I don’t feel my age. I don’t feel like I’m closing in on 53 and growing older. The thought actually seems absurd to me.
It’s not like I haven’t changed in fairly dramatic ways throughout adulthood. I am so far away from who I was at age 23.
I like who I have become. I don’t feel like I’ve been moving away from myself, I feel like I’m coming back to myself.
But I also feel the same.
I feel the same as I did when I was 23. I still make faces in elevator mirrors when I’m alone. Which I learned that often there are cameras in those elevators and if you make stupid faces at yourself there is a chance you will step off the elevator to see a security guard laughing his ass off. Well, I didn’t learn that. Someone told me it happened to them and I learned from their mishap. Shut up.
Once, at my old job, one of the network guys, who was young enough to be my kid, told me that I seemed really young for my age because I’m immature.
I prefer to think of it as joie de vivre, but immature is fair.
I still get excited when I hear the first notes of a song I love. I still sing really loud and bad at home. I still get scared during horror movies and I’ve never let my feet dangle over my bed. What? I’m not stupid. We can’t know for complete sure than monsters aren’t real. I mean, they are probably not real, but there is no way to prove that. And if they are real, then you know they’re under the goddamn bed.
Physically, I feel different. 23 was waaaaaay better than 52 if we’re talking strictly how I feel physically. The other changes though, the changes in my head makes 52 better than 23.
What I’m finding happens, is no matter how young I feel, sometimes, time comes along and smacks me on the back of the head.
For instance, my boys. I had them 11 years apart. One in 1987 and one in 1998. I had baby showers both times. You know what I didn’t have? I didn’t have a “gender reveal” party.
Also, I’ve been married 3 times. I sent out invitations to the first two, the third one, we just told people afterwards. The times I sent out invitations, that is all I did. I sent wedding invitations. I didn’t send announcements that invitations were going to be sent.
I don’t get these things.
This makes me feel old.
Heard a new one today. I’m sure this has been around awhile, but I hadn’t heard of it. I only know about it because two bloggers in a Facebook group I’m in were talking about publishing articles on the subject.
Push presents.
HAHAHAHAHAFUCKINGHAHAHAH.
I didn’t know what they were talking about. I had to look it up. You get a present after pushing a kid out. A fucking present for giving birth?
That is hilarious to me. I also don’t get it.
This is time, reminding me that I have changed in my head more than I care to think I have.
That’s okay. I can live with this. I’m still happier with who I am now, even if I am rushing toward the “get off my lawn” years.
I’ve just hit 54 and I can’t believe I’m that old! But I’m the same as you – I’m getting my second wind and owning who I am and that is so much more than I was at 23! I also don’t get the save the dates, baby showers, hen’s parties, bridal showers, push presents, anniversary rings and rings for each child – the list goes on in this consumerism-gone-mad world of ours. I’m keeping it simple (and cheap!)
I am right there with you…we keep it pretty simple here as well.
I;m seven years ahead of you at 60 years old and I still don’t feel old. Oh, and screw the people that think you should dress and act you age. What the fuck does that mean, act your age? Median life expectancy is 78 years old in the US. Should people act as if they’re about to die. And what is this “should.” Shit! I’m retired and don’t think that I “should” do any particular thing. Sue me.
My Dad died when he was 58, my Mother when she was 99. To my knowledge neither of them acted as if the were mature, too old to do what they wanted. I intend to avoid the folks who think I should do this or that.
Yeah, I have no idea how to act my age…
I don’t want to know because it will be someone else’s opinion/idea of how I should live. The governmental bastards are seeing to that. I’ve had my bellyful already.
Push Presents? ha ha ha, we don’t even have baby showers over here in the UK, or if we do it’s a recent thing adopted from across the pond, like proms. We didn’t have them when I was at school but apparently we do now.
It’s the big half century this year for me, I feel the same as I did at 19 but my body tells me otherwise. At least I’ve learned from my many mistakes over the last few decades, or at least I hope I have, somehow the inner 19 year old still chooses to trust people that I should run away screaming from…guess I’ll never learn that one! 🙂
I will always be too trusting as well…it’s how we are built.
Move over, I’m sitting down next to you and don’t be jealous because I have a bedazzled walker! HAHA!! I love reading your blog so much. It is always the highlight of my morning when one appears in my mailbox! 🙂 There are times I feel 23 again myself. Then, someone who has recently visited my home will post a picture on Facebook they took of me while here and I am shocked to my core. Just in the last several months, since Paul’s passing, I appear to have aged twenty years. Of course, I had no make up on, my hair wasn’t done, I hadn’t slept well for several nights before and the lighting was that which the detectives in old gangster movies use to interrogate people—bright and directly overhead. As if that isn’t a hard enough jolt to my senses, add on the new ways of “celebrating” life events or the new slang or catchphrases for everything that I constantly have to look up and it completely wipes out ANY illusions I may harbor of still being 23. Is it just me, or do many of these events seem to actually be tacky excuses for getting even more “stuff” and money out of people? I did not know what push presents were until you explained it. It seems to me that “push” presents are akin to children getting a lollipop when they visit the doctor and behave. And there you go—why do they stop THAT practice as you get older? Hell, the things doctors want to start doing to you as you age are even worse than when you go as a kid. We DESERVE lollipops a hell of a lot MORE!
Yeah, I’m feeling 57 a lot more these days. Where on Earth did that winsome pixie dancer run off to? Shit, I deserve some push presents, every time I’m able to push myself up out of bed every morning to face another day. LOL
Dude..I look forward to your comments so much. This is great.
That pixie dancer is still there…just maybe not pirouetting quite as much. haha.
:::sigh::: Oh, man, could I ever spin! Wish you could have seen me! Love, Pixie Haha! XO
I wish I could have seen it, too!!
*hands Terri Lee her bra*
“Great rehearsal for the Psychotic Douche Twizzles!”
*shakes glitter out of hair*
*pulls up sparkly tights*
“Can I have the microphone next time?”
This made me smile. I’ve often wondered if I would like the 20-something-me. She was organized, hard working, kind … but so naive. She had no idea what was to face her. That is probably a good thing.
At 47, I’m not as organized or hard working. I’m still kind. I like to think I have a deeper compassion for others now. Those who are working hard just to keep things together. Doing the best they can even if it may not always look that way on the outside.
I wish life were as simple and straight-forward as I thought it was when I was 23. But I have to say I like myself at 47 better, battle scars and all.
Happy New Year.
Happy new year to you, too! Yeah, I like myself better now. I wish I had liked myself more then as well, my life would have been so much nicer…but that gets me nowhere. Forward motion, baby.
Soooo true and funny! I heard about the push presents awhile back and spit diet Coke all over the table. (Yes, I know I’m not supposed to be drinking it with my osteopenic bones, but just let it pass this time, okay?) I didn’t get one of those either back in 1982. I also didn’t get a lost-control-of-my-bowels-during-labor presents–although that didn’t stop my ex from sharing that information at a party with people I’d never met before. I should have ex-ed him out a lot sooner.
Thanks for starting my day with a laugh. I’m feeling better about my accordion pleat stretch marks already!
What a douche!
Might as well feel good about the stretch marks..they aren’t going anywhere. At least that is what I tell myself..
Closing in on 53 – we’re twins! As such, it’s obligatory to enjoy January birthday month. Just one month of the variable feast this year, sometimes it’s four, sometimes only one day. There’s no correlation with age, it depends on how much fuss you feel like making of yourself and your birthday. And if anyone says that’s silly, take over their birthday too! What’s not to like – not dead, presents, cake! Yay! Champagne, tequila (not together, that was a bad idea). Happy happy happy!!!
Happy! Yes. I plan on tequila tonight…
Turning 60 in 26 days… as there is no stopping it, one may as well go with it 🙂
You are so right…fighting it affects no change in the situation.
Today I’m excited because I’m going to see the Peanuts movie… Wearing clothes that would fit 2 of me at age 23…
Yay!! I hope you have fun!
YOU CRACK ME UP!! I don’t have kids so can’t relate to any of the lingo like a push present” but I DO know what it was. (Thank God for some of those mind-numbing “Housewives of ….” shows!) In any event, I still attempt to practice my best angle in the mirror for picture-taking (although it seems that I have to have more and more slight variations of the same pose to find the ONE that looks… not even good, but acceptable. (Woe to the sorry shit who sneaks up on me, takes an unscheduled, in-the-moment pic, and then publishes it on their FB).
LOOOOOOOOVE your posts! Thanks for always keeping it real!
Thank you so much!
I would give anything to find a pose where pictures of me were acceptable.
Don’t you just wish the body would get together with the mind? I am embracing being elderly and I say come all sisters and enjoy! I call myself elderly because there was a news report, local, about an elderly woman found dead in a Macy’s restroom. ‘More at 11’ report said she was 61! I may terminate at any restroom at any moment, look out!
HAHAHAHA!!!!! Yeah, don’t you just love their description of “elderly”? Although, I am still too young to try out for the Miami Heat senior citizen hip-hop dancers team! (No, I am NOT making that up! They actually exist! lol) I believe 60 is the minimum age you can be to try out.
So, did they say how the “elderly” lady passed away in the restroom? Did she see the so-called “sale” prices and collapse? (I’m sorry, lady, for my total irreverence concerning your plight.)
I look forward to getting older. I am told that even though we don’t learn all of the answers, we are usually able to live within our limitations and don’t worry about the stuff we can’t control as much.
I want to get to that point.
May we all stay immature!
Yes! I am finding that to be true. I do accept my limitations and I don’t worry as much about stuff I can’t control. I still have room for improvement, but I am much better. It’s a comfortable place to live.
I’m so with you, Michelle! In my head I’m 21 but in my body and soul I’m 51. Big difference. Kay, I have to address the wedding invitation thing. This new announcement or Save the date, prior to the invitation is very confusing. I got myself in some hot water over that. My brother sent me a save the date and I had no idea I was required to respond to it. I thought I was supposed to note the date then wait politely for the actual invitation and respond to THAT. Wrong. I got uninvited over it, too. Obviously, he was looking for a reason to keep me out. Either way, I learned a lesson about reading my emails more carefully.
And now a PUSH party? WTF? Okay, maybe I’m OLD.
I didn’t know you were supposed to respond to save the dates, either..sheesh
60 years old here and what I don’t get, along with push presents, gender reveal parties etc etc, are fucking smash cakes for 1 year olds. Who out of their fucking mind would waste perfectly good cake????
It’s a fucking CRIME!!!
I’m glad you feel young in spirit, if not so much in body. I’m 53 and have a lot of physical limitations which don’t allow me to participate in as many things I’d like, but I also feel like the same person inside as I did at 23. Still goofy, silly and at times, inappropriate—you have to be able to keep laughing! I’m not as judgmental as I used to be, now that I know how much shit can happen to us, and how little is within our control.
You shouldn’t feel old for not “getting” things that wouldn’t be your style anyway. I hadn’t heard of push presents until reading this post. Before I read the definition I assumed that they were presents for pushing your last kid out of the house. I’d be down for a present for that! I also didn’t learn about gender reveal parties until very recently, and still have no idea what goes on at these parties. The gender is revealed, and then what? I had my babies in 1999 and 2001. Their genders were revealed to me when they were born, and a brand new baby (and maybe some flowers) seemed like a big present to me. OK, you’re right—writing this is making me feel like an old curmudgeon! I remember how mad my friends got when I didn’t find out the sex of the baby beforehand. Apparently it made buying shower gifts extremely difficult. Do you also get a present if you’ve had a C-section, as I did with my second baby? Or do you not deserve one since you didn’t manage to push it out? Uh oh…I may be heading to the “get off my lawn” years sooner than you are!
You’re right. they wouldn’t have been my style anyway…
Man oh Man I am glad I am not the only one… My sis and I were just talking about our next birthdays…It amazes us that we are going to turn (for her) 55 (and me) 54 this year.
Mind says 25 but body creaks so we know its not true, It takes me a lot longer to get over the Jet lag and hangovers and then there are the daily pills to help with my thyroid, and hot flushes and mood swings. Could be worse i guess…but I am looking forward to the “get off my lawn” years…
It could ALWAYS be worse…
I am looking forward to them as well. I think I’m going to be good at it.
Hah… The only thing good about aging is reliability and credibility.
… it is a combined effort.
Sobriety is highly overrated and I don’t recommend it. But, in order to obtain credibility, I had to get sober. The reliability fell in place. Go figure.
And now I remember why I drank.
Isn’t the memory thing supposed to get worse as you age?
Dammit. I’m totally gonna start drinking again when I’m 80.
Hey, were I inclined to give birth, people would be welcome to give me all the presents they want. We wouldn’t even need labels. Just gimme. Creating life and then passing that watermelon successfully are a lot of work! Gender reveal parties? Pfft. Let ’em guess.
I’m 33 and still feel about how I did at 23. Maybe I’ve grown a lot more solid “Don’t give a fuck”, which perhaps would’ve been a great benefit in my earlier twenties. I still had it, mind, just not so ruggedly.
I needed this laugh more than you know. That’s just fucking hilarious. What about a ripped in two, put back together with duct tape present? I want two of those!
Right after the “get off my lawn” years come the “get off my lava rocks” years. Prepare thyself!
I am way happier at 52. If maturity = stodgy, fuck that shit. I don’t make faces in elevator mirrors but I do get excited and enjoy the little things in life. I don’t think that’s bad. 🙂 I think we lose too much of that as we age. Good for you.
I was in the line at the liquor store and the guy next to me asked if they had any Moet & Chandon. I said, “Yeah, she keeps it in a little pretty cabinet. ‘Let them eat cake’ she says, just like Marie Antoinette.” He looked at me blankly and I was overwhelmed with the horror that someone old enough to buy booze is too fucking young to recognize a song by Queen. He probably wasn’t even born when Freddy Mercury DIED.
Reading your thoughts on “push gifts” and advance notices of invitations to come I’m starting to think giving gifts for every little thing was invented by our generation because we have so much knowledge and so many great things that it’s a shame not to pass them on. It’s a shame that these damn kids don’t know enough to learn the old songs and make faces in elevator mirrors and get scared by horror films. If you don’t learn to have joie de vivre when you’re young, when life is still giving you things, you won’t have it when you get old and life starts taking shit away. Pay attention, kids. Your future is our present.
And since we’re talkin’ ’bout my generation don’t trust anyone under thirty!
I was born into the get off my lawn years.
So they get a shower when the kid goes in and a push party when the kid comes out? Weird.
Haha!