(The newsletter is about a 5-minute read)
In February, I reached a milestone! I turned fifty. I want to believe that fifty is the new thirty because I don’t feel like I’ve lived a half a century. Seriously, I have more energy, more joy, and more vision in my life.
Back in January when my husband asked me how I wanted to celebrate this milestone birthday, I wanted something low key since I just finished two book launches. They were a blast, but as an introvert, I’m uncomfortable being the center of attention. But I regretted not celebrating big for my 40th birthday, so I decided I wanted a party.
My husband started the day with a beautiful bouquet. At a nearby florist, he bought a custom bouquet of my favorite flowers (hydrangeas were the star of the “show”). I was thrilled at this gesture! (And two weeks later, they’re still holding up!)
My family helped prep food on platters as well as pick up food platters and the cake. They also helped decorate along with friends, so it was all hands on deck getting the party started!
Throughout the day, I was like a kid in a candy shop, enjoying everyone’s company. As I get older, my relationships have become one of my greatest joys, so having friends and family altogether was memorable!
Highlights:
* My family came. My mom and two sisters traveled from Michigan and Kentucky for my birthday weekend. We had a blast hanging out, especially because we haven’t gotten together just the four of us in years. And the Ward/Dausses family came as well, traveling from Chandler, OK and Edmond, OK respectively.
* Friends celebrating. We set up a “photo booth”, and Robert took tons of pics of me with different combinations of guests. It’s fun to watch people’s personalities shine in various poses. Another highlight was the food, especially the Bolani (an Afghan stuffed flat bread with filling). My Afghan friend made this dish, and it’s one of my favorites to eat!
* Pinata for the kids. Robert was a trooper, holding a long stick with the pinata dandling on the end. The kids took turns smashing the pinata with a nerf bat, each one putting a dent in the “cake”. Once the pinata was broken, kids scrambled to grab as much candy and trinkets as they could. Let’s just say, we needed adult supervision, so none of the kids would get hurt.
In honor of my 50th, here’s a list of my fifty favorite book and movies. Are any of your favorites on my list?
Update on Book 2, Love At the Mayo
I’m working on the book cover, and Mike Tedford, the professional photographer who also shot my author profile pics, did an excellent job of shooting the front of The Mayo hotel.
I’m working hard on editing Book 2. Sometimes it’s harder to write the second book, not just because you need to make sure facts, dates, characters are consistent with Book 1, but you want to go bigger. Amp the tension, so it’s a more enjoyable experience for the reader.
Since I’m taking a class called Story Grid, I’m bringing more tools and knowledge to the table. And that’s awesome but sometimes challenging to incorporate better craft while already in the editing stage. Anyone relate?
As a teaser, here are some issues you’ll read in Book 2:
* Learn to break free from a toxic relationship. If you’ve experienced leaving a dysfunctional partner, you discover leaving is only the first step of getting free. It’s often just as hard to get memories, wounds, and lies out of your head. It takes resilience to not run from these wounds but face them and heal. Celine Monroe is struggling to break free from the emotional bondage she endured with her ex, Jordan Sterling.
* Embrace the new you. Often, you still see yourself through the eyes of your ex or abuser. It can take years to shed the old skin you wore in the past relationship and put on the real you. Celine is realizing the cognitive dissonance between who she was with Jordan with who she really is.
* Take risks for love. When coming out of a toxic relationship, especially when your ex didn’t value you, you harbor fears that maybe, you’re not enough. This makes it difficult to believe you’re a viable candidate for a healthier person. Celine needs to take a risk to find lasting love, but she’s struggling to overcome feeling unworthy.
These are some story lines to expect in LATM. What do you want to see in Book 2?
Featured Image of 50 balloons courtesy Lucas Law on Unsplash