There are birthdays, and then there are milestone birthdays. This one is significant for me as I am beginning this decade in a much different place than where I began the last decade:

I am single (after a year of being “divorced”) for the first time in 18 years
I am living in a house alone with all of its responsibilities/obligations (and an alarm system)
I am not where I want to be professionally or personally at this point in my life

This knowledge has a sobering effect but it also has given me a sense of purpose as well as the freedom to do what makes me happy, costs and consequences be damned.

Part of the sense of purpose has pushed me to write and not worry about whether or not it’s any good. This may be the only way people (especially my grandchildren) will get to know the “real me” because I’ve been careful not to show my real self to others as a means of protection.

So I’m going to blog (and maybe vlog) about the things that mean something to me. Some of it will be very personal thoughts and feelings. Some of it will be commentary about things that spark my passion. Much of it will be love letters to musicians, artists, writers, directors, actors, comedians - people who have made my life better by experiencing their work.

I don’t know who my audience may be – if it is my grandchildren, I hope you get to know me as a person rather than just as your “grandma”. If the audience is my friends, know this: I love you all and I have learned so much from each of you. It’s true that your friends are your mirrors and your mentors. If the readers are people I’ve never met, I hope we’ll get the opportunity.

I hadn’t planned to set up an account but found myself doing so - my alter ego Lydia is crazy and I’m just along for the ride…..

One day she may let me take over but for now I am letting Lydia do this.

Get ready, people.  It’s gonna get messy.