Why do we grow old and stop living?

Tracee, is not only my best friend, but also my prayer partner. This morning as we met on the phone for prayer (she lives in Brooklyn, NY), one of her requests was for her grandmother to stop being afraid to live. I thought about it for a second and realized that I, too, should pray for my Granny. With all of my grandmother's faith in God, she still fears to live.

Why do older people stop living life? They fear traveling on airplanes and boats. They always heed the warning, "Be careful," even if you're just going to the movies.

I think I should pray for myself that I don't paralyze my livelihood by fear. When I grow old, I want to be a hellraiser on two wheels. I want to ride my motorcycle to the beach and find a nice little lake and skinny dip. Well, I want to try skinny dipping before my tits fall to my navel. But, I pray that I won't let sagging boobies prevent me from dipping in my bornday suit! I want to continue to travel and even go further across the world meeting different people on  various paths. When I get older, I want to hike a tall mountain and then zip line down to the valley and then snorkel in the ocean and tell my doctor and CNN that old people ain't dead!

I remember when I went to Guatemala, one of the ladies on our mission team was 78 years old. I watched her get around on her own like a middle aged spry woman. When she checked her email I thought, "What does an 87 year-old woman doing with email!" Many older people reject computers and technology, but not her. She admitted that she does a "crop" walk to raise money each year (5 miles) and at age 72 she jumped out of a plane. 72 years old and sky diving! Wow! That's how I want to live - live life to the fullest!

A few friends of mine that I met through Zumba have been teaching me about laughing out loud and living. I live vicariously through these girls via their photo's on FB. They go out and dance like there's no tomorrow, throw get-togethers with each other. They even threw a Golden Girls party and dressed up like the characters from the show. Tracee used to throw "Game Night" parties where games were played all through the house and "Black Exploitation Movies" and "Old Sitcoms" parties where they watched the movies and shows, played trivia games about them. Just original fun and living life out of the box.

So, this year you will be reading my blogs about me: pole dancing, dancing in a cage, ziplining, rock wall climbing, and traveling!

Ohh, I know - we should have a Sex in the City Party and watch the movie...and then the Glee party, sounds like costumes, characters and fun!

You are fabulous!

As I was preparing for a night of "get-togethers" with friends, I labored over what to wear. Skinny jeans slipped over my thighs and buttoned around my waist. Shimmied in my black top that was sassy and flirty. Heels, yes indeed, but wait, do I want to wear them all night? Heck naw! For who or whom, shall I say? How about ballerina shoes, yep, that's much more practical and comfortable.

Twist and turn in the mirror and hold up, wait a minute? Where did that come from? That bloated belly protuding out around my waist! How could that be? Have I had too much sodium? I thought about stuffing myself into my Body Magic (lose three inches instantly) girdle, but I didn't feel like sweating and fighting with that thing. Nor did I want to wear it all night long, in case someone tried to hug me, you know? So, I put on a fake girdle, but it didn't do much. Ugh!

Later, as some of us ladies gathered to eat and network, we stood talking about liking ourselves, or bodies in particular. Yes, we could stand around and wish we had someone else's abs, lean legs, toned arms, apple bottom bootie, but why? Why focus on what you don't have and just love what you do? We all agreed. I for one, am getting too old and sexy to be worried about what I don't have instead of taking my days and loving my natural locs, wide smile, short waist, and nice legs...the good and the things I'd change when I was young and insecure. Shucks, I work out too hard and lived through too much to not be loving all of me!

On a side note, ever wonder how big women get all the men? I look at my cousin (pictured left) who is a big woman, but has no problem getting guys. Why? A lot of them are so confident in their own skin. Look at Mo'Nique! We can gleen that confidence from them.

Anyhoo, as the night progressed. Another woman was talking about how her co-worker dresses upscale at work as if she is fresh off of the set of Sex in the City. She said, "She would be the fabulous side of me," as if she could choose an alter ego. A friend responded simply, "No, you're the fabulous side of you."

I like that. "I'm the fabulous side of me."

Damn, is this all I have?

I have just realized that I have no life! I go to work, homeschool my daughter, workout and that's about it. I need some die-hard-got-my-back girlfriends. That type of friendship that not even a man would come between. You know how we women all of a sudden get busy when we get a man paying us a little bit of attention.

My real die hard freinds are peppered in New York, Cinci and a slew of sorority sisters spread out all over. But, I need some girls here in Charlotte. I've got some friends, but our friendship hasn't yet marinated over the trials and turns that makes a relationship stand the test of time. Hopefully, they'll evolve more this year.

Outside of my QCDC Zumba family, my life is a little dull. It's not like I have the love of my life showering me with attention. But, on the other hand, I don't have a drama filled life full of jealousy and fussing, thank goodness!

Me and my NY girls!

Of course, I'm saying all of this as I'm loaded with wine watching yet another reality show, "Let's Talk About Pep!" Loving that she has her friends all surrounded at the table a la' "Sex In the City" style. Who cares if it is scripted? They look like they are having a lot of fun experiencing a care free life.

Maybe someone should scrpt my life.