I set up this blog to document my attempts at 60 new things or experiences before my 60th birthday next February.

So far, I have completed 10 things (this is number 11), some things were on my list and some were spontaneous. This experience was very spontaneous and it was new. A mystery!

Let me explain…

As I have mentioned in my last couple of posts, I have a friend staying with me for a couple of weeks. We have known each other as single, as engaged, as military wives, as the mothers to boys and girls. We are both grandmothers (her 2 boys, me 1 girl). We have lived in the same metro area, in different houses, in the same house (some times for a few days, some times longer) and we have lived different states. We have been through the illnesses and deaths of parents (both of mine, 1 of hers), other family members, and very close friends. We have been through miscarriages (her 2) and infertility (me). We were married a month apart, but I missed her wedding and she was in mine. I was divorced after 15 years and she is still married, going on 39 years (AMAZING!) AND…..Her husband’s cousin married one of my cousins and one of my cousins married her brother in law. Her grandsons call me Auntie, my granddaughter calls her Grand-Godmother. Our kids thought they were really related for years because her kids called my parents MeeMaw and Paw Paw just like my kids did. (My family is a rednecked kind of hillbilly, we are not simply southern). To say we shared some experiences is an understatement.

But one thing we had not experienced together, that I could ever remember in the 40 plus years we have known each other, was watching a sunset together. Why? I don’t know. It’s a mystery to me!

That was until last week.

We drove over to my daughter’s house to drop off goodies for a bake sale and on the way home I saw a pretty view of the mountains she might like. We drove into an industrial center under construction. Lots of paved roads to nowhere and empty office plazas. There were got some truly beautiful shots of the sun setting over the mountains. We watched as it lowered and with each moment, the shadows changed, shafts of light stretched out further and further. As the bright yellow turned to gold and then to orange fire.

It was breathtaking, it left you speechless, it filled us with awe. God’s creation slowly making its way to bed and giving one last, spectacular performance. And it was added to our shared experiences. There are things in this world you can know without a doubt, even though we have different parents, this woman is my sister.

You know, I always mean to stop for a sunset, but then I never remember. I need to find time, to make the time and promise myself as I would the baby and just do it.

From now on, I will.

The goal is 60 new things before I turn 60 and I have 48 more to go and I can’t wait!