Storytime

I've just had a birthday. Not one of those big ones that end in a zero, although this did end in a 5 so half way to a big zero one. And although I know exactly how old I am, and some days I really feel that old or even older, other days and I swear I have the mind of a teenager. Looking at it mathematically...I have lived for over 20 000 days. I have had roughly 28, 908,000 minutes. And frankly a lot have been wasted  misused perhaps. However I have lived in interesting times. The year I was born JFK was assassinated (don't remember a thing about it).  I was 6 when man walked on the moon (ditto about not remembering seeing it). In those days not everyone had a television...and those that did saw everything in black and white. I grew up watching Mr Squiggle, Adventure Island, Bellbird and Homicide. Colour TV wasn't in Australia till 1975...and once again...not everyone could afford a colour TV. We grew up eating Kraft cheese that came in a big blue block...in s...

Recently I had a milestone birthday- turning 50. Yep - as my younger brother said 'I was celebrating half a century on this planet'. Half a century sounds so old, and frankly, I know it's a cliche but I do not feel old. Well perhaps not 'that' old. A lot has happened over the years. I do pull the exact same face as above, am still as stroppy at times. But I have also learnt a lot. I've had a lot of experiences. Some good, some not so good. Much prefer the good ones. I grew up in a small country town, the oldest of four children. I have two brothers and one sister- and it was a childhood of imagination and games. We had limited TV access (and it was way before computers were in every home)- so we entertained ourselves. We played cowboys and Indians, complete with cowboy hats and pop guns, riding our stick horses around the yards. We built mud pies and 'sold' them in our shop. We played with the box of dress up clothes Mum had, becoming queens or kin...

Last weekend we had the 'official' opening of our new library - 3 weeks after actually opening. There were entertainers and balloons, family storytimes and Spot the Dog. It was a lot of fun- so I'm told, and I was there. But like everyone else that works in the branch, I have not yet had the time to sit back, relax and actually enjoy the new surroundings. We are too busy planning new activities and programs for the year ahead...and just working. Sound familiar? After I receive notice that a story or poem is to be published, say YEAH out loud (perhaps a smallish jig if this is a magazine that I've been trying to get into for quite a while) I get back into. Work on the next piece to send out. Not that you have to have fireworks every time you receive an acceptance... However I don't think we celebrate all those small steps. Yes it's great to be published, more so if payment is part of the proposition. But do we celebrate when that poem finally wor...