Author: admin

This is it, my 42nd Birthday.  Anyone who read their science fiction in junior high or high school knows that 42 is the answer to the question “What is the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything?”.  The earth took 7 billion years to form and come up with the answer.  I won’t lie, sometimes it feels like it’s taken 7 billion years to reach the age of 42…but I digress.

My birthday has always been the answer to life, the universe and everything – being 4-2.  I’ve looked forward to this birthday for decades.  This is the year I stop aging!  Most women stop at 29, I stop at 42.  I have now entered into it…the year of THE J.  (that’s me, if you didn’t know…Ken told me once that I was so cool, I only needed one letter.  That works for me, and it stuck!)

So now that I’m here, what do I do with it?  I evolve!  (hence the reason for the blog, and the timing, and all that jazz….)

I’ve got some life goals that I’ll talk about in the next few posts – but I can’t tell you everything – there has to be something in my life that’s a mystery!  But sometimes, public accountability is the first step to changing and making it stick.

Life Goal #1:  Smile at Yourself in the Mirror.

It’s been a while since I looked in the mirror and liked the reflection.  I have enjoyed looking at parts in general – like when I have a good hair day, for example – but I rarely look and am happy with the whole reflection.  Part of Life is becoming happier with that reflection.  None of us are perfect, and wishing part of me was different just takes away from me being me.  And part of being me is accepting it all!  So that crooked smile – I love it.  🙂

Life Goal # 2:  Publish that Book.

Goal number one sure will help goal number two.  Take myself seriously, and get that book out there to as many agents as possible, until you find the one that loves you (and wants to get rich, this book will be a hit!) and make that dream come true.  Work my connections, and enjoy the ride.

Life Goal #3:  Don’t Forget to Dream

The right guy is out there.  Somewhere.  Where exactly he’s been hiding remains to be seen!

Life Goal #4:  Live the Wildlife

Go to Kenya.  Hang out with the Giraffes.  Go to Costa Rica.  Hang out with the Sloths.  Go to Australia.  Hang out with the Koalas.    Do the things that bring joy to your heart.

Life Goal #5:  Stop and Smell the Roses More.

All of these things are going to be work.  But if you don’t stop along the way and remember why you’re doing it all, what’s it worth anyway?

Note to self:  Some of these will be done in a year.  Some won’t be.  But keep trying.  And keep writing about it.

The organization I belong to (Daughters of the Nile, check us out at www.daughtersofthenile.com ) has an office named Princess Badoura.  I have had the honor of serving in this station this year.  Diane, one of our members who always finds a way to make me smile, found out that Minnesota has a Badoura State Forest.  So, a couple of weeks ago, a van load of Nile friends and I went to Badoura, MN to see the forest.  We rented a van, piled in, and drove the three hours north to Nimrod, MN, had lunch, and then went to Badoura State Forest to take pictures of a sign.  Because where on earth will you find Badoura State Forest?

More significantly, where else will you find a van full of women willing to drive 6+ hours in one day just to have lunch and take a picture of the sign?  Only Daughters of the Nile.  This group of women is unlike any group I’ve ever seen. Our group is filled with amazing women of all ages, with many talents.  And we love to use these talents for the common good.  And we have a lot of fun along the way.

Side-Segway into my life goals for a moment – Living in Minnesota, you get to see all sorts of animals in the wild – Deer, moose, bear, pheasant, cougar, coyote, wolf, etc.  I have always wanted to see a moose on the side of the road while driving, and I am CONSTANTLY on the lookout for moose.  Literally, it’s been almost 42 years now, Mother Nature.  Throw me a bone, will ya?

Back to my story.  So I was driving on this three and a half hour odyssey north.  We are really 10 miles outside of nowhere.  Farms, forest, and road.  Well, you KNOW I’m looking for Moose.

And then it happened.

A big, beautiful moose on the side of the road, standing in the trees.

Excitedly, I cried outloud to the car full of women:  “Look!  A Moose!”

And everyone started laughing.  And I soon saw why.  My moose was actually a cow.   And that’s not the typical female moose (they’re called cows, ironically).  This was a dairy cow.

Soon, everything became a moose.  Since this car ride, I’ve seen Donkey Moose, Deer Moose, and Turkey Moose, and the ever elusive State Trooper Moose.  Embarrassing?  Hardly.  These are the women who always make me smile, and it’s just another excuse to do so.

What’s your story?  What always makes you laugh?  I’ve got a lot of them – the hallmark of a life well lived – the moments that make you laugh.