For All Things a Time and a Season

With marriage and having a baby comes a new lifestyle. I made all sorts of vows to be the kind of parent who wouldn't slow down, who wouldn't make others bend to my children's "naptimes," who would still travel, still go backpacking, still be hot, still gig on the weekends, still do many amazing things.

But my ideas about that are changing (as usually happens when you predict what kind of person you will be in a situation you really know nothing about). Yes, I could be all those things. But at what cost? Am I really more concerned about my seeing Machu Picchu or about Seville's happiness and well being.

There is a time and a season for all things, and I'm starting to realize that my life will be fuller, happier, more peaceful, more loving, more fulfilling if I simply accept that the time for certain things has passed, and a new time has come. A time for certain self-less sacrifices. But they aren't really sacrifices as much as I thought. What you gain is far more enlivening than world travel.

I am grateful, at this time, that I lived a pretty full single life (and childless married life). I can say I did lots of things. I have:

• Been to London, Paris, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Alaska, New York
• Backpacked a fair amount in Southern Utah and the Northwest
  
• Been sent boxed roses
  
• Been taken to the Opera
• Gone on a date to Pier 49 and Ghirardelli Square, having ridden a train, a trolley, a limo, and a car all in one evening.
• Stayed up and watched the sunrise with a boyfriend
• Been kissed on the beach
• Dated a man almost 20 years my senior
• Dated a younger man
  
• Competed in a Latin Dancing competition
• Won a snowboarding contest
• Owned a surfboard, a windsurfer, rock climbing gear, snowboarding gear
• Stayed up until after 4 am with beloved girlfriends talking about men
• Had a long-distance relationship
• Played a regular ladies-night gig at a club downtown
  
• Become intimately acquainted with the sweat-lodge, the pipe ceremony, and the Peyote Ceremony
• Dated college athletes
• Dated college drop-outs
• Loved a man with long hair
• Been taken on a trip to the Ashland Shakespeare Festival
• Gone mountain-biking on Bainbridge Island
• Had a broken heart
• Broken some hearts (oops.)
• Had real girlfriends
• Rafted the Paquare River
• Climbed Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood
• Fit into size 6 shiny red pleather pants, and looked good (6 is pretty skinny if you're 5'10")
• Had a raging New Years Eve party at my house
• Had a record/production deal and a manager for my music
  
• Sung the national anthem at an NBA game
• Played the Crystal Ballroom, the Rose Festival, MusicFest Northwest, Been on a "Tour"
• Had a drink bought for me by an Oscar-nominated movie star
  
• Got a college degree
• Been camping in Alaska

For these things I have to thank Dale, Mike, Eric, John, Clif, Jared, Emily, Lumina, Michelle, Aimee, Andy, my Dad, Lisa, Jeremy, my Mom, Alex, Graham Greene, Arlin, Fernando, Mitchell, Dave, Tara, Sam, and myself.

Can I really complain at this point? I don't think so.

What have you done that you can check off your list?