Milestones Are Like Kidney Stones - Hard to Pass, And Then Sweet Relief

Before I had my own place with Hubs, I used to dream of the day when we could go pick out paint colors and furniture and wall art and our own dish soap. The waiting was almost painful. I wanted a place to call my own. A place where my parents weren't the masters, but Hubs and I were. We used to talk about it so often and it felt like forever until we'd reach that day.

Thankfully, that day came a little over three years ago when we got our first apartment about a month before our wedding (I know, we lived in sin!). We didn't have anywhere to sit besides the floor or the bed until we borrowed a folding table from my parents. Then we got to test drive all of the reclining couches and kitchen tables until we found the perfect ones. We lovingly picked out new towels and sheets and yes, dish soap. It was awesome. And it's still awesome.

Then last October, we closed escrow on our very own place. A place that we OWN. Those countertops over there, they're OURS. Same with those walls and the fireplace. And we have two bathrooms! You can't even believe how excited I was to have two bathrooms. No longer do I have to do the potty dance waiting for my turn (though I've never used our second shower). And a hallway! And don't even get me started about the washer and dryer. AMAZING.

I'm really glad I still appreciate how wonderful it is to have our own space. To reach an accomplishment that we ached for all through early adulthood (yes, I lived at home during my 5 years in college). It makes it that much sweeter that I had to work so hard for it.

No matter where you are in your life, there's always that next goal. To move from our amazing but modest condo into a house with a yard. To get a dog. To get a book deal. To have children. To watch them grow into adulthood. To retire. To travel to all those far away places that are so exotic yet so beautiful and mysterious and exciting.

Why am I telling you all of this? Well, today was my dad's last day at his job. He finally reached that elusive milestone of retirement! A day that all of us hope to reach, that we DREAM about even though we may not even be close. Heck, I dream about it and I have at least 30 years to go. *sigh*

Today, I dedicate my post to my dad. After working for more than 35 years in a physically demanding job, he finally made it! And now he gets sweet, sweet freedom. Congratulations, Daddy!! You're the BEST!

What milestone are you working on?