My Mom turns 59 today. It's been a rough year for her. I watched with anxiety and awe as she dealt with unemployment at a time when there are few jobs available and even fewer companies willing to hire someone her age. I say "her age" as if she acts 59. That's hardly the case as you can see by this photo.
My mom's the best playmate her grandkids could ask for and they are the center of her new life in "retirement." Rather than fret about being out of work, she's embraced her availability as a last-minute babysitter. She and my dad have scaled back their expenses and pooled their resources.
Being another year closer to 60 is that much closer to collecting Social Security, which makes getting older a bit less depressing. She's worked out a plan that will carry her until then and it entails spending every day with her grandkids and picking up the odd project to pay the bills.
Today she's somewhere in the snowy mountains helping my sister wardrobe handsome actors in medieval costumes.
One is a dead ringer for Orlando Bloom, only cuter, she says. I don't know how that's possible. But I'm not sure how Mom manages to get more beautiful and confident and capable despite the many challenges life throws in her path, either.
So here's to a mother who defies possibility.
The entire city has shut down. I made a trip to the gym that took much longer than it should have because there aren't many plows in Charlotte and even fewer drivers who know how to deal with a couple inches of snow. 
