Monday, June 10, 2013

And So This Is Fifty

I think the idea of what 50 is has changed over the years.  I remember, as a child, hearing about people turning 30 and lamenting the end of their youth.  Hitting 40 brought out the Geritol and canes as gag gifts, and by 50?  Well, I don't remember seeing much of a fanfare - maybe people just wanted to ignore hitting that milestone.  But that was then.  Nowdays, people are much younger when they hit 50.  Sure, that sounds like something Yogi Berra would say, but it's true!  And as for me, I don't feel any particular age, except for moments like these:
That would be a "half-century" card - yikes!  When you put it like that, fifty sounds kind of old!

Or when the news recently ran an Amber Alert for a missing elderly woman...I was picturing a stooped-over gray-haired old lady (with a cane, of course) - turns out this elderly person was 53 years old.  That's NOT elderly, dangnabbit!

As I approached my birthday, I got to thinking about everything I've wanted to do in life - not really a bucket list-type of thing, but just checking in with myself...was there anything that I still wanted, to do or to own, after all these years?  Well, yes - there was one thing that I've wanted ever since I was a kid - probably from the age of 12 or so...
A DRUM SET!!!

I have always wanted to learn how to play the drums.  ALWAYS.  The closest I ever got to it was owning a pair of drum sticks as a teenager, and then marrying a drummer.  But he didn't own a set of drums, so fat lot of good that did me!  However, I think it may have helped when I told him, over a year ago, what I wanted for my 50th birthday...I'm sure Jeff figured that I would share my drum set if I got one, so he set about finding one for me.  And he succeeded, thanks to Craigslist (I didn't want him to spend too much on them, so used was perfectly fine with me).
That's right, I'm a DRUMMER, baby!

I have never had any music lessons, and I'm not particularly musically-inclined...but why should that stop me?  My goal song is to play the drums to Kansas' "Carry On Wayward Son" - and I will get there.  I'm having a blast playing with the drums right now - there's a lot of stuff on YouTube to help get me started, although I do plan on taking some lessons soon.
Check out the hula girl drumsticks that Barbara and Theresa gave me - perfect for my Hawaii 5-0 themed birthday!  
I even personalized it a bit more with a hibiscus flower decal - it's actually hiding a burn mark on the bass drum, but hey - it's appropriate, don't you think?

So far there's only been one person who isn't a fan of the drum set:
This ting makes loud noize.  Please to stop, mom.

Poor Paco.  He wants to be with me, but the banging on the drums makes him nervous.  He spends the time I'm playing alternating between timidly coming down the hallway to check on me, and retreating to my walk-in closet on the other side of the house.  Hopefully he'll get used to this soon.

If I've learned anything over my 50 years here on earth, it's that it's never too late to start something - be it finally losing weight, or becoming a runner, or learning how to knit - so why not start playing the drums?  There's no expiration date on having fun, and in case you were wondering, banging on the drums is FUN!

60 comments:

  1. That is so cool about the drum set. You will have to post a video when you learn a tune!
    I keep teasing my hubby of all the senior discounts we will get after 55. He is not to impressed:-)

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    1. I'd feel ridiculous taking any "senior" discounts that come with my AARP card - well, except for the one at Saltgrass Steakhouse. Yeah, I'll use it there...when they finally get one built in my town!

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    2. SALTGRASS STEAKHOUSE!!! I LOVE that restaurant! Wish they'd come to California.

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    3. Rumor has it one IS coming here...when it's built, you'll have to visit! Saltgrass, the awesome quilt store, Paco - how can you resist? ;)

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  2. Wanting drums for your 50th is just about the most awesome thing I've ever heard! So very fun - I can't wait to see how you progress with this. Happy Birthday and Carry On!

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  3. Okay this is the first time I'm glad I don't live near you. I do hope you don't have neighbours close by. Fact of the matter is that one of the sons of my neighbours drums and the other plays electric guitar and we had lots and lots of noise problems. On Summer days we couldn't even have dinner outside because they were practicing and loud. It took us years to get them to see that they had to practice elsewhere which they do now. And the relationship with the neighbours that was okay before this is now an ice cold one.

    That having said: cool that you get to do what you always wanted and enjoy it.

    And Paco can come over and stay with me for a while if it's getting too loud :)

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    1. We are on a third of an acre out here so the noise doesn't seem very noticeable outside of the house - Jeff did go and stand near our closest neighbor's house while I played the drums, just to be sure it wasn't bothersome. That said, I know noise seems to travel further at night, so we don't play them in the evening or early morning hours, just in case.

      Sorry to hear your relationship with your neighbors is so poor...that's never good. :(

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    2. It's okay about the neighbours, they aren't very nice people anyway :) The other neighbours in the street are okay though.

      Enjoy your drums and let us see a video when you can play Kansas.

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  4. Can I add that I saw your new profile pic you use at comments at Lori's blog and see it here at the top too: GREAT PICS! You look fabulous.

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    1. Thanks! More on how those came about in the next Friday Mishmash. :)

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  5. Awaiting for the video of your first song. Happy bday.

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  6. Omg That is so awesome!!! Happy Birthday!!

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  7. YOU ARE AWESOME!!
    and you now have me considering what I want for 50.
    for 40 I gifted myself a trip to do something Id always wanted to do...and it was fantastic.

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    1. Makes it fun to dream about, especially when you have a few years to do so!

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  8. That is fantastic Shelley!! When I first started reading I was thinking 'how can I encourage her to go ahead and get them?' Then I didn't even have to do that! Growing up I didn't really like the drums that much (there was always this orchestra/band competition going on) but as an 'older adult,' I really enjoy a good drum player. We have a fantastic drummer at our church, and I just love watching him, and enjoy how much he adds to the entire song. Oh, so the encouraging thing I was going to tell you (which you don't really need it now) was that a friend got herself a cello for her 50th, and just a couple of years later she is doing solos! Now I am thinking about what I am going to get myself for my 60th birthday! That will be fun to think about for a while.

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    1. That is a great story about your friend and her cello! I think, what with events over the past couple of years, I just made up my mind to not wait. Because you never know what life is going to throw at you, right?

      Dream big for your 60th!!!

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  9. Awesome! One of my favorite license plates is. RLRR LRLL. Paradiddle on, Shelley!

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    1. That is a cool license plate! Love it. I paradiddle for a while, and then I mess up and it turns into a free-for-all of drumming, wheeeee!

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  10. I've played the drums on the Wii, that has to count, right? So much fun. I love that you are going to become a real drummer.

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    1. I tried them a while back on Rock Band and was terrible. Real drums are much more fun!

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  11. Rock on with your bad self!!! I love singing "Carry On..." so maybe we could "duet" together?

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    1. Sure! I'll be the drummer whose microphone is turned off, lol! Might need voice lessons after I master the drum. ;)

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  12. That is awesome!! I love it. Best line of this whole post though?

    "There's no expiration date on having fun!"

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    1. I think remembering that line will carry you through a lot in life, no?

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  13. Happiest of Birthdays to you!

    The 50s are awesome, honest!

    Love the new blog look, btw!

    You "rock!" Love the drums :)

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    1. Glad to hear it - so far, I'm quite enjoying my 50s! :)

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  14. I love that you are going to learn to play the drums!!! What a great idea to finally do something you've always wanted do!!!

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  15. What a great way to start the next decade--with a bang! And no need to bang the drum slowly, either. :)

    HAVE FUN!

    ---Crabby

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  16. Well you are for sure the coolest 50 year old I know!! What a fun birthday gift!!

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  17. You look fantastic. love the new blog design, new photo and new drum set. You are so correct - it's never too late to start something. Way to go and happy birthday!

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  18. You are such a rock star! What a fabulous thing to do for your second half century :) You are getting even cooler with age. How is that possible?!?

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    1. Well you know, drummers. We be cool. Now I just need a pair of Foster Grants, like the drummer in That Thing You Do. :)

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  19. Shelley - you are totally rockin it!!!!!! Age is just a number!!!!! You are truly beautiful!!!!!! I love all your aloha on you web design!!!!! When are you coming back for another visit????

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    1. Glad you like my new aloha design! I hope to get back there within a year, which won't be soon enough!

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  20. That's so funny Shelley - I've always wanted to plat the drums too!

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  21. First off, your post title? Now what is going through my head is "So this is Christmas." Just no.

    Anyway - How totally awesome with the drum set!!! With my guitar and John on piano, we could get a little trio going!

    Now you need to play the snare with your knitting needles and combine your hobbies :D

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    1. What, you're not ready for Christmas in June??

      I did laugh when I realized that knitting needles are also referred to as sticks...maybe I could play the snare with a pair?!

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  22. What a fantastic way to celebrate 50!! I'd love to see a video of you playing :)

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  23. Happy birthday, you young thang, you!!! :D

    Drums; awesome way birthday gift! At any age!

    Haven't hooked up with you in a long time. Glad to see everything still going well for you! :)

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  24. Welcome to 50. Also, this month according to AARP magazine we have Johnny Depp, Lisa Kudrow, and Nurse Jackie / Edie Falco.

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  25. I agree with you on different ages seeming to mean something different now than they used to. It's kind of like how, when I was a kid, I thought I'd have everything figured out and be a "grown-up" by the time I turned 25. I'm still waiting for that to happen :) And when my parents turned 40, I thought they were so old, which seems ridiculous now! You make 50 seem so young!

    And that drum kit is such a cool gift! Have fun with it!

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  26. how fun!!!!! Happy birthday, dear Shelley! I think it's so cool you're playing the drums. Love it! You certainly look young. Age is just a number anyway.

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  27. You got drums. You are my hero. :)

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