0 to 60 in 1,893,415,558 Seconds

If that was the measured duration of time it takes for a car to reach a top speed, your vehicle would be an obsolete pile of rusted dust sitting in a junk yard.

Fortunately, with all the ‘Cares,’ carelessly, carefreely and carefully covered, I’ve managed to avoid rusting in a junk yard.

In 60 years, there are nearly 2 billion seconds, 31,556,926 minutes, 525,960 hours, and 21,915 days for which to have cared.

That’s a lot of frickin time.

Generally, birthdays have never really been a big thing for me. I don’t like being the center of attention.

Ironic, isn’t it?

As I lap the sun for the 60^th time it seems surreal to reflect on the years of passed time. I have often said to my friends with kids, their children are the barometer of their own age since they can see and feel their age through their kids’ age.

Kid-less, my life feels like, Holy shit, how did I get here so fast?

Let’s see, shall we?

Random facts in 6 decades of life:

I’ve lived in 3 countries, 14 different cities with 20 addresses, 7 were in Chicago. 

I attended 10 different schools – K through College, 7 preceded high school.

I spent 2 years as a 3rd grader.

I took 40 credit hours my senior year of college to avoid being a 5^th year senior.

I’ve had 13 jobs and 2 careers.

I’ve loved 7 dogs, 2 parakeets and a bowl full of gold fish.

After driving the infamous ‘Blaze’ in high school, I’ve owned 4 Chevy Blazers.

A handful of acquired wisdoms:

Touching a hot stove never felt so good.

Living with regret is a monumental waste of time.

Being mean hurts you more than who you are trying to hurt.

Bullies suck!

Mistakes are the seeds of life lessons.

Embracing death as a constant companion gives you life.

Friends are my backbone.

Believing I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.

Being accountable delivers freedom.

Being vulnerable enables trust and compassion.

Balancing the ebb and flow delivers sanity.

A handful of things I didn’t see coming:

The urge to pee every time I pull in the garage.

Knowing the location of bathrooms in every place I shop.

Hearing my mother’s tone and pitch in my voice.

Getting married.

Not giving a shit.

Loving asparagus.

Wrinkles.

The dreaded colonoscopy.

Blood pressure medication.

Plucking rouge hairs from my chin.

Plucking rouge hairs from my nose that seem to be growing to my chin.

Not feeling the need to bathe every day.

Feeling relaxed and slightly more patient.

Being publicly vulnerable.

Doing a cartwheel on the beach on my birthday!

Writing this blog!

In the nearly 2 billion seconds that I’ve breathed air on this plant, I am grateful to all who have shared in my 60 laps around the sun. I am where I am because of where I’ve been and with whom I have been there. All in!

Every second has influenced and guided me to this precise place. Foibles and all, this path was the intended journey.

Time to lay more bricks. Ready or not, here I come.