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Birthday Confessions of a Simple Chick

For my birthday this year, I faced the same disbelief you'll have when half a century happens to you.

How can it be that I am 50?

The mirror says it's possible. The gray that now encircles a full 90% of my head is nicely covered with my "colour of the month" choice. My face has started to sag with the passing of time and my neck has a little woddle thing happening. I wake up in the morning and often find my joints somewhat stiff (though I won't admit to it.) I have been known to nod off on the sofa some afternoons. I am surviving menopause albeit it with much anxiety at times. So, yes, I suppose it's true then. I am really 50.

So how exactly did I get here, and more specifically, onto the motorbike seat, gripping the handlebars?

Early biking influences

I was born in the Netherlands. My parents immigrated to Canada when I was eight for the "adventure" of it all. As I remember, my life in Holland was pretty good. We lived in a row house. Dad had a company Volkswagen bus and a Norton motorcycle with a sidecar. My younger brother, Harry, and I got the sidecar. Mom and Dad rode on the bike.

Looking back perhaps I was meant to ride from birth. I just should be riding a bike with a sidecar attached. Better balance.

(But I digress. Happens at fifty. Short-term memory issues.)

Early Canadian memories

We came to Canada in 1964 by ship and landed at Pier 21 in Halifax. I remember being ill the entire crossing. Harry, my brother, ate fries for ten days solid. (I wonder if he still likes fries?)

At that point we climbed onto a train, coal fired I believe, that took three days to travel from Halifax to London, Ontario, our final destination. We had a breakdown in Montreal and disembarked for 12 hours.

We spoke little English and no French, but I recall mom and dad ordering ice cream sundaes for us.

Early formative vacation experiences

We had a great time those early years in Canada and vacationed up in Northern Ontario every summer. Our European tent stirred envy at every campground where we stayed. I'm sure our parents could have charged admission. Over the years, we traveled much of Ontario, into Quebec and ventured to the East coast of the U.S. Mom saved $15 for holidays. Camping fees ate $1 per day. Gas costs at 39 cents/gallon were minimal. This budget even allowed for a meal in a restaurant.

When I turned 16, I got my driver's license straight away so I could share driving the car and by then, a tent trailer, to our destinations.

These were fun times and I am so glad my husband and I have followed in my folks' footsteps by vacationing every year with our children. They will come to realize these memories are priceless.

Working

I started my first full time job at age 17 for the Royal Bank as a teller and continued until I was 40, moving up the ladder until I got tired and stepped off. It was a great experience; I met my present husband (Wayne) at the bank, and moved with the company to Vancouver and Vancouver Island, back to Waterloo, Ontario the city we now call home. I worked as a currency trader for eight years but retired when I turned 48. Now I spend my time doing the things I want to.

(Side note: I cannot believe how much that seems to bother people, not having a job, I mean. It's as if we are defined by a job posting.)

While in BC, we traveled much of the country on our motorcycle and in a small motorhome. I look back at it now and thank the bank for providing us with the time to explore the West Coast of Canada and the United States.

Kids

I was married at the young age of 19. At 23, I gave birth to Jill. She is absolutely beautiful and smart. I can say that, I'm her mom. Although my marriage ended when she was three, I am grateful to have had her. I started dating Wayne and he stepped in and took over the parenting role that came so naturally to him. We married and together we have two more children, Spencer and Larissa who are now 18 and 16.

The five of us have traveled and fished, camped, gone horseback riding, cycled, white-water rafted, skied, skated, sledded, canoed. We even went tandem parasailing. I will never do that again: fed a lot of fish that day.

Husbands

Kit's Tips for a Happy First 50 Years

• On parenting: Enjoy your children; take them with you to experience things and places and people. Treat them with respect and you will get respect. Ask, don't demand. Be kind to them.
• On money: Don't save all your money for retirement. Instead, use money to enjoy and experience life. That is what money should be used for. Take the vacation. Your job will still be there when you get back. Your family will love you for it.
• On the future: Set goals. Encourage your children to set goals. Help them achieve their goals. Be proud of their decisions.
• On getting older: Age but don't become old. Think young and behave young. Jump in the back of pickup trucks with a group of your friends and go for ice cream. Do silly things in front of strangers…you're never going to see them again anyway.
• On friends: Enjoy your friends. They make life so interesting and make you do things that on your own might not dream of doing.
• On tattoos: Go ahead get that tattoo. You know you want one. Your mother can't say anything!
• And finally: Ride motorcycles. They give you a sense of freedom and you'll meet some of the nicest people.