Half Century

Saturday I took to top wheels with some Moto Mama girlfriends, they were helping me ease into a new decade.  Turning 50 has NOT been easy for me at all, it has been full of angst, trepidation, and loathing.  Some look forward to this, not me! No matter how many times I hear "Don't worry it's just a number" or "50 is the new 30", it fills me with despair, I am not young anymore. I am now at the top of the hill and starting my descent into my last portion of my life.  Yup, I know it sounds depressing but it is reality and every day I face mortality in my job and see what the various decades bring and I find myself  despairing. (Hang in with me here - it will lighten up) I was really dreading my birthday.  And then things changed.

I arranged a ride up Island with my friends.  It was a cloudy gloomy day, which sort of fit  in with my ambivalent feelings towards 50. But then something happened, my cares melted away. It's been a tough month in Scooterpie Land and this was the first time in 30 days where I have really taken time for myself or even touched Scarlet.  I have also been doing a lot of introspection, which I think a lot of people do when it comes to milestone birthdays, in fact I think I have been overthinking the whole thing and created an emotional barrier.  (It's going to get better here)

  My Moto Mama girlfriends at our meeting point, getting ready to go for a rip.

Motorcycle Man brought Scarlet out of the garage, checked her over, topped up her tires, he also made me breakfast & coffee and told me to go wander & have a good time & not worry about time today.  Off I went listening to a mix of music and ruminating in my head about turning 50.  Holy cow a half CENTURY - 50! During my ride and being in the company of my friends I stopped caring and worrying about turning 50.  I realized it is just a number and it doesn't change who I am, maybe just a little more creaky at times and not as much endurance, but I am still me.  

We headed up the Trans Canada #1 Malahat highway off to ride the back roads of the Cowhican Valley and end up at The Duncan Garage, where I heard they serve yummy cinnamon buns.  (WARNING: Stay away from the carrot cake bar) anyway the 5 of us met up with my real life evil twin sister Scooterpie the sequel. Yup I really have a twin and we are Gemini and I AM 5 minutes older (this is a big deal in the world of twin). 

We are double trouble and have a lot of fun together and yup she is my bestie. There was a lot of laughter, giggling, and general mayhem going on.  And of course food!  

I had a slice of fabulous gluten free chocolate cake, in the background was Kristen's carrot cake bar and this by general consensus was decided that it was not yummy and heavy as a brick, so we won't be getting that again.  The coffee was probably one of the best I have had, or maybe it was just the laughter and conversation.  I felt cheered, buoyant and better, the 50 funk lifted. Soon we said goodbye to my sis and went for another tootle.

As with most motorcyclists you never take the short way home, it always seems to be a long protracted route and never in a straight line, the twistier the better.  Off we went meandering the back roads of Duncan to Shawnigan Lake and then hook up with the TC highway.  

We ended up stopping at one of the local wineries as one of the Mama's wanted to pick up a bottle of vino.  As she was doing this, the rest of us wandered around the grounds.  

Beautiful place and they had a lively little restaurant and porch seating area.

The views were stunning.  I think I will be going back for rendezvous at some point with a certain fella I know.

It was time to leave the lovely vineyard. I could have sunk into one of those chairs & happily enjoyed a glass of vino, but will save that for a non-riding day.  We rounded up the Mama's and off we went. 

(Think I need longer arms for group selfies)

We had a lovely ride home through Shawnigan Lake, over the Malahat and home.  Motorcycle Man and Scooterpie Jr, had planned a surprise dinner at friends.  It was lovely lots of wine, champagne, lovely supper and of course cake!

No birthday is complete without cake and singing Happy Birthday.  My spirits were so uplifted and I felt decadently happy (still do today).  

50 turned out to be okay.  I officially turned 50 at 4:51am Sunday morning and I just happened to wake up at 4:40 needing a drink of water and decided to forage for leftover cake.  Then I realized I was 2 minutes out from the exact time of my birth.  So I went and woke up Motorcycle Man and brought him out to help me officially bring in 50.

We lit 2 candles & I blew them out right on cue.  I also realized I am very blessed in my life and have a great hub who will get up at 4:51am to eat cake with his wife and kiss her on the cheek & wish me happy birthday.  

All in all it was a fabulous day AND the birthday number doesn't matter, what's important is that I am loved.