Better than I Imagined.

...I smiled this morning reading many of Cathy's "confessions" and thought it would be fun to share a few of my own.

Like Cathy, I do not make my bed, except for days when I change the sheets or I'm feeling the need to be super-nice to Marc. He loves having the bed made and will do it himself on the weekends. Funny, it only takes about five minutes but most mornings, I just don't have those five minutes to spare.

Other housekeeping chores that I don't do include ironing and dusting (and of course window washing…does anyone really wash windows?). Surprisingly, I don't mind cleaning bathrooms, doing laundry (although I do hate to fold and put away the towels and Marc earns weekly brownie points for that), washing dishes or emptying the dishwasher. Vacuuming is my favorite chore.

still smitten with the waterlogue app - from my kitchen counter this morning (what's left from Katie's birthday dinner bouquet)

So I typed a few more things, hit save and took Holly for a walk. side note - oh my. what a difference a week makes. I didn't see any visible signs of spring (in fact there is still snow on the ground in places), but I was plenty warm in just a long sleeved shirt and it feels like, maybe?!, spring is close.

Anyway, on our walk I started thinking less about housekeeping confessions and more about simply how different my life is on the older side of 50 than what I might have imagined at age 20, or even age 40.

Apart from the obvious technology things (that's a post in its own right for sure!), I know my 20 year old self would be surprised to know:

• I still like milk in my coffee. And starting last year, that's almond milk.
• I didn't make baby books for my girls. The first two years of Katie's life are captured in two photo albums...I never even started one for Sara.
• My favorite exercise is yoga, followed closely by running and walking. I do one or more of those every day. It's a big part of my life (I even have friends who do them with me!), as evidenced by my wardrobe. I have four drawers in my dresser; two of them are devoted to exercise clothes. 
• I am still a morning person. Getting up at 5am means I almost never stay up past 11pm.
• I'm not much of a traveler. I don't like suitcases or airports (or sleeping someplace besides my own bed.) That said, I have taken some wonderful trips and I'm excited to be going to Paris and Florence with Sara in May.
• I still live in (suburban) Atlanta
• One of my daughters lives 10 minutes away (and she's married and I talk to her every day).

The almond milk and exercise routine would've certainly surprised 40 year old me, along with that part about Katie living so close. …and all of this:

• I get paid to teach knitting and write a blog for my local yarn shop. Of course I didn't know about blogs back in 2002 (that's the technology post!), but I knew about teaching and knitting...just never dreamed I'd put the two together and be good at it!
• I rarely cook. Leftovers is my favorite thing to have for dinner. We almost never sit at the table to eat, but Marc and I do eat dinner together (when we're both home).
• I keep a journal. Of all the things I've done and not done, the only thing I regret is not starting this practice sooner.
• Church is a huge part of my life. 40 year old me wasn't much into Church.
• I have a dog. Her name is Holly (Berry); she's a nine pound toy schnauzer who goes everywhere with me. That means I have a dog seat in my car. (and a dog sitting in my lap as I type this).
• My hair is almost long enough for a pony tail…and I'm growing it!
• The 2-day walk.

(wow, this is turning out to be a much longer post than I planned!)

and now it seems only fair to document a few of the things that wouldn't be surprises:

• Marc and I celebrated our 30th anniversary last year (we got engaged when I was 20).
• I love to read; historical fiction, mysteries and epic tales are still favorites.
• I get a thrill from solving a crossword or sudoku (I don't think I knew about these til 2004 or 2005 but they're number puzzles…no surprise there!)
• I'm curious, optimistic, quick, healthy and generally tidy.

• and I LOVE to make lists!!

in that vein, I'd love to know - what would your 20 year old self be most surprised about YOU today!