This is my last day of being in my 40s.  I’m excited…

I have big plans for my 50th birthday thus far. In the morning, I will be doing something with my boyfriend Tony who is insistent that I go over to his place as soon as I can in the morning and avoid Facebook at all costs.  I’m not sure why, but that will be known to me soon enough so I’ll play along.  After that, I will spend time with my son Nick, my daughter Emma, and maybe have lunch somewhere, I’m not sure.  More time with Tony at his request in the afternoon, then at 6:00 I will head over to our local music venue, The Garage, to set up for a big night of performing.  First, Tony and I will host our Pop Music Quiz that we have been doing for 8 years.  After that, Tony, three of my friends, and I will be performing 4 Squeeze songs together under the name Cuddle (Get it? Squeeze, Cuddle…Jon the drummer thought that one up!) .  Squeeze is one of my favorite bands and has been for over 30 years now, so it’s kind of a “Squeeze-themed” night in honor of my birthday.  I will be singing back-up and playing the bass guitar on the 4 songs we are performing (Hourglass, The Waiting Game, Messed Around, and Labeled With Love).  This will be the first time in 29 years that I have played bass with a band on stage, so I am a bit nervous.  But I’ve really enjoyed our practices, so I’m fighting my nerves and facing it head-on.  It’s a great way to bring on 50, I’d say.

After we play our 4 songs, a local band called the Vagabond Saints Society will perform the entire album Squeeze Singles: 45 and under.  Tony and I will be singing 3 songs with them: Take Me I’m Yours, Slap and Tickle, and If I Didn’t Love You.  So it’s a performance-filled night and I just hope it all goes well.  Nervous indeed, but excited, and also hopeful that this won’t be our last time performing.  I’ve got the bug again, and I’d really like to start playing the bass with a band on a regular basis.

So 50…what am I going to do with myself?  Things have to change, I know that for sure.  My 40s weren’t really a positive decade for me on the whole.  Lots of stress, life and family changes, loved ones gone, goals not met, and life passed by.  So I’m hoping that I can turn things around in my 50s and make it better.  I am genuinely feeling positive.

And I can’t wait to start posting a photo-a-day here.  That starts tomorrow and will continue with a photo-a-day until I turn 51.

Goodbye 40s, hello 50s! Bring it on!

Amanda