All New Territory

Today I am older than my father was when he died way back in 1964. Over ten years ago I passed my mother's age. Anything I have done with my daughter since she was 16, also ten years ago, has been uncharted parenting territory. My wife and I have been married 16 years longer than my parents. That's what happens when your parents die when you are a teenager.

Of course, it hasn't been completely "flying blind." Life has a way of coming at you and at times it may actually be good not to know how your parents managed or what they did in similar situations. It may even be that with the way the world has so seismically shifted in the past 20 or 30 years that if you do try to do life the way your parents did it might be more difficult than you imagined.

In any case today is another one of those milestones of my life. It may explain why my recent 59th birthday was more difficult than any I have had since my 35th. (Don't ask why the 35th. I still haven't figured that one out.) In my book each day is a gift now. Each additional year I have with my wife and daughter true serendipities.