Month: April 2018

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It’s a Celebration!

CurlyGirly

I hope you read that title in Rick James’ voice. Dave Chappelle’s would also be acceptable.

36!

I remember there was a time when I thought 36 was old. Clearly, I was a stupid teenager. I’m closer to 40 than I am 30, but fear not, I’m not freaking out. As I turn 36, I embrace my age. I love my birthday and I always celebrate it because getting older is a privilege not awarded to many.

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Here’s what I know for sure:

  1. I have a profound sense of who I am, although I am ever evolving.
    A close older friend, always told me that when she turned 30, she stopped caring about what other people thought and just did what she wanted. I am forever striving to be positive even when it’s difficult.
  2. I love sleep.
    I have always loved sleep, but in my formative years, I used to love sleeping in. Now I even love getting into bed early 🙂
  3. I love food: Good Food.
    Nuff said!
  4. I have some really good friends.
    My tribe is strong, supportive and always there.
  5. Family is everything.
    My father always used to stress the importance of family and Sean and I always disregarded him. My family is like fudge: “Mostly sweet, with a few nuts” 🙂
  6. I am content with less.
    Maybe this one has more to do with Hurricane Irma. There’s nothing like having a 185 mph hurricane beat down on your home to make you let go of the trivial things that you thought were important.
  7. We need to use our privilege for good.
    Male privilege, white privilege, straight privilege, even local privilege (sxmers understand that one): whatever your privilege is, use those good powers to fight evil. There are many atrocities that occur throughout the world to people who lack these privileges that you hold. Use yours to advocate for those who are without.
  8. My body doesn’t recover like before.
    I have aches and pains like nobody’s business – well it’s MY body’s business. I can’t imagine what 40 will feel like.
  9. Laugh lines are a good thing.
    It means that I laugh a lot…or smirkSmirk_Face_Emoji

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Here’s to another 36 years…at least 🙂

xxx

Cherise

Irma, Island Life, St. Maarten

Confessions of an Anxious Irma Survivor

CurlyGirly

You must have heard of Hurricane Irma. What a b*tch! She damaged us. She made us weary. She took away our conveniences. At 185 mph, she left us broken, but she did give us a few good things:

  • Togetherness – sitting on my porch with neighbours eating, drinking and chatting
  • Gratitude – appreciating the fact that I still had life, a roof, friends and family
  • Perspective – understanding what matters, and seeing that we take so much for granted

Besides these positives, she left me in another way.

Anxious.

I have woken up in a panic. Worrying about what’s coming next. You can tell me that I shouldn’t live my life waiting for something bad to happen, but I’m scarred. Whenever a news article enters my newsfeed with the words tropical, cyclone, outlook, prediction, active…(enter National Hurricane Center buzzword here) my heart skips a beat.

The Type-A Personality has taken over and I wonder:

What can we do better?
How can we be more prepared?
Can we crawl under a rock?
Can we build a safe room?
Can we jump on a plane and flee?
Can we relocate?

I say some of these in jest, but I can’t say that they didn’t all cross my mind.

Naturally, I already have a list of things to start buying, in order to beat the rush. Anyone else would read that and think, but it’s EARLY…Well, so what if the hurricane season doesn’t start until June?! A girl’s gotta be prepared!

I have a Plan A, B, C & D and I will probably obsess over it until November 30th.

Anyone want to join my support group?

xxx

Cherise