An alchemist am I.

In the medieval sense, an alchemist is a philosopher who takes what is base and spins it into gold. A scientist in pursuit of the elixir of life.

Yep, that’s me, fits me to a “t.” But alchemist also fits in the 21st century sense.

According to my EVO Planner, this is how my brain is wired.

Alchemists gravitate toward the abstract and theoretical. They prefer experimenting with their ideas in the real world, and develop a lot of their key ideas while interacting with other people. They are mostly focused on the future and the possibilities it holds.

Ah, music to my alchemist ears: focused on the future and all the possibilities it holds.

I am about to turn 64. Can you believe it? (Here is where you say, “No, you could not possibly be turning 64!”) And vanity has made me ever grateful for my mother’s genes – people have mistaken us both in our lifetimes for a bit younger than we actually are.

64 is two times 32, right? And if you ask me that is how I feel. Two rocking 32 year olds – with a peacock feather streak of color in my gray hair. (Thank you, Olivia at Salon de Zen.) I am not my mother’s or my grandmother’s Oldsmobile, so to speak.

And 64 for me is far larger than my 46. Not simply numerically but expansively. Sure, I am 17 years older but I am also, 17 years more evolved, 17 years more alive than I have ever been.

At 46 I actually faced some of my most difficult days. My marriage imploded. The church where I was rector crashed down around my ears. In my darkest of days, it actually hurt to open eyes and it seemed better perhaps if I no longer did.

But this darkness led me to light.

I took a two-week cruise on the good ship Dominion in 2003. I actually LOVED being on the psyche ward. It totally saved my life. And it set me on a 16 year trajectory of redefining and reclaiming, resurrecting and reimagining who I am.

With God’s help, of course, I am a person of faith. But also with more than a little help from friends and family and therapists and work.

And….

I am going to tell you the truth (not to sound conceited.) The biggest help to me was me. Me, myself, and I.

I have made a bazillion daily decisions over the last 6,0205 days. Each a little choice, each a small turn in the direction of my future and not my past. Step by step by step, the steps add up until a few small steps add up to one enormous leap. A leap into the fullness of my life.

And I am grateful for the sun that has come up everyday and thankful for every breath that I have been blessed to breathe – that have brought me happy and whole to this day.

So 64 is the new 46! And in no particular order, let me count the ways.

1. Coffee.
2. Colored pens.
3. Shelves full of books.
4. A closet full of dresses.
5. Half a dozen pairs of walking shoes.
6. A dog named Bailey.
7. Two Tabbies: Cheshire & Charlie.
8. Baptizing babies.
9. Performing on stage.
10. Six million rounds of the rosary.
11. Walking in God’s great outdoors.
12. Three half marathons.
13. Three little pills I take each night.
14. Three years with Sondra on the therapist’s couch.
15. Ten years prior with Mary.
16. Four rocking adult children: Rebecca, Zach, Colleen & Jacob.
17. Four gospels to preach.
18. An office to call my own.
19. Colleagues who are more than colleagues.
20. Coworkers who have become friends.
21. Digital connectivity in cyberspace.
22. Gathering folks in God’s name.
23. Regular dips in the pool.
24. Fire in my fireplace and pillows to rearrange.
25. My soul sister, Mical.
26. My soul brothers, Neal and Chuck.
27. A little bit of chocolate every day.
28. Canadian sister Maureen, big bro Tim & baby brother Joseph — age 58!(and maybe the other siblings, too.)
29. Story District: Invisiblia, 2nd Tuesday & Top Shelf.
30. Grandchildren: Bella, Jude & Meir; Zhen, Zakai & Zellie.
31. Great-little-nieces: Virginia & Astrid.
32. DNA, genetics, and ancestry.com.
33. A writer’s life: 151 posts @ Unorthodox & Unhinged.
34. A big red bike I barely ride.
35. Being Associate for Liturgy & Hilarity at EEC.
36. Pie (my favorite food group) at Killer ESP.
37. A full refrigerator with food ready to eat.
38. Christmas that lasts at least a month.
39. Birthdays that last at least a week.
40. Saturday Night Live on a Sunday afternoon.
41. Cult related documentaries, articles and books (Think Wild, Wild Country and Going Clear.)
42. Excursions to The Porches, the Oakhurst Inn, Mandarin Oriental and the Line.
43. Sharing my hometown library, the largest library in the world: LOC.
44. The rhythm and color of the liturgical year.
45. Singing an off key soprano whenever I can.
46. And coffee. Did I say coffee?

64 is the new 46!