50+ things before 50

I will have lived half a century by next August and would like to diminish the societal weirdness of being 50 - having to check a new demographic box on forms, knowing most women begin to be dismissed at this age - by mindfully engaging in activities that bring me joy, magnify the wonder of our world, show myself and any doubters that I do indeed still have relevancy & usefulness & vibrancy. I started this process last fall when I requested a sabbatical for the 2017-18 school year, to have 180 days to freely manage my time, being available for my graduating daughter and exploring different kinds of opportunities.

Here I'll record the unique things I do during this year, to remind me in my old age (many decades from now) that I loved life, that I came to live out loud and did.

Day 1, August 23, 2017 : Dinner at Le Pigeon featuring grilled skate + foie gras sorbet

2, August 24 :  Poetry reading with secret boyfriends Anis Mojgani & Derrick Brown

Precious Anis Mojgani

Darling Derrick Brown

3 + 4, August 26 & 27 : Iggy Pop, Spoon, and Beck in concert

5, September 8-10 : Assistant to Tom Kenny, voice of SpongeBob Squarepants et al, at Rose City Comic Con

Marvelousness

6, September 11-19 : MVHS band fundraiser

7, September 15 : Miller's Crossing at Reader's Theatre Repertory

8, September 22 : Alison Moyet at a tiny theater with my college bestie

9, September 24 : Wine tasting + vineyard tour with friends in the Gorge

10, September 28 : Begin weekly volunteering at p:ear, a program for homeless & transitional youth

11, September 29 : MVHS band social

12, September 30 : Pullman for Mason's 19th birthday

13, October 5 : Answer phones for OPB fall pledge drive

14, October 5 : Cobra to Seattle, train home

15, October 6 : MVHS Homecoming football game

16, October 12 : Happy Hour gathering with colleagues

17 + 18, October 13 : Greek dinner + The Turn of the Screw at Readers Theatre Rep

19, October 20 : Fun Home at Portland Center Stage

20, October 21 : Burlescape show at Crush Bar

21, October 23 : Depeche Mode in concert

22 + 23, October 27 : Train to Seattle for Tegan & Sara concert + overnight with high school friends

24, October 30 : Mary Lambert concert, meet Mal Blum

25, October 31 : Halloween party + face painting at p:ear

26, November 1 & 2 : Check in filmmakers/actors/guests at Portland Film Festival

27, November 3-5 : Dad's Weekend at WSU, Seth Meyers performance + Stanford football game

28, November 6 : First meeting of Citizens Advisory Committee 

29, November 11 : MVHS Holiday Bazaar prize table

30, November 12 : Extra on the digital series, The Musicianer; meet Beth Harrington & Lowell Deo

31, November 14 : David Sedaris reading

32, November 15 : Design giving tree tags for p:ear

33, November 17 : Paula Poundstone, front row at the Aladdin

34, November 25 : Tailgate at Apple Cup in Seattle

....stay tuned...