My first memory of this number was as I wrote the date in my class book in 1984. For no rhyme nor reason I clearly remember acknowledging it as a number to be noted. As a child, I assumed that it represented the physical age of 24, and simply stored it in the back of my mind for future reference. On the 24th of each month I would briefly wonder if that day would hold a certain excitement or significance. But my focus was on the age of 24. As a teenager, I would have a related quirkiness to 24 - never being one for moderation, I tried to maintain a total of 24 pairs of shoes at any time, or 24 pairs of earrings. Even now I have 24 colours of nail polish. Not in an obsessive compulsive way, just for my own entertainment.
As I neared adulthood, I reckoned that 24 was a good age to get married.... but I couldn't wait,so that wasn't it. The next life event was my daughter.... but she was born two months before I turned 24. The only notable part of my 24th year was that it was an emotionally draining and very challenging year. In retrospect, I was probably forewarned and chose to ignore the signs.
Today is 24 years since I walked down the aisle. It was the highlight of my early adulthood, and a union that thankfully resulted in my amazing daughter. But today it is just a heartbreaking reminder of the past 24 months that I have spent at sea trying to heal from the past two decades. I allow myself one day a year to be miserable, and today is it! I also want today to be the end of the emphasis of 24.... I need a new number to focus on. My daughter is almost 22, so I will keep 24 in the back of my mind for two years time ;)
I don't know if I will be going back to sea. The draw of the water is incredibly strong, but the ties that bind are right here at home. My 24 month escape to sea was timeous and necessary (the best mid life crisis ever), but it is time for me to start my next 24 year adventure. Due to work commitments, 24 years ago we were not able to honeymoon in Hong Kong as planned, but 24 years later I made it there alone. Mapping out married life is an optimistic adventure, but how you actually handle the forks in the road is a true reflection of inner strength. Perhaps I needed to spend 24 years learning that a cookie cutter life was not intended for me, and as much of a home body as I think that I am, I have proven over the last 24 months (and six continents) that I can handle anything that life throws at me. As Rachel says, 'normal is overrated', and nobody can accuse me of being normal! To conclude the symbolism of 24, I need to immerse myself into the mindset of a 24 year old - with my whole life in front of me, what is my next adventure/goal/target/desire/purpose/relationship/want/need??
