Midlife-Crisis, Mortality, or Simply Aging

Recently a friend of mine posted about turning 50.  I found the post interesting, so many of us late baby boomers are turning 50 or will do so soon.  For me it is 16 months from now, but very much on my mind.  I will turn 50 and weeks later my youngest child graduates high school, so I will also become an empty nester.  Now what?  What do I do now, cause the same old looks very boring.  I love my children, have enjoyed raising them, but it is me time again.  I look forward to the spontaneity this time will bring.  Initially I know I will stay busier then usual to fill the void, but soon I will ease into the next phase of life. Eating when I want to, going out to see friends anytime I want to, no kids to haul somewhere or asking me for money, opps, I am afraid they still ask for money, college is expensive. Going to the beach for the day, and suddenly deciding to stay the night, because we can!

So with all this on my mind, I recently took a walk by my home to a old cemetery.  It was a dark Grey day, the rain had stopped. The only noise was from cars passing by and my shoes in the wet grass.  I walked the tomb stones, I took pictures, and saw some interesting things.  This cemetery had many tombstones of WWII Veterans.  What surprised me the most as I looked for more and more to confirm this.  The Vets buried there, most lived long lives, but strangely, most out lived their wives, some by months, others by years.  I thought "Us" gals typically outlived our guys, what happened? 

I also found plots that were completely overgrown.  So what follows are photos I first took using different settings on my camera, then manipulated them.  I hope you enjoy the results.

Now I am off to work on my healthy diet, walk the dog, read a newspaper and remember to laugh at myself.  Then I think I will spend sometime thinking about my contributions and how I would like to be remembered. 
On a lighter note here's to looking at and enjoying another 50 years, hopefully. Remember to enjoy sunsets, and sunrises. Stop when the delicate smell of new roses in spring hits your nose and inhale deeply. Laugh until your sides hurt when your bird dog, leaps chasing a seagull into the ocean, only to realize she can not out swim it as it flies away. Look at the world through childlike eyes, there is glory all around you.