was if I had a magic wand and planning for if I were abducted after my bday, I would have gotten to spend time with those I love!
I don’t think that can happen. Too many moving parts, and diverse people coming together. But, I am open to ideas and suggestions of once in lifetime ideas, or special places to visit. It is very hard because again I have visited most places I have an interest in, and take up most adventures presented to me. If you are reading this and are part of my tribe and know my heart would be happy to spend some time with you, please let’s plan something for this year. Even if quick or small. ❤️
But you may know of an island or something special to do to commemorate my 50th and would love to hear things you have done that you would recommend or something you have heard of dying to do or go. Feel free to comment or message me!
Until next time, hope your plans of the year new also bring you excitement and things to look forward to.
❤️
Jenny
