I was sitting in the Trader Joe's parking lot in my Prius and my mind wandered to when I bought it, and I realized that in a certain sense, that year--2007--was a Golden Age for me.
Caveat: I know that today is also a Golden Age--and that every day presents itself with miracles. I do not mean to get overly morose or nostalgic with this post, or minimize my gratitude for today, but only to recall a time in my life that floods me with warmth.
It was 2007. I had just attended my daughter's college graduation, as well as my the graduation of my son, who had dropped out of high school and who was now giving the valedictory speech at his college.
I had just been made Vice President of Research, marking a quadrupling of my salary over less than 10 years, after having transitioned to a career in market research at age 46, releasing me from the near-poverty of the prior years.
The next day the entire family, including my MIL, was flying to Scotland for 10 days--a trip I worked 9 years for in terms of saving up travel points.
My son, daughter and I had just left a Memorial Day parade in which my DH was marching as a bagpiper for a local Pipes and Drums group. I was driving home and passed a Toyota dealership and just on a whim pulled in. My kids were now done with college, my daughter was "inheriting" the VW Beetle we had shared for the previous 4 years, and it was time for me. I saw a white Prius in the parking lot. I checked out the features, and in 10 minutes I had given the salesman a deposit and told him to hold it until I got back from Scotland.
As I mentioned above, I still have that car and expect to have it for several more years--it has 113,000 miles and has served me well. That car is wrapped in the memories of May/June 2007. I feel so lucky in so many ways.
Does anyone else have a special time or a special year they'd like to share?