Chapter 1: Embracing the Big 5-0

I reached the milestone of 50 this year, and honestly, I didn’t anticipate it would affect me. I genuinely believed that I was going to celebrate this birthday with a fun-filled summer. I must have envisioned this so vividly that even the universe misinterpreted my enthusiasm as a need for a feverish adventure.

A celebration took place on June 21st, and it turned out to be everything I had hoped for. Then, in the first week of July, we made our way to Cape Cod. We rented a lovely house complete with a pool, surrounded by our children, family, and friends. The summer was off to a fantastic start.

On the morning of July 2nd, I enjoyed a delightful pool day with my sister-in-laws, nieces, daughter, and friends while the guys played golf. We had mimosas flowing, music playing, laughter echoing, and delicious charcuterie boards. It was the perfect day—until it wasn’t. As the sun began to set, I suddenly experienced excruciating pain in the upper right side of my abdomen. I was puzzled about what was happening.

As the night progressed, the pain intensified, leaving me wandering the house while everyone else slept. The discomfort surpassed even the agony of childbirth. When Sean finally woke up, I asked him to take me to the emergency room. That was the last time I laid eyes on our beautiful vacation home. I checked into Falmouth Hospital on July 3rd, and by July 5th, they had successfully removed my gallbladder. It was certainly a humbling experience.

What did I do during my summer vacation? I recovered and embraced the feeling of being 50. It was the exact opposite of my initial intentions. I felt older in every sense—more like 100. Carrying anything became a challenge, and eating turned into a daunting task, as I never knew what would upset my stomach. For two weeks, I slept in a recliner in the living room, squeezing my work computer into a corner to get things done.

I declined invitations, hesitant to visit the beach for fear of needing to find a restroom quickly. The mimosas turned into distant memories, laughter became a rare occurrence, and the sun merely marked the passage of time, signaling the start and end of my workday. I entered this new phase of life with the trepidation of stepping into an unfamiliar and daunting neighborhood.

To ensure I grasped the lesson, August brought me pneumonia. Just when I thought I was ready to dive back into life. On a Saturday, I was out on a boat with friends, who asked about my health. I confidently proclaimed, "I feel fantastic! 200%! That gallbladder must have been sick for ages; it was holding me back. I'm better than ever."

But by Monday, I found myself back in the emergency room. I underwent a CT scan, blood tests, and an EKG, only to be diagnosed with double pneumonia. In the forty-nine years prior, I had only visited the doctor annually for check-ups. Yet in just two years of motherhood, I had seen the doctor more than twice. But now, my commitment to health was clearly overdue.

Now that I have fully embraced turning 50, I've learned valuable lessons. The most significant revelation is that life has a way of reminding you when you need to hit the brakes. I've danced this cha-cha for the last fifty years: two steps forward, two steps back, and then start again.

I am resilient, capable, adaptable, and flexible. But yes, I am also aging and wiser. I'm attempting to put a positive spin on my experiences. Whatever higher power received my wishes made sure I understood that every day is an opportunity. This summer has been a reminder that I must slow down and appreciate life as it unfolds.

I discovered this summer that one cannot run with scissors and expect to achieve anything worthwhile. Not everything is an emergency, and it is not solely my responsibility to resolve every issue. I also learned that it is possible to achieve my goals through thoughtful planning, organization, and genuine intentions. The past fifty years have shown me that even if I don’t accomplish everything I set out to do, there’s always the next day to start anew.

This summer rekindled my passion for writing morning pages, and whenever possible, I do this basking in the warmth of the sun. With the extra time for recovery and no commuting, I indulged in reading a few pages of a book of my choice. Each morning, I dedicated an hour to writing just for myself. I took the time to reflect on meals and commitments, choosing only to engage in what truly resonated with me. This summer, I matured—not in age, but in wisdom.

Chapter 2: The Ups and Downs of Recovery

In this video, "How I Spent My Summer Vacation Read Aloud," the storyteller shares their experiences and reflections on a summer filled with unexpected twists and life lessons.

In "HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION by Mark Teague - Children's Books Read Aloud," the author provides a whimsical and thoughtful exploration of summer adventures and the importance of resilience.