The Girl With The Grandmother Face
I don’t often write about myself, but this is one of
those times. Occasionally things
happen in our lives that make us stop, review, and consider.
February was one of those times for me.
Early in the month, I slipped on the ice in my own
driveway, landing flat on my back. After
a couple weeks and almost $500, I was almost back to normal when I was hit with
the flu. The timing was perfect
---the day before Valentine’s Day. Fortunately
most of the gift basket orders had been completed and lined up for delivery. And
I had a wonderful husband who stepped in and made all those deliveries.
Too stubborn to go to the doctor for antibiotics (I had had the flu shot
hadn’t I!), I spent two weeks recovering.
To finish out the month, one of my fellow Exchange Club members, Joy
Duprey, an active and energetic woman, died at the age of 57.
(And, to think at age 25, 57 seemed ancient!).
I know better now.
These events led me to ask myself, “Why are you operating
a business at the age of 63? Shouldn’t
you be taking it easy, traveling, enjoying the grand kids, and doing whatever
retired people do?”
It didn’t take me long to answer myself with more
questions? How old is old?
How long is life? And what do
you want to do with the rest of it? The
answers came easily. I’ve stuffed
more living into 63 years than many people.
I’ve traveled, had dinner with Eleanor Roosevelt, stood on the lawn in
Washington
and watched President Kennedy take the oath of office.
I’ve flown gliders, organized a children’s theatre, and served on the
City Council, Planning Commission, and School Board.
I’ve been married for 44 years and raised two daughters who are each,
in their own way, successes in life. One
is a stay-at home mom who home schools her kids and the other is
Yavapai
County
’s Teacher of the Year. As a
frequently published freelance writer and business owner, I’ve achieved my
dreams.
What do I want to do with the rest of my life?
“Live it to the fullest!” I reply to myself.
And what better way than to do what I find challenging and enjoyable?
I grew Arizona Singles into a successful business before selling it and
have been growing “Creative Gifts To Go” for the past 12 years into a
venture I can be proud of. It
started as a small local gift basket company and has expanded into a nationwide
gift service company. It has
branched out to include promotional products, property management gifts, Grand
Canyon Teddy Bears, and a national gift basket FTD type network.
Why would I want to stop now? I
have new ideas, more plans and goals for the future
As I look in the mirror, I no longer see the young girl who
boldly stepped out of a sheltered childhood into the world of reality as she
wondered what lies ahead. The girl
in the mirror, staring back at me, now has a grandmother face.
The face has changed but the girl is still here.
The awe and wonder has been replaced with maturity and experience.
This girl with the grandmother face is going to take advantage of every
minute to live life to the fullest. After
all, that’s what success and happiness is all about.
Joyce Reid is still
living life to the fullest. She owns and operates
www.shopcreativegifts.com,
www.giftbasketnetwork.com,
www.route-66-memories.com and
www.grandcanyonteddybears.com
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