Life imitating the movies

On our trip home, as we flew from Mexico to Dallas-Fort Worth, the intercom overhead inquired if there was a doctor on board. Nope. Then they asked if there was a nurse on board. The heads of my friends swiveled around. I reached up and turned on my flight attendant light. I was informed there was a "situation". I quickly discovered a passenger was having chest pain and shortness of air. To say I am out of practice would be an understatement, but it appeared, I was what they had. Maybe the most important thing I did was have her chew aspirin. It seems so simple to me...but nobody had done it. I assessed the situation quickly and decided there was no way to do CPR, if needed, in the aisle. I also hoped that I was not going to have to use the defibrillator on an actual person. Our flight was diverted to Houston where we were met by EMT's. They decided she needed to be seen at the hospital. She looked a bit shaky being taken off the plane. I wished her well, she thanked me. The crew thanked me. So much for it only happening in the movies. I'm grateful she wasn't pregnant. I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' babies.

Paradise found

For the fifth year we headed to Mexico, Cancun this time. The group had grown considerably in size...all that gushy enthusiasm about our previous trips I suppose. Thirteen traveled for 2013. It was a good time, and as always happens, time passed too quickly. A week is just not long enough to be pampered 24/7. To watch the sun rise over the sea and 11 hours later to sink into the lagoon. I watched the moon wax to nearly full the night before we left. The Royal is my favorite hotel chain in the Riviera Maya. It is the only hotel where I fall in love with the bed...and the shower. Did I mention spoiled? We actually did the math for a year long stay. Unfortunately, it's just not in the budget.

Moments in time

I have been sitting here playing a mindless game, when I should really be sleeping. For some reason, this frees my mind to wander about...poking at memories. Good, bad or indifferent, I have a top 40 list of chart toppers. These memories often come to mind, unbidden, just pop up out of nowhere. Some are, what was I thinking, moments. A few of them are just unresolved. Many are warm and fuzzy. And, I guess, there are a few, what ifs and wished I had...or hadn't. I don't dwell there long, that may explain why some of them are unresolved, usually just a brief touching of the memory as I go about doing the mundane. But tonight, this morning...since it's 1 AM, I wondered if anybody else had those exact same memories that they turned over in their minds repeatedly. If, when our lives crossed paths, something happened that made both are subconscious sit up and pay attention. Do we share a moment in time?

On turning 51

Yes, in a few hours, I will be 51. No point in being embarrassed about it, it's a fact. Even if I lied about my age, I'd still be 51.

There are lots of times I'd like to go back to. I'd like to be younger. I'd like to be thinner. I'd like to be more physically capable...less likely to break. Though if I were honest, I wasn't so good at that even when I was younger...but I did recover quicker.

I'm not doing the, if I could go back and change things. One seemingly inconsequential change and the next thing you know a butterfly dies...or something like that. I have a pretty good life. If I were going to wish anything in that line, I wish, maybe, that I'd been born later. Or that the world had advanced quicker. Unlike a lot of people I do not feel I was born too late. I only want to play at being a pirate. I like things like heat, air conditioning, running water, etc. I wish I had discovered things, or that they were available sooner.

And if I am honest with myself, there are many things in the past that I would not want to go back to. I would not want to go back to having small children. I would not want to go back to the constant financial struggle. I would not want to go back to school...at any level.

I am happier now. For the most part, I am much more content. I have more friends. I have more hobbies and activities. I am traveling a little. I am more comfortable with who I am and maybe even where I want to go. All of which make me smarter, I think.

So I will celebrate being 51, each and every birthday beats the alternative. I will be grateful for every opportunity. I will continue to live life. I will enjoy as many things as I can. I will keep up and not live in the past. I don't spend much time looking back. Hopefully, I learned the lessons I needed and won't repeat my mistakes. After all, I've claimed to be smarter.