Another milestone

July 4, 2010 fireworks in Portland, OR

Today I am 37 years old. Greg will not like what I'm about to say, but I think I am probably at the halfway point of my life. In another 37 years I will be 74, which is certainly still young, but I don't expect to be as healthy and capable of as much mentally or physically as I am now. Luckily for me, the past year has definitely been the best of my life so far!

on a zipline adventure in Thailand

One year ago today Greg & I were wrapping up our five month living experiment in Portland, OR. I went to my podiatrist for a final checkup on the healing of my big toes after surgery. We took back all the travel guidebooks we had checked out from the Multnomah County Library in downtown Portland. We celebrated my birthday by eating a wonderful dinner at Ringside Steakhouse. Just two days later we were on a plane back to Nashville. And, another 17 days after that, we were on our way to Sydney, Australia, the starting point of our around-the-world trip!

the road less traveled

Besides knowing how fortunate I am to have experienced so many amazing things in the past year, I am also thankful for the quality time I've spent with my family and friends. True, I was not even in the country for 3/4 of the year, but the other three months were spent visiting with parents, grandparents, siblings and closest friends. This is not the norm for me, as I have lived out of state for the past 10 years.

recent group portrait taken at the Patterson family celebration of our marriage

Within weeks of returning from our around-the-world trip, Greg proposed to me. We will be married in 17 days (on July 29th), almost exactly one year from the day we departed on our trip. I am eagerly anticipating the next year of my life, especially since I know I will be sharing it with my soon-to-be husband. I doubt it will be as breathtaking or adventurous as the past year, but considering that we will be traveling for the remainder of 2011 then moving cross country (to Portland) and looking for jobs, it will not lack for excitement.

Here's to another 37 years of living life to the fullest!