I’m Not Having a Midlife Crisis

I‘m Having a Midlife Renaissance

Heading out to the Chanel exhibit at the V&A in London/author’s image

My midlife crisis didn’t follow a normal path. In fact, I didn’t have a midlife crisis at all.

Last year on a rainy Boston fall afternoon I unexpectedly stumbled into my midlife Renaissance.

My trip to Boston came together quickly when I found myself with a rare few days to myself last October. Although I’d prefer to be in a relationship and not have to travel solo most of the time, I’ll acknowledge there are perks to traveling by myself.

This particular day was the wettest during my visit so I decided to dash over to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum mostly out of a desire to stay dry.

The museum is imposing but the multi-storied courtyard is the showstopper. Because I had done so little research on the museum, wandering upon the Italian-esque courtyard was a complete surprise to me.

Its size. The layers. The influences. The elegance and the whimsy. Every angle provided a new delight, a new statue, a new perspective. This collection revels in its eccentricity.

This home-turned-museum is extravagant and opulent but in a very loved, lived-in way. It’s grand but there is something so attainable about it.