Life Decisions

I am here in Colorado with Jeff, Devin, my brother-in-law, Eric, his wife, Anna, and our 2 nephews, Khelan (13) and Shay (12). Shay and Devin were born just 1 month apart, which is really cool. I'm not sure how we got on the topic, but we started talking about my podcast, and what it is about. I gave them my standard 30-second description of the podcast (I tell stories from my life, from the Army to present, to talk about issues of being in the middle of your life), and their eyes lit up. This surprised me, because to a pre-teen/newly minted teenager, midlife is for old people. I gave them the example of my first episode, "Nachos," where I talk about how decisions we make as young adults affect us for many years, and how that can actually be a good thing, because we take more risks. They asked me for an example.

When I was 17, I decided to accept $40,000 of debt to go to my dream school, Davidson College, instead of the free (sort of) school, West Point. With either decision, I was choosing a 4+ commitment to the Army. I had no idea that there was a war ahead of me or that I would meet my future husband. I had no idea that my future husband would stick by me through all kinds of Army-related trauma, even when most men would have bailed. His sticking with me led to a really cool son, Devin. I could not have fathomed moving from North Carolina or Florida, or anywhere in the South really, to Southern California, which many in the South scoffed on (There is such a misunderstanding about California--it is my favorite state so far). Since I met a man who was from Colorado, now I get to enjoy time in this beautiful state with my nephews! We went whitewater rafting yesterday together and we had so much fun! Jeff, Devin and I have done it before, but Eric and family had not, and we all had a blast.

Now that I am 46, my decisions are much more measured and safe. I doubt we will leave Yucaipa until Devin graduates from high school, for example, but life does tend to throw you curveballs. I'm not going to write much because I have vacation brain, and right now I am thinking, "What exciting thing will we do today?" I also have people swirling around me, since we have 7 people in the house. My in-laws passed away recently, and we are staying in their home. Though it is really weird not seeing them walk through the house, and be there, I know they would love to know we are still using the house, and that, at least right now, the house is full of life.