Monday musings...

It was nice and relaxing here at my home this past weekend.

And....it may prove to be the "calm before the storm" as things start to pick up in the next few months.

The nice thing is that they are all happy things ahead... starting with this coming weekend.

Some of my dear friends are throwing a little "5 years together" Anniversary party for me and Dave. I am so touched that they are sharing in our celebration and joy. Most of them are celebrating marriages that go as long as 30+ years....and yet, they are marking this event for us with such love. Dave and I are so appreciative.

Looking back on the last five years since first meeting Dave, it is amazing how far we have both come.

When we met, I was still "bruised" from my 31 year marriage ending-- resulting in my divorce a year before, having dated a multitude (!) of men in the previous months. They call that first year your "crazy time"....and, it certainly was for me!

Dave, too, was "licking his wounds" from a long term relationship that had just ended for him.

So, there we were, two "lost souls" about to embark on a five year odyssey that neither of us were probably prepared for.

Dating in one's 50's takes on a whole new attitude. You have pretty much defined "who" you are by then...and, most habits and preferences are fully developed at this point. Instead of "growing up together" ...it is more like finding the patience necessary to accept who the other person has "become" in their 50+ years of life and appreciating and understanding how they got there. This acceptance is necessary in order to allow the relationship to develop, grow and hopefully, thrive.

This is not always easy and "growing pains" are certainly part of the process and will continue to be as we learn more and more about each other.

But, now, five years later, our journey has gotten to a very positive and loving point through a lot of hard work and compromise...and on the 24th of this month... we will again meet for dinner at the same restaurant as our first date...

...but, this time the nervous energy will be replaced by our smiles of quiet knowingness for all that we have shared, how far we have come, how comfortable our companionship is now.... and the excitement of all that lies ahead...