Photography by Lori K. Tate
So the last couple of weeks have been a bit surreal, but that’s fitting because the past year has been the most surreal year I’ve ever lived through. And I’ve lived through 48 of them. That’s right, last week I celebrated a birthday that rhymes with my last name, which no one probably thinks about but me. I’m okay with that.
My birthdays have always been a big deal. Blame it on being an only child, blame it on being a lake kid with a summer birthday or just blame it on me loving all of the attention. You pick. Regardless, my past two birthdays have been strange. Last year, I sat by my ailing mother’s bedside — she died two days later. This year The Tots and I (and John) started settling into virtual school, knowing the anniversary of my mom’s death was coming up. We’re all doing our best, but it’s not easy.
The coronavirus has tainted everything with its invisible power. Just try to think of someone or something it hasn’t affected. You can’t. The flipside of this off-the-chart wacky year is that it’s made me notice everything, good or bad, a little bit more. Even though my eyesight is diminishing as my age increases, I can see things more clearly than ever. Here are 48 things I’ve learned during my recent trip around the sun.
48. Walking in nature can fix whatever is bothering you.
47. I’m not a neat person. I want to be, but I’m just not.
46. Facemasks cause acne, but you should still wear one.
45. Carpool was one of my favorite things.
46. I need more patience.
45. Non-brand clothes on Amazon are surprisingly cute and affordable much of the time.
44. The Vegan Bites at Publix are really cookies, but I keep telling myself they’re healthy treats. Okay, healthyish.
43. Dogs are much more successful at waking me up than alarm clocks ever were.
42. I can do hard things.
41. Some things really are all about money even when they shouldn’t be.
40. I liked the word “pivot” better when it was used in my dance class growing up.
39. People will believe anything.
38. Helping people is the best way to help yourself.
37. So many of us, including me, are spoiled.
36. Sitting outside with a good book is pretty much heaven for me.
35. Sitting outside at Bald Head Island IS heaven for me.
34. Opportunity usually arrives as a surprise.
33. I can enjoy church on YouTube — at least until I can go back.
32. Friends are everything.
31. Acquaintances are everything else.
30. I really love Cool Whip (the store brand). Don’t judge me!
29. The Tots are growing up.
28. There is such a thing as being too scared.
27. The world won’t end if I don’t complete my daily to-do list.
26. Cats and dogs can live together. Adverb to be determined.
25. Things happen in life that you never thought would happen.
24. Not all restaurants do take-out well. God bless them for trying though.
23. Some people can change.
22. It’s okay to pick the low-hanging fruit sometimes.
21. Gray hair can look a lot like blonde hair.
20. People need to be with each other.
19. Just because you’ve always done something one way doesn’t mean you have to do it that way.
18. Husbands who can fix things are the best.
17. Husbands who love you when you’re crazy are even better.
16. Some things really were meant to be.
15. Some things aren’t.
14. People will surprise you if you let them.
13. I’m not as terrible with technology as I previously thought.
12. It’s okay to lower your expectations, especially during a pandemic.
11. Julia Sugarbaker will always be my hero, even though I have a little bit of Suzanne in me, too.
10. Butterflies mean everything.
9. Seltzer water is one of my favorite things on the planet. Yes, I’d love another Bubly. Thank you!
8. I’m proud of where I came from even though there are parts of it I don’t understand.
7. Some folks won’t be in your life forever.
6. Some folks will.
5. Anything can be political.
4. My children are smarter than me, and I’m okay with that.
3. I don’t let myself have enough fun.
2. Brené Brown is a genius.
1. I had no idea how much my mother taught me until she was gone.