Turning 50

No, not that turning 50 – not ‘til December, actually. This week, I had my 50th chemo treatment and, like a birthday, I think of it as a milestone. It was the usual fare other than the addition of a dose of magnesium. Who knew we need magnesium? I know – all you smart medical/health people do – but I didn’t. And evidently, I was below the proper level so I got a bonus half hour in the chair. By the way, taking IV magnesium gives you a hot flash that lasts a couple of hours but I was assured by the nurse that it wasn’t just menopause.

So now that I have my metal back (I know, terrible pun), I can move on to ruminating on the big 5-0. I have many friends who in the last couple of years, or within the next year, have/will hit the half century mark and many of them accept it with a bit of resignation. But perhaps this comparison would help: having 50 chemos is a good thing. It means that I’m still here. It means I still have the opportunity to do things that are meaningful to me and to my family. I can still learn and grow as a person. Turning 50 years old can be viewed the same way. You are here, leading a meaningful life, helping your friends and family, learning new things, accomplishing goals. And, as a bonus, you have the experience of the last 50 years to give you more wisdom and perspective.

If you ponder for a moment the idea that most people will live a relatively healthy life into their 70’s and many well beyond, then turning fifty simply signifies that you have somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 to 30 more years to learn and grow and contribute. Twenty or thirty years!!! Imagine what you would say to a twenty year old about all the things they could do before they turn forty…then apply that logic to yourself and go for it! So, fifty chemos or 50 years, it doesn’t matter – they are both an opportunity and a gift - it just depends on your frame of mind.

And to commemorate the combination of age and opportunity, I bequeath you this photo of the “Terra Nova” – a fishing trawler from Provincetown, MA. She’s a bit long in the tooth but goes out every day in search of a big catch. And I’m sure her crew prefers the joy of trawling the seas to sitting on the dock wishing for a better (younger) boat! BB