A little bit about then. I wasn’t sure I would make it to my 18th birthday, I told a friend recently. She said why? I said my life was quite bumpy. At 14.5 my father was murdered by a teenager with a handgun, a year and a half later I was locked in a mental institution for 15 months. I just really didn’t know if I would make it to my 18th birthday.

When that Bday arrived I awoke to a wet pillow. Apparently, I started crying while I was still sleeping but I cried a lot more once I woke up. I couldn’t believe I had made it.
It’s symbolized for me the age at which I could leave home and start to live life on my terms.

That was then. Now is a very different perspective and viewpoint as I look across the horizon.

I was very surprised and deeply touched when I walked into dinner at the Ayurvedic clinic in India where I was spent the month of October 2026 and they surprised me for my birthday. I had no idea. Even the doctor gave me a little gift. I decided that I would celebrate every day leading up to my big birthday in 2026

Then I decided to go to Southeast Asia where I had never been before. And once you go to Southeast Asia (from the US) you might as well go around the world.

Then my unplanned book about my unplanned journey was compiled and released on Amazon.

Then, just yesterday I dipped my toe into planning an intimate 70th birthday celebration. That led to buying myself a happy birthday helium balloon and hanging a couple celebratory banners (that I had bought for a friend ) in my home. The "had" in that previous sentence is the kicker because I’ve decided to keep the banners for myself.

I came to embody that it was good to celebrate myself as this big milestone approached.

I don’t think I need to say more. All of these words came this morning. It appears to be my way of introducing the few people who follow my personal blog to my new book. I’m very pleased with the book, I should say the wording in the book. I’m less pleased with how the artwork appears. I take full responsibility for that, lesson learned. If there’s ever another book I will take the time to order a draft so I can see the size and quality of the colorful prints before they’re published.

An Unplanned Journey Around the World: Finding What and Who I Am

My wish for you is that you enjoy your every day.