Well, it happens to the best of us, we get older, and hopefully wiser.  As I hit the big 4-0, I look back on the last year of my 30's. Thirty-nine was not bad, I didnt spend the entire year worrying about the next number, quite the opposite! 

Lets do a quick recap of the last year for me.  Last August I woke on my birthday to a hurricane, Yeah me!  I was alittle busy planning the big event...my wedding!  Thats right, I was finally getting married!  Oh and what a day it was!  Low 90's in October for an outdoor ceremony, Murphy must have had the day off from Law!  We went to Dinsey for our honeymoon, it was wonderful!  Cant wait till we win the Powerball to go again!

In the winter I was graced with ANOTHER team to coach in Guard!  Making so many more new friends with the students and parents!  Both teams did such a great job, making me the proudest coach around!  I knw this year will be even better!

We welcomed a new member to the house this spring.  In March we opened our home and our hearts to a 13 year old girl named Dianna, who we plan on adopting, or assuming legal guardianship in the fall.  This really is a great program, more should think about this!

The spring also brought more dresses, no not for a wedding, but proms!  My daughter Mariah, the high school senior had two proms, Narragansetts, and Bishop Hendrickens.  Red was the color for both!  I was so happy, and yes teary eyed, for she is my first at this stage.

Watching my son Timmy, play with the band at several events, my favorite is always the Pops in the Pier, and Canopie Lake in New Hampshire!  The Baritone is not the easist of instruments to transport, but we do what we do for our children!  I also had the pleasure of being the Cargo mom on the trip to New Hampsire, carrying all the instruments while following the bus!  Good Times!

I watched my daughter graduate from the same school I did just 21 years before...so proud of all the graduates.  I couldnt stop crying, and not just for my child, for I was once the Girl Scout leader to so many of the girls marching across the stage.

I danced on stage for possibly the last time with my daughter, for this June was her final dance performance as a child, 17years and now she is an adult.

This summer was a great one.  I held my camps at The Guild and made so many new friends!  of all the camps, Joyces Jungle, Creature Crafts, Guard Camp, Dance camp and Pirate camp, my favorite was Pirate camp!  My son Timmy and his girlfriend Noelle dressed up as pirates, while Dianna and I helped to dress up our little pirate campers!  It was so fun!

Then we did the annual trek to the Washington County Fair, which my girls entered to royalty contest.  Mariah was crowned Queen, and Dianna was shocked to see she was runner up as Princess!  She was beat out by Noelle, Tims girl!  It was a great summer.

As the eve of my birthday approached, I wondered, will I wake up to the children surrounding my bed, saying we would go for a ride, and end up at the old folks home?  Had they picked out my nursing home already.   I mean I thought forty was old.  Shouldn't all people who are my age be shipped off to some island or Florida? 

NO!  I feel young!  Maybe not 20, but I feel young!  I have so much to do with my life!  I mean come on!  You really are as young as you fell, is there a secret police out there thats going to arrest you for not acting your cronilogical age?  I dont think so!  So what adventures will I have in my 40's???  Well I already am doing it.  I registered for college and started taking classes!  When asked by my professors what kind of learner I am, I state a life long learner! Thats another story you'll have to wait for!

I hope you dont act your age, you dont have to be 20 to feel alive, you just have to engage yourself in your life to feel alive!  So get out there, enjoy, love, eat, play , learn, or what ever it is you want to do, just go do it!