Today is my birthday and I’m upping the ante on my celebration. The tragedy this past week, one of way too many in recent history, reminds me that while I might bemoan my  aches, wrinkles, or expanding derriere, I am lucky to get another trip around the sun. So I’ve decided to ring in the day of my birth with a decadence, delight and daring.

No, I’m not 4

Decadence: Not much explanation needed here. There will be wine. And dessert. Both go hand-in-hand with birthdays, mine anyway. But I also made an appointment for a pedicure, a rare treat for me. There is something decadent, especially for moms, about sitting undisturbed for an hour, unable to do anything while someone pampers you!

Delight: Surprises. I delight in surprises and I know a few are in store. For one, I don’t know where my husband is taking me to dinner other than it’s “someplace new.” There might be a present involved, who knows? My daughter has also said she has a couple surprises for Mama. Granted, she’s five and doesn’t have the best track record as a surprise-keeper, but I think she might have one or two things up her sleeve she hasn’t told me about.

I’m also going to spend an hour or so of uninterrupted time with my camera, in one of Seattle’s lovely locales. There’s nothing like some peace and quiet, a pretty scene and my trusty camera to put a smile on this girl’s face.

Daring: Long ago, maybe ten years now, my husband gave me a silver paperweight inscribed: what would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?  I’ve done one or two daring things, like adopting a kid and becoming a mom in the fifth decade of my life (both daring and daunting at times).

So this year I decided to do something I’ve wanted to do for most of my life. I filed for my state and city business license, formed my LLC (Limited Liability Corporation)….and Beth Shepherd Photography made the switch from fantasy to real life! I realize it’s a bit late in life to start a new career, but Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote Little House on the Prairie at the age of 64 and Grandma Moses started painting at 76! Why not become a professional photographer in my 50s? Maybe I’m just a late bloomer? I don’t where this path will take me, but I’m glad I’ve dared to walk down it.

It’s all about the journey,

Beth