Time of my life

The Black Eyed Peas sang about it. So did Jennifer Warren. But have I had it?  "The time of my life?" I hope not. What then, would there be, to look forward to?

My son, 5, asked in essence, the same question of me tonight, "Mom, what was your best day ever?" I told him that it was the day he was born. I thought that was the answer he wanted to hear, and there was a lot of truth to that of course. He and I were alone in the room at the time and I thought it was the best answer given our private moment.  His birth was touch-and-go at times, and very frightful. His heart stopped beating and I was beside myself with panic. The only thing I wanted at that moment was a healthy, breathing, living child. A wish I was granted. He's fine of course and thank God for that. Had the outcome been different it surely would have been the worst day of my life. So I will eternally be grateful for the gift of his life.

But, I do believe the song lyric, "time of my life" eludes to something less monumental, and more spontaneously joyful. I haven't won the lotto. And though it would be exciting, I don't think that would be the time of my life. As I understand it, holding the winning ticket can be extremely stressful. The burden of winning, the bombardment of requests, the public notoriety, the change in lifestyle, all truly stressful circumstances.

People often say their wedding was the best day of their lives. Really? I say they're lying or weirdos. Weddings are uber-stressful. Something always goes wrong. The caterer messes up, your brother gets slobbery drunk, you rip your dress, a ghost tries to shove you out a window on your wedding night... you know, wedding stuff. The outcome is great. I got lucky, married a great guy, got a few good pictures and no one was scarred for life by the events of the day. Time of my life? Nah.
Vacations are good. Bargains are good. But no Columbia jacket at half price could ever be "the time of my life."

Winning the Superbowl? Well that will never happen. An Olympic gold medal... not until "jumping to conclusions" becomes a sanctioned event.

Was there ever a moment in my life that was perfect? Probably not. Oh, but I've had some great times! I think the best times and the best memories are made in the spontaneity. Running through the rain, with my husband, on a secret get-away trip and dashing into a jewellery store to get out of a downpour... and then him buying a string of pearls for me. That is a precious memory. We were soaked to the skin, laughing and shaking our heads that we were in that predicament and loving every second of it. The pearls, are merely a physical momento... a tangible something that I have to remind me of that special spontaneous event we shared.

Then there was the moment when I was with my kids, and we saw THE CASTLE. Disney's castle at the Magic Kingdom. It was the first time for each of us. It was awe inspiring to see it. I was taken a back by the fact that the TV beginning to all the Sunday night dinner movies of my childhood was there in living colour. The line drawing of a castle at the beginning to all Disney motion pictures was there and REAL. That was a "moment" for me. And to see my kids' faces completely light up with joy, rounded out the experience. Cliche, yes, but genuinely a dream come true to be able to see Walt Disney World and to be able to take my kids to it.

The time of my life? It's yet to come. And that's totally the reason to get up every day and try new things, and try to hope for the best. You just never know if the next best thing is just around the corner.