LIFE is a Special Occasion

It started Monday with a cup of tea. I had finished the box of tea I was working on and decided to “treat myself” to more expensive tea that I normally save for “special occasions” or company. At the first sip I remembered how much I enjoy PG Tips tea. PG Tips is not terribly expensive, it is only slightly more than my usual cup. So why the hell was I saving it?

Then I started thinking about other things.  Those fancy sugar cubes that aren’t really cubes at all? Why are they still hermetically sealed in the boxes in which they came? That really nice jam? How about those gorgeous olives, spreads and pates? All this fantastic shelf stable food that I store in my pantry…what the hell am I waiting for? MY LIFE is a special occasion dammit! MY FAMILY members are “company”. Each of us deserves to celebrate every fucking day. And so do you.

Why am I reflecting on this now? Is it because of the impending New Year? NOPE! Tomorrow begins my 50th year on this planet. I celebrate the half century mark on LeAnneuary 8th and I celebrate all month long (thanks Friend Deb for encouraging this behavior!).  I have decided to take it one step further inspired by new Friend and fellow blogger McCall Humes (read her blog HERE). I have decided to celebrate the entire year by doing something I have never tried before once each month.

As I thought about this, and shared the idea with Hubby, it occurred to me that this is going to be a tall order! I have done A LOT in my 49 years. So here is the goal: visit someplace new, eat something I haven’t tried before, attempt that recipe that has confounded me, experience something for the first time and stretch my comfort zone.

I would love to have you all comment with suggestions of what I should taste, do, try, attempt! Here are some of things I have already done:

    • Skydiving

  • Snorkeling
  • Zip-lining

    Ziplining in Mexico

    Ziplining in Mexico

  • Rappelling

    Rappelling down a waterfall in Mexico

    Rappelling down a waterfall in Mexico

  • Lived in Europe
  • Culinary school
  • Shaved my head
  • Been on TV
  • Been on the Radio
  • Eaten offal and ALMOST every part of most animals
  • Eaten insects
  • Ridden a horse AND a donkey

My first new thing will be running a 5K for the first time. This will be on LeAnneuary 17th here in Vegas as a fundraiser for Chefs for Kids. I will participate, but my goal is to run the entire thing. I won’t be fast, I won’t win and I don’t care. I simply want to be able to say “I DID IT!” Keep warm thoughts in your head for that day, I don’t do well in the cold.

Happiest of New Years to all of you! Thank you for following along with me. (Moment of Truth – I LOVE it when you SHARE my blog, SUBSCRIBE using the simple fill in the blank on the right of your screen and COMMENT on this site). You can also follow along on FB, Twitter and Instagram.