(10) Leave the house with my pajamas on. Not just a quick run in my gown to get the morning paper, or a run to the store in my jogging suit that I slept in, but pajamas, no way, yet I did because I had to mail a birthday card. After I made it to the post office drive-through without being arrested, I thought why not stop and get something to eat. After all, it was 3:45 p.m. and I hadn’t eaten lunch. Made it fine, got home and three neighbors turned into their driveways at the same time.

I waited!

(9) I never thought I’d be someone who reads the obituaries. Now it’s one of the first things I turn to because I want to see if anyone I know died, or anyone my age. I love it when I see it’s someone in their 90s, or 100s who died. It gives me hope though I realize if I make it to 95, I’ll still want to be kicking on my next birthday.

(8) I thought I’d never buy shoes simply because they’re comfortable. Now that’s important to me.

(7) I never thought I’d wear the same jogging suit for three days and two nights straight when I’m not even sick.

(6) I never thought I’d become invisible though a friend told me it would happen with getting older. I just thought I’d lost my sparkling personality.

(5) I never thought it would become exciting to get mail, even when it’s just flyers, or even bills, but now it’s one of the highlights of my day to check the mail.

(4) I never thought I’d need a landline just so I could call my cell phone when I can’t find it. However, I also learned that’s what the $400 Apple wrist watches are used for among the younger set.

(3) I never thought I’d bring home leftovers from restaurants and drivethroughs on a regular basis, then throw them away the night before the trash truck gets here.

(2) I never dreamed I’d be singing and dancing in my driver seat, or playing the air guitar, to 50s, 60s and 70s songs on Sirius radio. Sure, it was a possibility I’d be doing all those things while I had music going in the car, but I just thought it would bother me if another driver caught me doing it.

It doesn’t.

(1) I can’t believe part of my unofficial marriage vows in 1971 were that “I don’t do windows, darn socks or live in small towns.” I took vacation time from my job in OKC to work at the Hennessey paper on a trial basis. I was hooked, and in June 1978 commuted from Edmond until we finally bought a house in Hennessey (population 1,800 on a good day). That was the best decision we ever made. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

It’s home!