Since my last post, I became a 60 year old woman. 
It’s foolish to claim that all 60 year old women are this or that. I don’t assume that my life is anything like yours or your 60 year old loved one.
According to the stats as a 60 year old woman in the United States of America:
- I have a 3.46% chance of having breast cancer in the next ten years.
- My life expectancy is 84.3 years old.
- I am most likely to die via cancer, heart disease, or unintentional injuries.
At this point in my own blessed and privileged life, here are my own stats:
- I have outlived my mother by five years.
- I have survived a little bout of gynecological cancer. No symptoms for 15 years now.
- I have been married to HH for almost 29 years. [Note: Best decision of my life. It impacted everything else.]
- I have raised three kids with HH who lived to adulthood, for whom we were wealthy enough to provide a home in a good public school district, braces, annual vacations, and college educations (with the help of grants and loans.) We had good health insurance which allowed them to have regular medical and dental check ups. We had the money to cover car insurance for three teenage drivers.
- I have been ordained as a professional minister for almost 32 years during which I’ve enjoyed a remarkably satisfying work life.
- I’ve recovered from seven surgeries – mostly orthopedic as a failed gymnast/clumsy person.
- I regained my sense of smell after losing it for over 40 years.
- I’ve traveled to 14 countries and lived in some of the greatest cities in the world.
- I’ve owned a library card in five towns/cities.
- I’ve written this blog for 10 & 1/2 years.
- I’ve voted in five states.
- I’ve never seen Rocky.
So what’s next? In the next decade I would love:
- Not to die, although I am hyper-aware of the possibility.
- For our kids to be happy, working in jobs that feed their souls, and continue to want to make the world on earth as it is in heaven.
- To get out of the way.
- To see a female person of color as president of the United States.
- To write that book.
So much to look forward to.
A Church for Starving Artists 
I find your blogs almost always on point for me. Oddly, I was not aware of the fact that a woman was writing this blog until today. Or a man for that matter. Maybe I am not paying enough attention. 🙂 a question: how did you recover your sense of smell? Is it possible for others?
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Hi Nick- lost my sense of smell when my impacted wisdom teeth were removed at 18. It came back after I broke my nose in 2012. Not sure I recommend this regimen.
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Having had many of the same questions about the next decade at 60, and now well past 70, I find the item “get out of the way” most prominent for me. I’ve stopped worrying a lot about death…it will come. And oh yes…continuing to try to make the world a better place…
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Seems pretty obvious that the low hanging fruit on the “What’s Next?” list should be: See Rocky.
😉
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