A Casual 40x40

So, I like lists. And am nostalgic, and enjoy celebrating milestones, and marking the passing of time. But I also struggle with guilt if I don't accomplish a goal I set for myself! Therefore, for the final year of my thirties, I embarked on a casual journey through a Forty Things to Do By the Time I Turn Forty list. My Casual 40x40 List. Casual meaning I could change it as many times as I wanted. Aahh yessss.

Don't worry,  I won't share all 40. Some are too personal. Some are boring, like "replace old makeup and skincare/clean out bathroom cabinets", "try taking a liver supplement every day for 40 days", or "buy tickets to New Zealand for belated honeymoon" (okay boring but EXCITING RIGHT???). 

A few were simple: "buy fancy slime and enjoy," "dance at a wedding", and "make a snow angel."

A couple were pretty complex: "learn to play an organ piece that involves pedals." (This was one of my casual modifications. I did play a couple pieces on the beautiful pipe organ at church that used exactly ONE pedal each.) And my belated 39th birthday present to myself: "bake a succulent cake." 

Many involved the people I love. "Ski with Jasper to the Bavarian" was our 4th wedding anniversary celebration and the culmination of his series of ski classes at Taos Ski Valley. He skied the hardest greens at Taos and made it down the backside of the mountain for brats and beer! 

"See the Nutcracker with the Thrussells and Roses" ticked off a dream we had of seeing the ballet in London with my in-laws. We attended the English National Ballet's production with Jasper's whole family. It was so special, especially as we lost Jasper's dad later in the year. 

"Visit the Imperial War Museum" finally got the both of us to this very cool museum, with Jasper's sister Laura and her husband, Matt, who works there. Highly recommend if you're in the city!

"Attend Vie class with Jenny and Amy", "Hike with Jenny and Matt," and "Shoot guns with David" were all excellent adventures with my siblings and their spouses. Next time, I would not take the cardio+weightlifting class the day before the eight-mile, full-of-literal-stairs hike up to Lake Serene...but I *would* go target practice in the national forest with my siblings and husband!

"Go to Olalla Landing with my parents" involved visiting the bougie renovation of the old Al's of Olalla convenience store of my childhood. Oh we want to return. 

I managed quite easily to "eat donuts pie with niblings," though it was impossible to get a picture of this happening, so here's the whole gang:

"Bake something from Great British Bake Off with Emily," "Try Ojo Santa Fe with friends" (<3 you, Clarissa!), and "Host soiree on the patio with the French doors flung open" were some wonderful times with friends. Especially the soiree: we've been talking about hosting that for a couple of years. And Jasper became a U.S. Citizen this year! So his America party was the perfect excuse. We didn't take many pictures during the soiree, we were having too much fun.

Soon after the soiree, we had to say goodbye to my sweet Faraday cat. My grumpy buddy of 15 years. That was not on my 40x40 list. 

Some things are still in progress, which you know what? This is a chill adventure. A relaxed journey. A tranquil trek. Maybe I'll finish them *while* I am 40. Like "Finish reading the Bible in a year" (ahem), "Get the Tron bike on Zwift" (iykyk), and "Learn a song from your birth year on the piano." I will play it for you here, but it's a WORK IN PROGRESS, yes? Okay, this was released on June 8, 1984. 

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Did you recognize it?! Thanks for reading, friends. I'm excited to turn 40. Every decade has been better overall than the last, though obviously with new, tough, and exciting challenges. I'm hoping this decade brings many snuggles on the couch with kitty girl Tesla and hikes with husband Jasper. First challenge up is "Run a race in another state" and "Follow Coach Caitlyn's Plan and Get to the Start Line Healthy": running my seventh 26.2 miles in the great New York City Marathon. Eep!

P.S. It's the Ghostbusters theme song.