Reggie’s Birthday

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Gigi in Aging, My Life 4 Comments

Reggie

Reggie’s birthday was yesterday, his 64th no less. Funny that our numbers are going up but we don’t “feel” whatever that age is supposed to feel like. We will be celebrating this month, starting with dinner tonight. In a couple of weeks we will go to Las Vegas with friends and I have a few other surprises planned. I asked Reggie did he feel “64” and they are battling diseases that have taken a toll on their bodies, although I have high blood pressure, I know if I were not exercising and eating a plant based diet I probably would not be celebrating my 64th birthday.”

I love birthdays and over the years we have had a lot of parties- here are a few pics I found from some of those shindigs.

Reggie celebrated 63 years on planet – we had a little house party.

one of the 50 something birthdays I can’t recall which one- the only clue is I was wearing my hair straight – so this may have been about 10 or 12 years ago.

Husband & I birthday 61 I can tell by my “big hair don’t care” oops the the grey mustache…hehehe

60th St. Lucia- we went with 4 of our dear friends and had a blast-

birthday – maybe 57? that purple dress is kinda old…

another one of the 50 something birthdays

One of the 40 something birthdays…I can tell by my hair and the thick dark mustache

Reggie 58th b-day

surprise party I think 59th- close friends met us at a restaurant-

Next year will be one of those milestone birthdays, perhaps we will go away somewhere or maybe another party- all I know is we will celebrate-

Are you obsessed with celebrating birthdays like me? Growing up I had a birthday party for my 6th birthday, a slumber party for my 12th and that was it…so I think I am making up for all the years I did not have birthday celebrations.

How do you typically celebrate birthdays?

Xoxo,

Gigi

Happy 17th Birthday Reggie!

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Gigi in Family 1 Comment

I’m of the age where the reproductive stage has certainly past. The age where some of my friends are grandmothers all ready, I was a late bloomer. 17 years ago I was in BlockBuster, cruising the aisles for new music, this was pre i tunes etc., back in the old days when you went to music stores and bought cd’s for $20. I was passing time until I had to pick up my 1st grader Amani, even though November 18th was my official due date and that morning, when I took Amani to school she said, “My brother is coming today”, for some reason I didn’t think so… So of course when my water broke, as I was listening to Toni Braxton‘s new release Un-Break my Heart trying to decide if I was going to add it to my small stack of $20.99 CDs- I knew my son would be here shortly.

I picked Amani up went home, called Reggie, btw this was pre-cell phone days, arrived at the hospital around 5 and Reggie entered the world a little before 10PM. Life has never been the same.

Nov 18 1996

This is the first time we will not celebrate Reggie’s birthday with him, he will celebrate with his classmates and his Italian family. It is an odd feeling not being together, I’m a big birthday person and I have always celebrated my kids special day. Do to the shipping situation in Italy I could not even send him a gift, just a call and a happy birthday wish, oh and an ATM deposit. Although it is so cliche, time really does go by fast, I didn’t believe it when other parents would tell me this, but oh it is so true. From the Elmo to Sponge Bob, gameboy to PS 3, i pod to i mac, Sean John to Prada, In N Out to A.O.C, it has been a blast watching you grow and develop into this eccentric guy.

So take the time and create lasting memories with your children, soon they will be young adults with their own agendas, which is a good thing. I sometimes think perhaps we should have had another baby, when that door was still slightly opened. Reggie has one more year of high school left, but he is already making plans to go east for college.

Reggie @ 16

Reggie @ 11 hiphop phase

2012 gigi & family

Happy Monday,

Xoxo,

Gigi

Kicking Stones…

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Gigi in Inspiration, My Life, Well-Being 4 Comments

Big Stone…

For me the inspiration for a post usually begins with something that I observed, read, heard, experienced or felt. Today I was thinking about milestones and how easy it is to get caught up in when certain events should happen in our lives. How you feel like a loser if you have missed some “stones” or stumbled on a few or maybe you are just starting to creep up on a one or two. There is always that someone who is doing more, has a thriving career, perfect kids, etc., but the truth is we have to accept where we are and know for whatever reason that is our plan for the moment.

For me two years ago I did not know at the ripe young age of 54, I would be launching a photography business, one where many photographers my age are well established, some world renowned, while I am just mastering really understanding my complex camera and my flashes. Instead of harping on the “I have so much catching up in my field” syndrome, it is easier for me to evaluate what I have to offer, for example I am an expert on photographing women over the age of 40, I know that demographic very well or that I bring to my business a brain that has scoured magazines for the past 40 years and so many beautiful images are permanently imprinted in my brain.

I have learned to be at peace with my life and where I am and accept that there will be adversity, and as painful as it is everyone is not going to embrace you or support your choices, some may even criticize you and ask you questions such as “Are you doing that as a hobby” or ” really…someone going to pay you for that” and that is OK-it will make you a stronger person.

So where ever you are start jumping over those stones or better yet put on a pair of steel toed boots and start kicking them out of the way…

Happy Tuesday!

Xoxo,

Gigi

Photographer Gigi

milestones

Reggie’s Birthday

Happy 17th Birthday Reggie!

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