Yep, on my last day as a 50 something year old, I have to admit my, "lines were blurry and hurried but it felt like the stars had aligned."
My fiftieth birthday was a massive party thrown by people I worked with and attended by lots claiming to love me but I don't think I'm friends with any of them now.
Tomorrow is a quiet affair riding with the woman I love ... and two of our girls who'll want to listen to really bad music (honestly it's not music at all ... bad poetry about sex layered over computer generated bass and drums loops ... but they're kids ... what do they know?)
In 2006 I was on top of the Corporate world having taken a local non-profit to unheard of heights, I was a nationally recognized leader, relentlessly traveled the world and could do anything I want.
Now I write a blog, lead Church in a Bar and help people live until the moment they die.
Then everyone wanted me and I had to flee to find time alone.
These days, aside from going to work, Bar Church and the Tuesday Night Acoustic jam at Doc's, I rarely make it out of the front yard.
I was the epitome of good shape then but now find my Dad left me his gut in some obscure part of his will (of course it didn't help that, like Forest Gump, one day I just stopped running).
The last thing on my mind were kids and now I have a gazillion with Baby Che on the way!
There were lots of unexpected, and unwanted surprises in ten years but, when all's said and done, the best and most precious is Sarah, bursting out of a past she had no business leaving to shower me in love like I've never known.
Some things I wish hadn't have happened but I wouldn't change anything now.
All those people who loved me left but I learned who're my friends, picked up a couple of new ones and reclaimed a few old ones.
My friend Joey Finch and I commiserated the other morning about turning 60 and we're both sort of shocked it's happening but ... what the Hell! ... Here we are!
And we're sure glad to be here because it's great where we are but we're more excited to where we're going next.
So goodbye 50 year old Micheal!
You pale in comparison to what's happening now and the stuff getting ready to hit the fan!
Right Joey?
Right Sarah?
