My birthday is next week — 78 years of learning how to do life. Some of the time I think I have it down to a science, but other times I think I never will get it right. However, even with more left to learn than is even remotely possible, my life is satisfying, and I am okay with it. I have heard it said that the one with the best memories wins at life. Maybe I am in the running.

I remember being small enough for my dad to lift me above his head and spin around, both of us laughing and looking into his green eyes twinkling with the joy of the moment. I remember him lifting me up to see my grandmother for the last time in her coffin and his explanation of where she was now when I asked. Most adults just said she was in heaven, but my dad took me outside in the evening to look up to the sky. He said “See that star just near the curve of the moon? Bammy lives behind that star.” Now I know better and knew better just a few short years later, but for the curious five-year-old I was this explanation was perfect. My dad is in most of my best early life memories.

Later there are so many memories from around the campfire. My family camped out on the shore of a lake from Memorial Day until Labor Day every summer for about five years when I was in high school. My brothers, my sister, parents, a couple of cousins and a few friends lived in tents and spent our days playing on the water, hanging out at the beach with a few hundred other people, playing hide and seek in the woods and gathering around a fire almost every evening for stories, silly games, and just gazing at the flames and coals well into the night. Those were the most carefree days of my life and I am still grateful to my parents for them.

I remember falling in love and getting married. The wedding was uneventful, but the marriage has been an adventure. The births of my son and daughter taught me about a new kind of love. The kind that overwhelms and thrills at the same time. Their tiny hands fascinated me and their sweet smell after a bath soothed my very soul. My husband and I were happy, proud parents. We also were a fun couple. We went dancing, to parties, entertained friends and hosted family for special occasions. We played golf together and did the usual parent attendance at baseball, swim team meets, cub scouts and brownie scouts events and all the school programs. Those were such busy times that went by too fast.

Then, when our nest was empty, I remember buying a little houseboat and spending several years making new friends at the marina and cruising around the lake. After work almost every Friday it was hurry home to stock the cooler, stop at the grocery and liquor store and get to the boat in time for happy hour. Those were some of the very best adult days.

Since then there have been grandchildren and then great grandchildren to love on and play with. Retirement has been special with lazy days, a little travel now and then and time to appreciate all that we worked for.

So, maybe I am the best memories winner.