Simple

I am awakened by my cat, Tickles, at 4:50 this morning.  She wants to be sweet and cuddly after a week of being stand-offish.  I assumed she was miffed that we had added a new pet to our menagerie, Duders, a Crested Gecko.  I did not want Duders but GianPaolo couldn't keep him in his dorm.

I spent a few hours learning about the Crested Gecko and discovered they can live five to ten years with proper care.  I almost felt a stab of nostalgia at the thought of Duders not living to see my sixtieth birthday.

Having just read Fiona's blog on her upcoming fortieth, I realize how time does fly!  I was just forty a few days ago.  I remember Randy hosting the party for me and all of my friends and family came.  My dad was at this party and he was only sixty-two.  How old would he be today if he were still alive?  OMG!  He would've been seventy-six on August 9th!

Forty was great, but, I am in a different place than when I was forty.  I'm a bit simpler.  Maybe it is because my boys are becoming men and I want to afford them the best opportunity for their future adventures.  I have been really working on my rich life on a budget as I cannot afford to spend the way I used to.  Putting them through college is terribly expensive!  But, this day and age, one cannot afford not to go to college even though it is so unaffordable!

I can live simple.  At least for now!  I have a whole lot more time for living big, if that is what I really want one day.  I have my health, I have my family (and their health!), I have my pets, I have my home, I have YOU!  I am rich beyond measure.