Help a Girl Out and Pass the Spaghetti, Not Your Politics

On Sunday October 6^th, I turn fifty-seven years old. I am closer to seventy years of age than I am to forty years of age. I am not certain how late middle age is flying by so quickly, but I am grateful for increasing clarity on what I am and am not interested in doing with my time.

Regardless of the day of the week, I am not interested in being awake past nine p.m. I am not interested in buying cheap shoes. I am not interested in hanging out in bars, restaurants, or anywhere else that requires me to act like I am having an enjoyable time when I am not having an enjoyable time. I am not interested in hearing what political party that friends, family, acquaintances, or strangers support and I have no interest in hearing about why they are choosing to give that support. I am not interested in divisive Facebook posts. I am not interested in listening to political ads on the television and radio stations. I am not interested in checking my daily mail and having to throw away stacks of campaign flyers and advertisements. I am not interested in learning who the Kardashians are dating, nor who may or may not have been at a Diddy party.

I am interested in my family, pugs, and bird feeders. I am interested in less screen time and more time spent outdoors. I am interested in learning how to knit and crochet. I am interested in travel, high quality shoes, warm socks, and learning to speak fluent Spanish. I am interested in supporting local charities and making sure that the people around me feel valued and safe. I am interested in developing and maintaining authentic friendships and connections. I am interested in learning how to make sauerkraut using my mother-in-law’s family crock and her old shredder. I am interested in reading books and writing. I am interested in saving money for retirement and deciding how and when I will choose to close out my working days. I am also interested in Aaron’s homemade spaghetti, name brand ice cream, and sushi.

In accordance with my interests, I am going to spend my birthday looking for birds and enjoying the fall colors. I am going to listen to the happy birthday voicemail my mom left on my phone in 2017. I am going to eat gobs of Aaron’s homemade spaghetti. I am going to see and talk with family and I am going to watch football. I am also going to eat cake and ice cream without regret on the calorie count.

I hope your weekend is full of the things that interest you and less full of the things in which you are not interested. Thanks for the read and cheers to fifty-seven!