#family #middleage #crazymom

For any who know me, you know that my husband and I are self-proclaimed Parrotheads. A Parrothead is what many fans of Jimmy Buffett call themselves. It however is so much more than being a fan. I like to call it a state of mind. Parrotheads love and live the life style of Jimmy Buffetts music. The party, the ocean, the sunshine, the freedom to have fun and escape to our own little tropical paradise if only through his songs. The thing I love most about being among fellow Parrotheads at gatherings, tailgating, pre-parties, tiki bars and concerts is their attitude. Parrotheads are people of all ages from kids to seniors and everywhere in between. All who come together to embrace living the good life and more importantly having fun and relaxing. I don’t think I have never been around more friendly, more caring people in my life. We gather in our tropical shirts, flip-flops, outrageous hats, beads, leis and no one is afraid to express their creativity. At a Parrothead gathering or a PHlock of Parrotheads as some may call it, it is all about escaping and being exactly who you want to be without the restrictions of the same ol’ rut and day-to-day grind. There is no drama, no pressure, just like-minded people who want to have fun and for those of us who love vacations and the ocean (who doesn’t) we can live the beach life vicariously through his “songs we know by heart”. When I hear the words “Mother, mother ocean I have heard your call”, from one of my favorite Buffett songs, A Pirate Looks At Forty, I feel like I am sitting on the beach and just imagine either being on the ocean sailing or sitting on the beach with a margarita in my hand with not a care in the world. After all don’t we all want to be at that One Particular Harbor, or waisting away in Margaritaville, or be with our Brown Eyed Girl on a Lovely Cruise just knowing that Come Monday it will be alright because guess what….. usually it will. Life is too short to stress about the small stuff, just treasure what is important, have fun and be a little crazy because “if we aren’t all crazy we would go insane”.

I found this definition of a Parrothead in the urban dictionary and loved it. Fins Up my friends!!!!!!

1. Parrothead

A Parrothead is a fan of Jimmy Buffett (there is no other meaning). The typical parrothead is pictured to wear a Hawaiian shirt, flip-flops, and other tropical attire, and to enjoy drinking margaritas on the beach. Parrotheads often decorate their homes in tropical motifs. In general the life of a parrothead is one of relaxation and being on a permanent mental vacation even while at work.

So I’m coming to the age of almost 40….dun, dun, dun. It seriously seems like just yesterday I was 19 and off to college and now time is passing by faster than I have to run to make it to the bathroom. Boy, my bladder isn’t what it used to be after popping out two kiddos and passing a few kidney stones along the way, but I digress. It really does seem like I was just 29 and celebrating turning 30. I don’t feel old, well besides my health being kinda sucky lately. I mean I don’t think a number is that big of deal but next year when someone asks my age I cannot fathom the word “forty” coming out of mouth. I think I’ll just say I am “age which cannot be named”, kinda like Voldemort from Harry Potter.

Turning this ripe old age comes with baggage, like a saggy butt and lots more wrinkles but I know I am definitely more at peace with everything in life and I don’t care as much what other people think. I remember stressing constantly if someone did or did not like me when I was in my 20’s and early 30’s but not so much. I mean there will be people who will judge no matter who you are, even family can break you down! I have learned that you have to be yourself and if they don’t like it than move on. Honestly, I used to be the biggest ‘Miss Please Everyone Nicey Pants’. I am still a very kind person but if enough shit goes down than I have no problem giving the big “get the hell outa my life”. Really who has time for the people who constantly cause drama? I call them the “Life Suckers”! They are ones when you are around them you feel like the life has literally been sucked out of you. Life is too short for drama, save that for your momma. Well actually don’t save that for your momma because honestly she probably had a lot of it already from you. As a momma that already has a lot of drama from my kids I sympathize. 😉

So in conclusion, turning 40 isn’t the end of the world, I actually like the place I am in. I won’t like or be able to tell you how old I am next year but that’s ok. I am sure in time I will defeat my fear just like Harry did. I’ll probably eventually get some Botox to defeat the wrinkles and maybe even start working out (gasp). I think the important thing is to keep having fun, being silly, and dancing whenever you can. Oh and add embarrassing my kids to the list too, they pretty much think everything I do is embarrassing. Life is good, after all I’m growing older but not up.

If you ever get bummed about being 40, or life in general, do one of those face distorting things. You can’t go wrong and can’t be bummed looking like an alien.

No Bad Days,

Shell

woman to blame

Tag Archives: #family #middleage #crazymom

Birds of Feather Phlock Together

Almost 40! Sorry I won’t be able to tell you though.