The 29th of next month will see me reaching the grand old age of 60. I’m not scared, I know it won’t hurt a bit. I hadn’t even given it a thought until a few weeks ago when a family member asked what it felt like to be almost 60 years old. To be honest, at the time the question was asked I wasn’t sure how it felt. I am still me and I doubt that anything will change on my birthday. Age is something that has never bothered me. The years have come and gone, that is just how life is.
These past few weeks have seen me looking back over my life and taking stock. Like most people in this world, I’ve had more than my fair share of ups and downs. Everything I have wanted, I have had to work hard for. I have battled with disabilities my entire life, and managed to accomplish my dreams and ambitions despite them. I have raised two wonderful children and I am a grandmother. I have no regrets in my life I am happy to say. My journey through life has not been easy, but I like to think that the trials and tribulations have made me appreciate life and all it has to offer. The lessons I have learned will be a benefit to me on the rest of my journey through life. I am aware that I am very lucky, so many people have suffered greater trials and tribulations that I can ever imagine.
For the people who ask what I look like. The avatar that follows me round the internet, ‘the one at the top of the page’, is really me. That photograph was taken a year ago and I haven’t changed that much since then. Well, there are a few slight changes like, my jowls have dropped a little, and there are some slight wrinkles appearing round my eyes, but apart from that it really is me. 🙂
So what have I done throughout my 60 years on earth? Here is the scaled down version 🙂
Life in General: I was born. Diagnosed with Euveitis eye condition. Went to school till the age of 14. I left school and went to work straight away. I got married, had two lovely children, a girl then a boy. Became totally blind in one eye. Carried on working when my children reached school age. Stayed in West Germany for 12 years, ex husband in forces). Beat cervical cancer. Diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Got divorced after 24 years of marriage. Almost lost my eyesight, but surgery saved the day. Became a grandmother. Got married again after 6 years on my own. Almost lost my eyesight again, but saved in time. Gained a lovely step daughter and grandchild. Still happily married after 8 years. Made it through the Menopause virtually unscathed. I also made it through numerous operations, to save my eyesight and keep me mobile. Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.
Career: Administration, Customer Service, Book-keeping, Freelance Journalist.
Voluntary Work: Brownies, Brown Owl, teacher helper assisting children with reading, events manager. MSN Sys Op, for the old MSN chat rooms and International Helpdesk. Sysop for Congos, and Annexcafe. Produced and edited the Dalavich Community Newsletter. Community Councillor, Board member for charity group, social club committee member. Website builder and website administrator. Founder for Dalavich Computer Club teaching basic PC skills. There is more but I can’t remember them all.
Certificates Achieved: Various typing, shorthand, administration, customer service. Basic computing, advanced computing, ECDL. First Aid. Book-keeping, Freelance Journalism. These are the ones I can remember.
Hobbies And Interests: Writing, reading, poetry, painting, history, knitting, sewing, baking. Walking, sightseeing, computing, trying to be creative with Paint Shop Pro.
The most frustrating things in my life have been, 1. my visual impairment, this has been the plague of my life. However, it does mean that I have a huge appreciation for the beauty this world has to offer. I appreciate everything I see because one day I know that privilege will be gone. 2. Lack of mobility, this is really frustrating for all the obvious reasons. These two impairments are the most frustrating things I have to deal with on a daily basis. However, I try not to dwell on them and I try to take each day as it comes.
Well that is my life in a nutshell. Not a lot for 60 years, but more than I thought I would have.
Now for the next 60 years. I wonder how much more I can achieve? The plan is to achieve as much as I possibly can. I want to work as a freelance journalist and retain my financial independence for as long as I possibly can. I also want to continue learning and experiencing as many different things as possible. I have lots of plans for the future but they have to be accomplished one step at a time. For me becoming 60 is not something to dread, it is something to welcome. Wrinkles and grey hair, you can come too, I have earned every line and every strand, so bring on the next chapter in the life of Jeanie McBain! Let’s see what life has in store for me now. 🙂
How do I feel about becoming 60? I feel good 🙂
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