Living life to the fullest, I’m learning, is not all fun and games. But it is the fun that keeps me coming back. I admit that I’m not as young as I used to be. My husband reminded me of that yesterday after I started the day by getting my car stuck in a ditch at the beginning of the day and coming home with a severe sunburn at the end of the day. He said, “You just can’t keep doing this to yourself.”

“Doing what,” I exclaimed as if I had no idea what he was talking about.

Granted, I am still in great pain and can’t laugh or cough without causing severe pain to my abdominal muscles following a slip-n-slide party with many of my 40 and 50 something friends this week. There were a few juniors at the party but I think we showed them how it was done! The slip-n-slide was great fun and I enjoyed comparing grass burns with another slip-n-slide competitor who had fewer wounds to show than myself, and she is 20 years my junior! That was a proud moment for me, I must admit. : )

To my friends and family who wonder what has happened to me: I am starting to wonder about you… Perhaps you are suffering a little dementia. I am the same girl who broke her collar bone at age 2 while trying to climb a chest of drawers to get her shoes so she could go to school with her sister. I am the same girl who re-broke that collar bone a few years later pretending to ice skate in the living room (sure that was Lana’s fault for swinging me into the couch but I don’t blame her; it’s just another trophy for the life of an adventurer). And don’t forget I am the same girl who spent 47 days in the hospital after taking a thrill ride on a neighbor’s mini-bike at age 14. My competitive spirit has also landed me some other trophies over the years. I will always remember the time I broke my middle finger playing softball and still continued playing with the plastic guard on my finger. I took great pleasure in going up to bat with that middle right finger standing straight up, taunting the pitcher each time I stepped up to the plate the rest of that season. And you may not remember this one: the time at Ball State when I broke my toe playing badminton.

Maybe living life to the fullest isn’t exactly a safe bet, but living the life of someone who lives in fear is not me and never will be. Sure, I try to learn from my mistakes. The biggest lesson this month: it’s okay to scream with your mouth wide open while falling out of a plane but not while sliding down a slope on a sudsy slip-n-slide!

Until next time, live like you mean it!

Karen