Many good things happening...

I have many things to be thankful for, but today uppermost in my mind is gratitude for an important next step in my life, and Paul's life. I have an official "engagement ring" and a tentative wedding date for Christmas-time. For all the men out there, they are saying - ho-hum, but the women are excited. I guess it is a woman thing to want something that is more "official." In any event, I couldn't be more delighted and encouraged.

This isn't the actual conversation, but it pretty well summarizes it - The Man: "I got paid for bailing alfalfa and I thought you'd want an engagement ring." Me: "Heck yes!" I've pretty much been smiling ever since!

More thoughts:

I'm headed to my 35th high school reunion next weekend. How in the world did I get this old? And why don't I feel all that old? (I say that now, but wait until I'm done with more apricots this weekend.) I mean, I guess, that when I was younger, and I mean in my teens, I always thought that at some point a person hit "adulthood" and never changed again. As I got older, that age of ossification got older - I used to think it was mid-30s, then for a while in your 50s, but now I see that a person can grow and change their entire life. It's actually pretty encouraging. I forget how old I am until someone says something. I had a gay hairdresser in Baltimore, three years ago, who actually said to me: "For a woman of your age, you have thick hair." That one set be back, and I think he was actually sort-of passive aggressive toward women, and probably said it to be vaguely insulting. But lately, a woman who I judged to be about my age, said something to be about selling eggs to people my age and older; and later I realized she is at least 15 years younger than me.

I want to go to the class reunion, even though I was by no means popular or well-known, or any one a person might think would want to go to a reunion. I want to see my best friends, Robbi Dagenhart and Mary Jo Drew. I have to say that Dr. Drew could very well be the most successful of the bunch - having just donated a bundle to the University of Northern Colorado; but there are other people who are leading fascinating lives and I'm most encouraged to see them.

I was talking to my Cousin James (it is a Kansas thing to identify people based on your relationship to them) and he said something very encouraging. That in his life he's seen it is possible to find love and a supportive relationship even at an older age; and my Aunt Harma is further proof: She has a lovely gentleman friend and they are in their 80s!

Never give up. I guess that's my motto. Or maybe "Hope Springs Eternal."