Renee Rongen

Pulling Christmas Out of My A_ _

I was Just about to plop down on the leather sofa yesterday afternoon when I noticed a curved, thin shiny piece glistening in the sunlight.  As I went to remove it, I found wedged in the cushion, sharp side facing up, a medium sized cutlery knife.   I realized that my 13 year old daughter or HUSBAND had saved themselves twelve steps and grabbed the utensil to slit envelopes and open Christmas cards.   The irony:  Two days before in fit of Christmas panic, I had blurted out to my husband, “do you just think I pull Christmas out of my A_ _? “ 

The irony of it all made me laugh out loud and then remorse set it for my silly outburst.  I love Christmas and all of the mystery and goodness that unfolds.  How silly I was to use such a phrase to describe what in the Christian world is such a holy and reverent time.  Perhaps I like others was caught up in the commercialization of it all.  I’d always prided myself on keeping it simple and giving the gift of “presence” instead of “presents”.  As I removed the utensil from the sofa and lay out the proper letter opener next to the basket of Christmas cards, I somehow found gratitude.  I was grateful for not going to the emergency room and having to explain what could have been, grateful for all of the faces staring up at me from the Christmas card basket and grateful for the less than subtle reminder to slow down,  keep it simple, enjoy and to laugh.

The Lesson:  Christmas is about the “presence and not the “presents” and sometimes we need a visual to put things in perspective.  

OLD…. But Still Swinging!

How can it be that this past week I celebrated my 30^th birthday for the 20^th time? For those of you not good with new math, let me break that concept down for you.  I’ve been on this Earth for 18,250 days which is an even half century or five decades.  Simply put, without all the pomp and circumstance, I am 50! 

The day was nearly anti-climatic, as I have been celebrating this monumental event for the past year with many friends who have paved the way for me.  I really started ratcheting down the celebrating when I flew to the Dominican Republic in March with nine of my grammar school (kindergarten) friends.  Who knew that 10 half centurion women, many of us moms, leaders of companies, and married for over 25 years could still party like rock stars?  Or so we convinced one another until we went to bed, passing one another in the night several times on the way to the bathroom, laughing as we were reminded of our age by the more frequent need to empty our bladders. 

Fast forward to June when the cards, calls, pranks and jokes escalated to that monumental day, June 15^th! Dawn broke on the glorious 18,250^th day of my life with my 13-year-old daughter making me breakfast in bed with the assistance of her Daddy.  A grand smile on her face as she announced she had the best gift I had been asking for… all I really remember asking for was a peaceful and restful day.  I guess she had listened as she pulled the most beautiful bouquet of roses from behind her back and presented them to me.  My husband buckled over trying to keep a straight face as she said “Mom, aren’t they perfect?  I didn’t even need a card!”  Of course she didn’t.  Attached to the roses was the most beautiful red banner with gold writing that read…Mom – Rest In Peace!

Packing quick on the 18,250^th day of my life, I headed to our cabin where I was joined by six of my girlfriends who showered me with gifts, accolades, chocolate and a wonderful foot soak and massage.  Laughter rang through the woods as the slumber party kicked into high gear.  Wearing my new favorite t-shirt, OLD…But Still Swinging, I danced to seventies music and was thankful that these were the only tassels I was swinging! 

On the go again to my 55^th speaking engagement of the year… accompanied by my mother and two dear friends, we reminisced and snickered about the past day’s festivities.  Arriving in Minot ND, just in time to witness the beginning of what was soon to be the biggest flood that community had ever seen.  Of course, I announced that I was celebrating the 20^th anniversary of my 30^th birthday.  Almost on queue, all 500 audience members broke into a loud chorus of Happy Birthday!  That was way cool! 

The celebration is soon to close.  Mid-July, I will again gather with the class of 1979 where we will toast one another and each ask the same question, “When did this happen?  It seems like yesterday we were wearing our gunny sack dresses to prom and slow dancing to Nights in White Satin.”

I don’t know many that have hit this milestone birthday without turning inward and taking an internal snapshot of the first half of their life.  I’m no different than the rest.  In my prayer chair, I’ve pondered these past 50 and speculated about the next 50.  A few things I have learned in my 18,250 days of life are:

We are all part of each other’s stories

Every day is full of choices

Attitude is everything

Being completely vulnerable is scary

The sun in the morning is a relief after a long dark night

Dancing feels good

Love  is complicated

It is true…I can’t change others, only me

Children are like footprints dancing on your heart

Life is fragile

Health is more valuable than money

Death is not the end, but necessary to get to the next place

A smile is sunshine in your soul

Laughter really truly is the best medicineLive like you are dying!

Thank you all for being part of my first half century of life.  The journey has been so much richer because you are in it! 

Wow!  What a ride...literally!  9 hours late into Dayton dodging winds on way to Ohio.  Return was much the same, dodging winds and tornadic activity and so very humid.  The ride so bumpy... it was the first time in all my travels that I had formulated a  plan in my head as to what I was going to do in the event the small Embraer airplane went down.  I was so happy to have drawn the lottery ticket for the exit row seat (one of the perks for frequent travelers who have long legs and are a junior plenty size).  Last night, I realized the overwhelming responsibility of that lottery ticket. “ In the unlikely event” per the flight attendant, I was now  going to be the last person to exit that row. 

Over the past ten days, I have been on a speaking tour in California.  I began in Chico in Northern California, moved on to Sacramento and ended up in Napa Valley.  The events were diverse and ranged from speaking at college events, to corporations and ending with a women’s event.  In between, as usual, I squeezed in as much fun as I could possible get in.

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As I write this blog, I am gazing out the window of my childhood cabin in Northwest Minnesota. It is here that I make my annual pilgrimage on a retreat for one. Equipped with laptop, a clothes basket full of work supplies, files, half written articles and notes on speaking material for the upcoming year, in addition to one grocery bag of food and a duffle bag full of comfortable clothing, I leave my family and head out...