So this is 50

50 - fünfzig

Recently, I marked my 50th birthday.  I started this post early that morning surrounded by moving boxes. (We moved to the new apartment just a couple days prior).

This is not the 50th birthday I ever imagined, not 1 year ago, not 10 years ago, not even as a kid. Well, as a kid - I never really thought about being 50. After all, 25 seemed like an old person.

10 years ago, I probably imagined a small gathering of friends and family in North Carolina.

And a year ago, I planned to celebrate it in the woods of Denmark looking for wooden trolls.  

Of course, plans change - for the entire world. I really cannot complain - I am grateful I am here and we are still healthy.

Rather than think about the what I would have imagined, I am going to talk about what I did experience. Even in the midst of a pandemic - I can honestly say - this was one of the best.

I was very grateful for another year behind me. Even after having unexpected surgery a few weeks prior.  Yes, the day we were signing the papers on the new apartment, I went for the pre-op and 3 days later Stephan and I were up at 6am headed to a hospital.  The experience was quite different than in the US. It was in the ambulatory care center so I was able to go home once I woke up from the anesthesia. Once awake, they moved me to my room and got Stephan. They said the rest of the day was up to me. They left food, had a doctor stop by and that was it. 10 minutes later, I walked out of the hospital and we were home before lunch.

Honestly, moving 2 weeks after surgery is probably not what I would have planned, but we did it. And I am happy to report we are down to 2 boxes to unpack for the apartment. (We do have to unpack the hobby room - but we will).  As for surgery in a country that my understanding of the language is still fair - at best - it did make me realize it was time to once again dive into the language. I am very fortunate that I have Stephan - for so many reasons - but in this case, having a native speaker, was extremely helpful.

However, once I was wheeled away by the nurse, I was on my own, and if the team decided to talk to me in only German - I was in trouble.  Fortunately, everyone spoke English to me, except the head anesthesiologist,  but I was able to understand what he was saying and what he wanted me to do. The team was kind, but it was another reminder that I was an Ausländer (Foreigner).  I just signed up to restart my German lessons this month.

But I digress...  Back to my 50th.

It started with Stephan and my Saturday morning routine of visiting the farmer's market and saying hello to our favorite farmers.

The rest of the day was spent just the 4 of us and it was perfect. Time seemed frozen and I spent much of it thinking about my luck to have Stephan and the girls in my life. The well wishes and the calls were icing on the cake. (Oh and the cake Miriam made was delicious).

We ended up driving to Jucker Farm (which is about 10 minutes from us now). We walked around and enjoyed a coffee overlooking the beautiful landscape.

The sun set and the day was over. 50 years behind and a whole new adventure ahead.