Lakeland College

Turning 50
Posted on 11/17/2006 2:23:59 PM

It's been awhile since I've written a blog.  That's the way I am - I charge into something, go after it with a vengeance, and once I have it figured out, my interest wanes.  I apologize to the one or two of you who have been checking my blog for updates - Mom, Dad, I'm sorry I haven't been blogging as regularly as I should.

What's really going on is that I'm poised to turn 50.  Not only do I forget, I forget that I've forgotten.  It's a vicious cycle that seems to be getting worse as the minutes tick away.

Turning 50 isn't a bad thing, considering the alternative.  Rather, it's a weird thing.  Back in the day, I never thought I would live this long so I never gave much thought as to how I should act.  I have friends who have turned 50 and they seem to be doing many of the same things as they did when they were 49.  This provides me with some sort of roadmap, I guess.

Since I haven't blogged since summer, I haven't filled you in on my biking accomplishments.  I reached for... and grabbed... the holy grail of biking - I completed my first century ride.  For those non-bikers in the crowd, this is a 100-mile ride (yup, 100 miles all at once).  It was a truly awful ride, admittedly - all 101.93 miles of it.  I've never seen, much less climbed, so many hills.  After 12 miles, I told my biking buddy that I was done... and then somehow struggled to finish 88 more miles.  Oh, by the way - I was 49 at the time.  I imagine that when I'm 50, I'll ride another one.  Why not?

I don't think I've told you about the classes I'm taking.  Being the lifelong learner that I am, I embarked on an academic adventure with UW-Madison.  I've been taking courses toward a doctorate in Educational Leadership and will hopefully be accepted into the program in spring.  Oh yes, when I started this adventure... I was 49.  I guess when I'm 50, I'll keep taking classes.  Why not?

I'm thinking that my life is just beginning as I square off toward 50.  There's a whole world out there, and I'm finally mature enough to enjoy it without bothering those around me or harming myself.  I've made up my mind, I'm going to go for it - whatever "it" may be.  Why not?