The Big 4-1!

The number says it - FORTY ONE! 41! Cuarenta y uno! Quarante et un! Apatnapu't isa! Yonjuuichi! No matter how and what ever language I translate 41, it still remains as that - a big, fat 41.

I know. I keep telling everyone that age is just a number. It remains a figure in my journey in this phase of life. I am very thankful though that I will be celebrating my 41st birthday with my family and that means so much to me. What bothers me now is how my body is adapting to the years of my existence. I just posted something about my expanding girth and it happens each time I celebrate my birthday. I am seriously freaking out to see my waistline loyally following my age. There can't be any paranormal connection to that. I hope!

Well, expanding waistline is not my only concern these days. The physical manifestations of turning 41 is becoming evident too. Let's skip the girth now. Let's focus on the upper portion of my body. Well, my arms are still droopy but not as droopy as before. Thanks to the arm exercises I do. My chest is still okay, thank goodness for that. My face is plump like an inflated balloon. But I have to give it to my face though. I still don't have wrinkles considering my age. Kudos to that! But I am not spared from the age spots as they start to congregate in one area of my cheek. My crowning glory is another story. It is turning into silver! I used to have dark brown hair. Now, 1/4 of my natural hair has decided to go on mutiny. And about 1/8th of that decided to go MIA! LOL!!!

Now, for the other half of my body. My buttocks are firm but slightly lower than they used to. They used to be perky and "up there" but now, gravity has convinced by derriere to follow suit. Traitors! And as an evidence to that claim, my perfectly form-fitting jeans which happily nestles on my well-formed behind is slightly loose and slung lower than usual. Hmmm. I hope it's because my fat bum just got more toned. Otherwise, I don't even want to know how my behind will look like 10 years from now. They're probably kissing the floor!

Oh, the legs! Don't even get me started with them. I used to have lovely gams that wearing micro minis and shorts were never an issue. Well, those were the days and the present calls for more trousers and longer skirts. They're like logs! But like my face, I have to give a round of applause to my legs because they are toned and not flabby. If I could only lose more inches from them. Sigh.

Let's go to the last part I want to pick on - my feet. I thought my feet will not expand width and length-wise. I was wrong! I used to wear a size 6 shoes. Now it's 7 and I am not too happy about it. I am 5 foot flat and I look like a clown wearing big shoes. Now that's a sight I am not very comfortable with. Nothing against clowns but they do wear big shoes for the show but for me, I have to wear it to work and I look like a penguin.

I told myself I want to grow old gracefully not awkwardly. I feel like a pubescent girl, uncertain of how she has to adapt whilst aware of where she will eventually be in the cycle of life. I am not sure if my mind is really ready for the changes that will happen to me as I push 41 and onwards. I'm sure I will get used to all these. I just need to internalize the changes and accept them as part of "growing up."

And I thought I grew up already? So, what do I feel now that I am turning 41? I feel so many things. I feel grateful, happy but confused, still adapting to all that is happening and wondering how my life will be years from now.

I pray I will be given more time in the world to discover the person that I will be as I go along in this journey in life. And while I am travelling in that road, I'll take with me the many lessons and wisdom I will pick up along the way. That includes the imperfections my physical being will undertake as I show the world what being 41 does to a woman like me.

An Award and Some Facts

I received this award and tag from one of my great blogger pal named Enid - From the Diary of a call Center Mom. She always remember me on nice tags and I love doing them all. Thanks Enid. I love this tag and award! Before it was 7 Random Facts then it became 8 and this time it's 10 facts about me.

This is the second Butterfly Award I received from another blogger pal - Cely of New Horizon.

HERE ARE THE RULES FOR :

A. FOR THE BUTTERFLY AWARD

1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.

3. Link 10 other bloggers with whom you would like to share this award

B. FOR THE CUTE'S 2008 BLOGGER AWARD

1. each blogger must post this

2. each blogger starts with ten random facts/habits about themselves

3. bloggers that are tagged need to write about their own 10 random facts please post these rules and tag 10 others of your choice.

4. don`t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they've been tagged and to read your blog .

SO, HERE ARE 10 STUFF ABOUT ME:

1. I love to travel. It's a great blessing to be able to work in one of the most prestigious airlines in the world. I get free and rebated tickets so that's the main reason I can afford to travel. That's the whole beauty of being an airline staff when you are a wanderlust like I am.

2. I don't know how to cook. This is more of a choice really. I know, I know, the conservatives will throw stones at me but like I said, it's more of a choice. I never had any inclination on cooking nor anything in the kitchen for that matter other than the food I'll eat. Hahahaha! I do cook once in a blue moon and most times, it comes out like a gourmet meal because I have to follow the recipe.

3. I ran away when I was 10 because I didn't want to go back to my school. One of my teachers embarrassed me horribly in front of the whole Grade 5 class. I forgot the nitty-gritty details but it had something to do with "mistakenly quoted" by a tattle tale. I was made to deliver an apology speech in all of the Grade 5 classes (I think there were 10 or 12 sections in our school) for something I didn't say. My mom's officemate found me in the old "Gotesco Caloocan" and they said I looked like a beggar with my dirty clothes and worn out slippers. Oh, the adventures I had! I wasn't gone for long as I really intend to come back at night time when everyone else was asleep but got found in the afternoon. Hehehe! And who said I AM BORING?????

4. Back in my academic days, they call me a geek sans the glasses. I don't know why because I suck in Math so how can I be a geek, right?

5. I have always wanted to be a cardiologist. I am being realistic and all, my health won't allow me to be a doctor because instead of curing the patients, I have to cure myself all the time =). I decided to change my aspiration and since I love to travel, I took up International Studies. I remember when I was 5 years old, I used to read anatomy books and my parents would encourage me to pursue Medicine but then, let's face it, I am more sick than my patients, if I ever become a doctor... LOL! I will (as in forever) hold a special place in my heart for that dream. It will just be a dream though.

6. I am freakishly organized. I love putting things in order and use color codes for some stuff like pink pail for my undergarments, and white pail for the socks. When I write notes, I use colored pens too, red when I stress a point, green for important stuff and blue or black for the common notes. Well, my closet is another story. I am sharing my closet with my princess so I am having a hard time keeping it in order. You know how kids just pull out stuff and don't fix. However, my clothes are arranged according to categories, all skirts are together, all suits together, trousers and pants combined, shirts and blouses are folded and arranged again in gradual changes of hue. So, all shades of blue shirts will be together and so on.

7. I am not a sporty kind of person. I have this terrible hands, legs, arms, feet coordination. I can't seem to master anything sporty other than running on the treadmill, if you can consider running as sports in my case.

8. I prefer being called by my nickname - Ria. My real name is ______ (secret) but I feel that it is too lady-like and hard to recall. In the office, I am well-known as "Ria" so when I am introduced by my bosses and colleagues to visitors, they have to stress that my real name is ________ and that Ria is my preferred name to be called. Talk about influence...heheehehee!

9. I don't know if this is a talent or what but I have this weird thing on remembering names, faces and details. I can recall a person's name and face even if I have met him/her once. In my line of job, I meet a lot of people and I am often surprised by how I can call out their names when I see them and have met them only once. I cannot say this is photographic memory because sometimes I cannot remember a task to do. My family and friends tell me that I should be an FBI agent or be in CIA because I'll make good use of this gift...yeah right!

10. Lastly, I still watch cartoons with my daughter. This is something I'll never outgrow.

That was fun! Now, I want to present this award and tag to:

Chubz
Chriss
MsRay
Bingkee
Bill
Jade
Marly
Riaboo
Shiela

Yub