Happy Birthday

Today is my birthday. Wow! Sometimes it blows my mind to think I am really this old. My hair is gray, officially, as on the driver's license. My wrinkles are becoming more pronounced and my children and grandchildren are getting older which cannot possibly be happening so quickly. There is evidence all around me and on me that I am reaching THAT age.
How can it be true then that I feel so young inside? My mind refuses to age. Time stands still and although some memories fade, I can still remember so many things like they were truly yesterday. Often I find myself taking the tour of my life, re-living random unimportant events, in a different space and time.
I remember Hillsdale, where I grew up. I loved the big OLD house we lived in. It was absolutely beautiful. We had the corner lot and the neighborhood kids would often gather in our yard to play ball or figure out what we would play. That house was like magic. It had a maid's room (where I got to sleep) and a stairway that led from it to the kitchen. A gorgeous entryway and staircase welcomed guests and family. Large spacious rooms and an attic that would qualify for fairy tales and nightmares. We heard scary things and dreamed things and played so many wonderful childhood games there. I lived in that house from 1st grade all the way through 9th and it holds most of my childhood memories.
I have searched the past...again...and find no regrets. Yes, there are many things I would do a little differently here and there, but for the most part as I search those pages of history I find only gratitude. I am forever grateful for all I have had and all I have now.
There are so many roads that life can take us on. There are so many different directions we can take. Regardless of all the mistakes I humbly have to admit to, I realize that I was trying hard to do the best I could. For any hurt I may have caused to anyone, I am so sorry. Tinkerbell, if you can hear me up in heaven, I never meant to have you escape from off my head when I walked out the door.
The older I get the more I look backwards, perhaps the future is a little too mortal. It is so weird to be 57. Fifty seven birthdays...man that is a lot. So far this year has been one of the best years I have ever had. And I feel like there are some outstanding ones still to come. I can't wait to see what the future holds for me.