 |
| Mary Elizabeth Tapley 1985 Graduate, Swainsboro High School, Swainsboro, Emanuel, Georgia, USA |
I turn 58 years old this month. Forty years after the above picture was taken. At that time, life was exciting, on the brink of a lot of somethings new, i.e., college, new friends, new romantic relationships, my whole life.
Life rarely goes as you plan. I was never the CEO of a large company or even a business leader of a small company. After the hard work of high school and college, I found I wasn't as interested in working in Corporate America as I had thought. I had a difficult childhood that follows me to this day in varying degrees. Three failed marriages. Loss of my nephew, friends and other relationships in between. Loss of a business. Bankruptcy.
Through all of that, I learned how strong I am. I learned to bounce back again and again. I cried a lot, but I always found the humor in life as I struggled. I became independent, comfortable in my own skin (in other words, I don't fit in), and able to live on my own. I just knew I would be alone (single) the rest of my life, and I was fine with that.
Then in this past year, life threw another curve. My mother is aging, so I moved back to Georgia and in with her. It's been an adjustment... for both of us. We make it work.
Life isn't through with me yet. She and the Lord is giving me another chance at loving someone. It seems after a lifetime of looking and not looking, I have found my person. He put a ring on it just this week, and I am happier than I've ever been.
Life is a constant roller coaster. High Ups and Low Downs. But no matter how low it dips, it always comes back up. You just have to learn to hang on and find your own ways to enjoy the ride. I don't know if life actually gets better as we get older, but I do believe we can enjoy it more. We now know the good times when we see them.
There will be more to my story, I know. Like I said, I'm enjoying right now.
