Friday, April 19, 2013

April 19, 1993

I'm not one for celebrating birthdays or anniversaries in a big way – they're just days on the calendar for the most part. 
Except for this day, and particularly this year. 

I will celebrate today, April 19, as I always do: re-reading my favorite book, 
with a shit-eating grin  great big smile on my face that won't quit until I reach the end.
It will take several hours, and there may be a glass of wine...or two...involved, and I will savor every word.

This is the book. I have no idea what the title on the sleeve is. If anybody out there reads Japanese, maybe you can clue me in.
The book was given to me by a business associate from Japan.



At the time, it was full of blank pages, but I wrote in it from March 15 through August 20 of 1993 and almost filled it up. 
It's part diary, part journal, part to-do list ... sort of like a blog minus the computer. 
Anyway, it's got a pretty good plot and a very happy ending.

What's that thing called that's sort of like a tassle and sewn into the spine and can be used to mark a special page? 
Surely not a bookmarker – that's way too common. 
Well, whatever that thing is, I use it to mark off the page called April 19.




It's the day I walked into my boss's office and resigned from my job and life as I knew it, to move to New Mexico 
and be the person I'm quite sure I was meant to be. That was 20 years ago today. 

We'll pause for a moment now to let my parents gasp and say, "20 YEARS! Where has the time gone?!"

(If you're not familiar with the whole story, go to the About tab at the top of this page to find the links 
to the four-part synopsis I call "My fairy tale but it's true.") 

Last night while Smooch and I were on our walk, I started wondering what my life would be like today
if I hadn't done what I did on April 19, 1993. Where would I be living? What would I be doing? 
I have no freakin' clue. In my heart and soul, this life right here, on a ranch in the middle of nowhere New Mexico 
in the company of animals, is the one I am meant to be living. And I consider myself one of the luckiest people on earth 
to have been able to figure that out twenty years ago.




39 comments:

  1. What a great day for you....

    we call that satin thingy in a book "Lesebändchen". Maybe that can be translated to ribbon page maker.

    Please put me on the list for the print version of your story :-)

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  2. Happy Anniversary - I am so glad you found your bliss. Kiss a soft donkey nose for those of us that are working up the courage to write that page!

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  3. What a great day this is! Not just for you, but also for us, your crew. I think we're very lucky too!

    (btw, I can make out a 'bastard' in the picture... tell us all about him ;-) )

    Els from Amsterdam

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  4. You are one of the lucky ones, Carsen! Your friends out in blog land are happy you chose this path and allow us to glimpse it each and every day.

    Happy "Anniversary" and have a great day celebrating with your furry and feathery kids. :)

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  5. Yes,you are lucky and blessed to love your life, so many people don't take the chance and have regrets. I could hear it in your voice on that day 20 years ago and will never forget it. I have told that story many times and remember the happiness and excitement in your voice and knew you were doing the right thing!

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  6. My day was June 13. 2011. I had read your story at that time and was encouraged by it. So...when I finally had enough, I shocked everyone and resigned from being an officer of the company. 24 years of corporate America was enough. I started my own business in a totally different field and it is going great. I am 48 and never been happier in my life. Work from home with my sweet dog sleeping by my desk. Totally Blessed.
    Enjoy your day ....know that you have inspired others!

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  7. Isn't it wonderful when you follow your dreams and you're thankful each and every day that you did!

    We made our radical life change over 30 years ago and thank our lucky stars that we had the guts to do it. Family and friends were in shock and ready to have us committed, and I know many thought we'd return within a short time, but from the first time we visited these mountains this felt more like home then any other place we had settled. We feel totally blessed to live here.

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  8. Happy Birthday! When I resigned from the stable life, I was sick and frightened. I felt like it was the beginning of my next life. All the "supposed to" life was gone. The destined life was and is yet to come. It changes every day.

    Congratulations on a job well done (and doing!)

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  9. Congratulations on 20 years of Heaven! 26 years ago my parents left Minnesota where they had lived all their lives and moved to the Hill Country of Texas. (they were fed up with the snow!) We kids couldn't believe that they actually did it! (They were only in their late 40's and early 50's) I moved to San Antonio almost 15 years ago and it was the best thing I've ever done. It takes guts to pick up and leave a sure thing but sometimes we just have to go on faith! Hugs, Meghan

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  10. Ms. Linda congratulations on finding your bliss and going for it. 20 years is truly a milestone, I bet the animals got together and bought you a gold watch for your good service to yourself and to them. What a lovely life you have created and honed out for yourself and your animals. And how blessed we are for your generous spirit in sharing the joy with us. Happy kick the corporate life to the curb and freedom for you day. Oma Linda

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  11. Well good for you and Happy 20th birthday. It's not everyone who has the guts to chuck it all and do what they want/need to do. Keep grinnin'!

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  12. we are so glad you made the move too....you bring such joy to so many of us out here !!! Jeanne in SC

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  13. WE are happy you made that decision! What would my life be without updates on the critters and you........especially Wynonna. She is my hero. :o)

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  14. Shit eating grins are the best!
    Congrats, you really are an inspiration. With any luck this will be my year.

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  15. You are lucky. VERY lucky!

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  16. Happy 20th Anniversary. Sometimes the biggest risks reap the greatest rewards, and in this case your readers benefited from your risk as much as you did!

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  17. Congratulations - a great day for you! And for us. I can't imagine my day without your stories and pictures.

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  18. Some people might call you "lucky"...me, I just call you smart.

    Congrats on your decision of 20 years ago and for sharing it with us, your far flung staff!

    Jo in MN

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  19. 20 years of bliss? That's way more than many billions of folks on this planet will achieve. Congrats to you and your furry/feathered family.

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  20. My friend says that it means
    "Freedom Diary" and the bottom part is "Fine Writing" and it should be the company name that made the book.

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  21. Congratulations on a wonderful decision and implementation! Happy Anniversary for the wonderful day you made it all happen.

    Nancy in Iowa

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  22. Congratulations, or Happy Anniversary! Thanks for sharing your awesome story every day. :)

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  23. The three bottom symbols means Heart ?? Water. Granddaughter is taking Japanese and can't figure out the middle symbol other than if "JU" So many "to".

    Wishing you many more years of happiness with your gang.

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  24. Finally decided to read your 4 part "About" Great read and I am so jealous....We had 4 children, now 7 grands(well two grands are due anytime now) and we never had big paying jobs...We struggled til hubby started a bathtub repair business 20 yrs ago...HMM, now no money and older and no way to just walk away from this life to go and do whatever it would have been for us to do...I appreciate your blog and the pictures...
    Have yourself a GREAT ANNIVERSARY OR BIRTHDAY or whatever you call it....
    Love from NC

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  25. Shanna, thanks for the translation! "Freedom Diary" - how perfect.

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  26. Happy celebrations: to the 20 years , to your courage and wisdom to take that step, and to the inspiration you incarnate! Bravo!

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  27. I'd love to read this book! I wonder if your Japanese associate knew what a special book they were giving you.
    So many people feel stuck in a job for so many reasons. What a great feeling when you make that decision and can just let go. Enjoy the read and the wine. Happy Anniversary!

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  28. Ah, an anniversary of this date that will make me smile! 20 years ago today I sat glued to the TV, wishing and willing women and children out of David Koresh's burning compound in Waco.
    So very, very glad you decided to move to NM. My morning wouldn't be complete without seeing how you and the animals of 7MSN are doing. I consider you a friend, even though we've never met. :)
    A very happiest anniversary to you!!!

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  29. Great way to celebrate your absolutely wonderful decision. Here's to many, many more wonderful days of annual remembrance.

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  30. After reading the comments: isn't it amazing, the following you created? It's amazing how i came to care for everyone in your isolated ranch. Congrats on a life-changing decision and thanks for sharing. Love to Smooch, George and Alan, Lucy and Hank, Wynona and the two cats, the once and future stars...

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  31. Happy Anniversary Carter, and a landmark one at that! Your story is so inspiring, to follow your heart and let the rest work itself out. I like your idea of marking the anniversary by reflecting on what your life might be like now if you had not taken the plunge.

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  32. Congrats on following your dream! How wonderful to have a diary to relive that big decision.

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  33. Congratulations.... Difficult figuring out who one truly is.... You are an inspiration to many!!

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  34. What a special day! I think I'll do that the day after I retire~

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  35. Definitely a dream come true!!! Happy Independence day! LOL

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  36. Big belated congrats on making the perfect decision Carson!

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