Half a Century

Half a Century sounds like a very long time. And today is the last day where I have not been alive for half a century.  Is that an issue for me?  . . .  I don't think so. Basically, I look at all of the things that I (we including Thresa for most of this time) have accomplished in my 49 years and 365 days (Leap year this year added one day to my 49th year). Things such as (in chronological order I hope):

• Being born. Without this accomplishment, nothing else would happen. I have Mononucleosis to thank for that.
• Growing up and surviving Decatur. Spending most days at South Shores park when not excelling in school. Lots of great times and memories with the family.
• Graduating high school and leaving for ISU.
• Meeting Thresa on a setup date. And even calling her back for a real date. I am amazed that I remembered her phone number when I got it.
• Falling in love with Thresa and deciding to get engaged. I still remember going down to Decatur to buy the ring.
• Graduating ISU with a BS (fitting for me) and getting a job at IBM in Bloomington.
• Marrying the love of my life on Nov. 24, 1984. It was a perfect day.
• Thresa graduating from ISU too. Only 6 months pregnant at the time. 
• Soon after our wedding, I left for 3 weeks of training for my job. Ten months later, we had Karen.
• Continuing the growth in our family, we had 3 more children in what now seems like about 5 weeks time (actually about 6 years). Four beautiful daughters to complete our family - for now. 
• School activities, volunteering, basketball games, proms (although I have still never been to one) and other family events consumed our lives. At the time, it seemed too busy. Now, it is great memories and family time.  I would not trade it for anything.
• High school and college graduations for our family. Lots of academic excellence from all of our daughters.
• Now we have 2 son-in-laws and 2.60 grandchildren added to our family. And a grand puppy too. 
• In addition to the best family ever, we have amazing friends. So many friends and memories that I cannot count them all. But friends are another critical part of my life. 

Our nights now seem less busy and full as they were years ago. And you can see that my prized accomplishments are all family and friend related. Possessions, awards, work and such really do take a back seat compared to family events. But I have to mention a couple: playing every existing golf course in Bloomington/Normal at par or better, 6 300 games and 1 800 series in bowling, coaching 3 IESA state championship teams and 6 teams to the state tournament, building a computer curriculum at Epiphany school from scratch and becoming a Certified IT Specialist at IBM. 

Finally, of all of the passions in our lives, travel seems to be one that we will continue (after family of course) for the future.  It is amazing to think of the places where I (and we) have traveled. Such as: Spain (Madrid, Sevilla, Granada), Vegas (multiple times), Napa Valley, San Francisco, Hawaii (twice for me), Mexico (multiple times), Caribbean (3 cruises), Florida (multiple places and times), Dallas, San Antonio, Grand Canyon, Denver, Yellowstone, Niagara Falls, Chicago, St. Louis, Philly, Washington DC, Atlanta, Durham, London (twice), Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, Verona, Innsbruck, Munich, Dublin, Scotland, Edinburgh, New Zealand, Australia and many places I am forgetting. 

Just think what this list will look like in another xx number of years.  I have been alive 50 years now. And I cannot wait for many, many, many more years.