Milestones

We all have them. Some are obvious: birthdays, anniversaries, completion of something important to us. Some are life changing, others noteworthy and bring smiles or tears. We often use them as a way to mark changes in our lives or measure how far we've come. I once wrote a whole book about them and sometimes I wonder where life would have taken me if things didn't change so much 1992. Then again, I might have been dead by now if they hadn't. Funny thing about roads not taken, you never really do know. And I'm not complaining about where life has taken me either.

These past few weeks have marked several important milestones for me. Completing the Ph.D. was huge. I'm still in shock and get confused when people address me as Dr. Katz. Am I supposed to be in wiggle vision? Mostly, I giggle or do the happy dance of joy. It's a big milestone.

That milestone brought another one: I'm no longer a student in the formal sense. It feels weird. I don't have to keep looking at my dissertation, tweaking words here and there. It's done. Weird.

It's been two years since my surgery, the one where I almost died in the OR. My body is still not "back" from it. The scars are fading, but the pain is still there. I was told after my gallbladder came out that I would be able to eat anything, and feel so much better. Well, I did start to eat meat again. I used to be vegetarian bordering on vegan, but after the surgery I would wake up shaking needing to eat meat. I learned a long time ago that when your body screams for something that much you should have it. I'm still about 80% vegetarian based diet, but some days....

The big milestone was my son turning 25. Wow. I don't feel old enough for that to be true, but it is. He's become such a wonderful young man. I'm beyond proud of him. He brings so much joy into my life and the lives of people he interacts with. He's a real blessing. We celebrated with an amazing dinner filled with laughter and fun.

And today marks another milestone. I've started a nutritional program (again) with Mae. We're sharing the experience together. I'll write about that journey as well under different posts, so you can skip or read them at will.

As I was writing this (I'm on campus now) I realized in one of those great flashes you have just how far I've really come. How life didn't end up in the pretty house with the picket fence and a retirement fund, but I'm content. I have two children that have grown into wonderful people and my friends. I have a career path and today I actually have felt valued. The journey is really just beginning....