Eye roll me all ya want, but I turned 35 last year. I vowed to embrace it, and stuff. It’s only getting better. {At least that’s what I keep telling myself.} But that doesn’t negate the point that I’m kind of starting to feel it this year. This is the first year I’ve noticed a difference. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally… I’m inching closer to 36 now, and I think I just need a vacay. And not the vacay where you spend half of your life savings just to take your kids to a giant park themed with a lot of characters where you need a detox afterwards and it makes you more exhausted… thus feeling even older. Cue the cycle.
That’s great and everything, but I need a cruise. A midlife-crisis-came-early-to-Tahiti, kind of cruise. That lasts for an indefinite amount of weeks. Where I can disappear for a while. That’s why we work, right? That’s why I’m an adult, right?
I think it’s that delicate place of realizing I’m into my mid thirties, finally being able to acknowledge it, but being unable to really do something irresponsible about it. Something crazy to express my dislike; a midlife crisis with my feeble coping abilities. I have too many responsibilities. I mean, for starters, my kids wouldn’t be too happy if I abandoned them for say, five weeks. And I would just miss them after about week three. Reality.
I think I’ll settle for a quiet afternoon to myself at Target with a Starbucks. That would suffice. I’m crazy wild like that.
What triggered it all, was my vanity. I basically have no one but myself and ridiculous expectations to blame. About this time last year, I was sitting on a plane and in one of those awkward I’m-sitting-by-you-on-this-plane-convos, a man said “I have a daughter about your age. What are you… mid thirties?” At first I thought it was a basic mistake. I was surprised, so I brushed it off. I mean, surely he was just lucky at being dead on with guessing my age. And then it happened again and again in completely different scenarios and situations. Like this mean game designed to make me feel bad.
It sounds silly, but it’s like I’m surprised that I don’t look 25 anymore. I’m supposed to be the young one. I’m always the young one. And then I look around and realize that I’m not. Where did the last decade go?
I was a late bloomer when all the other girls hit their growing spurts. I was always smaller, bony…. a little awkward. I was begging to wear lipgloss and a little mascara. I hadn’t even graduated to the juniors department yet, so I wore things like culottes to give me a little fluff, and drank protein shakes. {Oh the angst!} Around the 7th grade, I was the girl greatly lacking in the lady bits variety when we had to change in gym class. I pretty much ended up wearing skivvies because I was too old not to… not because I needed them. So my mom always told me it would pay off when I was older. Fast forward to 25, and I was the carded wonder. {Proudest moment = for ‘R’ movies.} I took great pride in my earlier years in declaring my age. Those were known as my glory days.
Only, I let it go to my head.
It was a few months ago when I started to acknowledge that maybe I wasn’t just tired, and those were actual tiny wrinkles forming in the corners of my eyes. Maybe it was time to stop washing my face with baby wash, and invest in real skincare.
I think it was when a friend my age had a baby, and they said she was “high risk” because of her age…
And the final blow came when I realized that a few people I know have already done the whole botox thing, and I’m a scheduled mammogram away from a real full fledged mid life crisis.
So while this may be the equivalent of the skinny girl from high school complaining about feeling bloated so that she parades around the room with her obnoxious figure, and I deserve a big eye roll because ‘I have no idea what’s coming’ in the world of aging and I really am just 35…
I know that.
It’s just that I’ve started to notice it: The chasm of motherhood is widening between people having babies now, and I realize all my kids are in school. I have nine years left with our oldest, at home. Kids I babysat growing up are having kids. I’m struggling with coming to grips with the fact that I am not, in fact, a vampire… and it kind of freaks me out a little that I’ve now lived over 1/3 of my expected lifespan.
Possibly more, because I suck at math.
It’s the next stage of life… and we’re in it.
So here’s to that moment when you realize you’re getting old{er}:
1. Conversations with my friends are disturbing
In our twenties:
“Amber! Did you see that hottie in my class? He helped me pick up those papers I dropped. I think I’ll actually speak to him next time. Where on earth did you get that dress, Liz? It is so awesome. I really need to go shopping. Again this week before that party. You should skip class and go with. I feel fat. Do I look fat? I’m totally marrying a doctor so I can be a trophy wife. Are you going to the tanning bed today? Third Eye Blind is Friday, Jenny. Don’t forget. I heard MTV will be there and maybe even Carson Daly. SOOO totally pumped.”
Please take me back to the days when my greatest concern was skipping class, and what I was doing that night. Okay. Maybe we weren’t that shallow. But close enough.
Now:
“Did you get Emmy enrolled at the camp this week? Did you remember to bake cookies for the party? Have you been shopping for school supplies yet? I saw that news story. What is the world coming to?! Did you read that book? I’m going to the dermatologist. I can’t even believe the tanning bed was a thing. My kids will always always always wear sunscreen. They will be dipped in vats. Of sunscreen. But did you read that article that says that sunscreen all the time is bad because it blocks vitamin D and that can cause cancer? We’re basically screwed. Did you see that girls hair? I don’t understand the whole ombre style. I thought they were roots. Should I let mine grow out so I have ombre? Are there rules? I’m sure your mother in law didn’t mean it that way. Yes, she is exhausting. Did you put an offer on that house? Did you trade in the minivan? Are we all getting tumors from staring at screens all day? It’s those Kardashian people again. Are we supposed to care?”
We would most likely put our twenty something selves to sleep. Convos now revolve around parenting concerns, the latest books we’ve read, political issues, our doctor appointments, career choices, mortgages, the meaning of life, disturbing news stories, where to pick up the school uniforms, divorces, and who just had the latest midlife crisis.
Once upon a time, 40 was old.
My friends are 40.
And my husband turns 40 this year.
2. I find my competency with technology disturbing.
I know I’m supposed to stay on top of it, but the TV was messed up the other day, and I couldn’t figure it out. I probably stood there for about ten minutes, looking for the right button. Until my 5 year old sauntered over, and fixed it for me.
This frightens me.
I don’t mean to brag or anything, but I was kind of a video game prodigy in my day. And by prodigy, I mean my one claim to fame is that I beat Zelda once. And by claim to fame, I mean that was a big deal with my little brother and sister. I’m pretty sure my parents gave me a high five or something.
Now the kids ask me to play, and I’m always killing the character. Is that what you call them? Characters? This usually doesn’t end well. I hate feeling like I’ve disappointed my kids, when they’ve asked me to conquer something for them. As if A. I can make it happen just because I’m an adult, and B. I understand enough to make it happen. They’re quickly learning though, because sometimes I get all competitive with them and I never win.
Video games are hard.
It took me oh, around fifty tries to beat a level on Mario Brothers the other day. I refused to give up. Who knew jumping on clouds and ladybugs could be so frustrating?!
And don’t even get me started on Mine Craft. It might be the worst invention ever, particularly when subjected to hour long conversations on the value of red stone and the nether world. What is the netherworld with that blue flame stuff, and why do demon pigs come out? Fortheloveofbethusela what is a portal and where is it taking me?!
3. I find the casting in movies disturbing
The kids were in bed, and we decided we would watch a movie. After much debating, admitting that it was actually 9:00 and that we are much too old to in fact, start a movie at 9:00, all while squinting at the list on our Apple TV for some time, we figured it out. We finally decided on Insurgent… {the next title in the Divergent series. I did not read the books so all the words alone, confuse me}.
And I was distracted the entire time not by the plot, but by the fact that Kate Winslet is… how do I put this… middle aged.
Don’t get me wrong. She looks fantastic. It’s just that in my mind, she’s supposed to be Rose. In 1997. Both alternately throwing her hand on a steamy car window and freezing alongside Leonardo. On a door fragment. {Let’s be honest – it was big enough for both of them. I still don’t understand why he didn’t just climb on. I mean, seriously}.
But in 1997 I balled my eyes out at that movie. I sang along to Celine Dion again and again and again. I wanted to make out with Leo. Didn’t we all?
Which brings me to the blatant fact that Leonardo is totes morphing into Jack Nicholson. Nothing wrong with it. You go, Leo. It’s just not 1997 anymore.
Our kids are suddenly into Full House. It comes on in the daytime. Once upon a time I was DJ. Now I’m older than Uncle Joey.
I was watching a movie just last night, and realized that one of the stars was the dad from Beethoven. At first I thought he was wearing heavy makeup.
NOPE. He turned 80 this year.
And I have no words for this… but he doesn’t look 53.
_______________________
I found an old photo of my parents and me. I couldn’t decide which was more amazing… the creased jeans, my dad’s ‘stache, our hair… or my NKOTB shirt. We wore the 80s well. Or maybe it wore us.
And then realized after laughing at it, that Aiden is my age in that photo. I’m their exact age when said photo was taken. They look better than me.
There’s a spot on my hand, and I’m torn between faded freckle and age spot. I don’t really want to go to the doctor, so that they can say the words “age spot” to me. And I’m pretty sure I have serious joint issues in my knee from running too much. Once upon a time, they would have tried to fix me. Now they just shrug their shoulders and tell me it’s normal. They’ll probably start me on calcium supplements.
Shuffle into line. Time to go into the light. The gig is up. Someone hand me a walker. I’m pretty sure my flair for the dramatic will never go away.
But I still believe this… even with the age spots.
So maybe I should take a cruise. With lots of sunscreen. And the old lady floppy hats sitting under an umbrella that I love because it protects my face from more wrinkles while I watch all those young perky gals with their young perky boobies and their baby oil in the sun because they’re young and perky and I’m feeling very non perky. Enjoy it while it lasts, is what I want to say. I took it all for granted. All the while, there’s probably someone else, watching me. Because I’m also taking what I have now, for granted.
Perspective.
So I’ll cope. One year at a time. And enjoy what I have, while I have it. Bring on the years, y’all.
I may feel old{er}. But it only gets better with age.
Michael @ CraftyDad.com says
Wow. I’m the same age as the Karate Kid? How did that happen?
My advice on the age thing? There’s NOTHING you can do about it…well yes there is.
You can make the very, very best of it. Of every day. That’s my sermon (as you already know).
35. 40. 53. Those are all really good numbers.
So…embrace it. It takes a lot of the stress away. ; )
ashley @ the handmade home says
Working on it! ;}
Jen says
I’m 32, and I have 2 small kids. I was at the playground and I saw a mom with similar age kids and I thought, “she looks way older than me.” And then I had a moment of self-panic where I thought, “DO I LOOK OLD, TOO?” I came home and asked my husband and he gave me the correct husband answer, which is that I don’t look a day over 25. He’s lying. And I also obsessively wear sunscreen now and SLATHER it on my children even when we are only going to be outside for a short period of time. Sigh. All to say, you are not alone in this. I am there too!
ashley @ the handmade home says
HAHA! What’s more distressing to me, is when they’re younger and cuter looking than me. That’s when I start to stress a little. Like, Oh my word, time to pull it together, Ash! Go do some sit ups and get some botox or something!
Jenna says
You hit the nail on the head, Ashley! I turned 30 this year and while in my mind, I know that’s still pretty young, I feel old. We had an intern at work a while back and I had to look at her license for something and she was born in 1998. 1998!!! And just yesterday, I was talking to a customer and when I said that I was a senior in high school the first year they had a girl’s soccer team, she looked at me like, wow, that must have been a while ago. It was. I’m trying to embrace it, though. After all, each day we’re as young as we’re ever going to be again, so why not make the most of it? One day I actually WILL be old and I’ll want to punch myself in the face for thinking that 30 was over the hill.
ashley @ the handmade home says
HAHA Punch yourself in the face!!! And yes. I could be that girl’s mother. Technically.
Summer says
Love this and you guys so much! Thanks for the smiles this morning! I just turned 37 so this is quite up my alley 🙂
ashley @ the handmade home says
WHAT?! I would never guess you were 37! And I am NOT lying. I SERIOUSLY just figured you were barely 30. Tell me all your secrets!
Lesley says
Ashley.
, you took the words out of my mouth I turn 35 next month and this is the year I felt like I wasn’t “young”
Anymore. I hear myself saying to my 13 year old “Turn off that awful music, what’s a trap queen anyways?” OMG. And I fall… I mean a lot!! I can’t even te you what I bruised yesterday! And I to worshiped the tanning bed! Luckily I stopped fairly young! Abd I won’t even dare sit in the sun now! This post was great and makes me feel so much better about my potential mid life ” adventure”
ashley @ the handmade home says
So… what IS a trap queen? It sounds dirty??? I ashamedly also worshipped the tanning bed. I try not to have regrets, but this is one of them. And I constantly have bruises! Am I losing my ability to walk?! What is happening?!?!?!
Cristina says
I laughed and I cried and I shared on Facebook:)
Oh, and I thanked my lucky stars that I still round down to 30……….for another 18 months;)
ashley @ the handmade home says
I may be celebrating my 35th from here on out… ;}
April says
I am 3 years behind you but I’m already having all of these same thoughts!! I cannot believe how old all my teenage star crushes are now! this post made me think of a bit by my favorite comedian. I will just leave this here for you to enjoy! 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-ZvzEGH2oE
ashley @ the handmade home says
BAHAHAHA! So glad I’m not alone in that! I feel like they kind of gave up on me!!! ;} My OBGYN told me I can pray, or have a hysterectomy. Good times!
Linda J says
OH MY! I am trying my best to control the laughter! WELCOME to my world! I have been through every stage you described. THEN, add another enormous amount of years to that. I will be OK. I promise. I still have these monumental moments in my life. The best is yet to come. One day you will be considering all this and realize all you have accomplished, how loved you are and the many blessing bestowed upon you. Go ahead, go to Target and drink a Starbucks. My favorite is to wander a hobby store or Super Walmart till my feet ache and no one knows where I am! lol It gets better with the years because you have more wonderful moments to remember…….
ashley @ the handmade home says
So true. And wandering aimlessly until my feet ache sounds like a great life goal to me. Thanks for the inspiration! I think I need that this week! ;}
Becky says
This just made me smile. I have almost 20 years on you though, but this just hit home. I was 34 when our youngest child was born and I remember a few months after he was born running into a woman that I went to grade school with. She was about 2 years younger than I was and told me she was expecting. She told me that she saw me the year before and thought if I could do it so could she. Like having a child at ” my age” was a miracle. Anyway, embrace all stages of your life. It’s all different and it’s all good, trust me. Thanks for today’s smile too.
Manette Gutterman says
I feel ya! I’m 43 and even when I say it, I can’t believe it. I have an almost 13 year old who is taller than me & an 8 year old. I still have days when I can’t believe I have 2 kids so…But I FEEL 43….when I get up every morning unable to straighten my back without hurting. My friends are all younger because my husband & I refuse to act like our former friends who were our age. We like to go out still, play rock music, and be active. Our former friends don’t. However, being friends with people younger than you has drawbacks. They’re having babies and I know my baby days are long gone. My back reminds me, that growing baby pooch that never went away reminds me, and recovering from a run 2 days later reminds me. Where does the time go?!
Jessica says
Hubby and I were talking about this very thing last night! Especially how certain actors ‘look so old now’ and realizing that we’re about the same age and probably have aged too 🙁 However, I totally think I’m way cooler and younger than my parents ever were, and I don’t even think they’re old haha!
I saw a shirt the other day that said
Vintage 1983
I was born in 1983 and do not think I am vintage thankyouverymuch.
Susie says
So funny…so relatable! I love the section on being a late bloomer, that was me to a tee! I have a picture of me on the first day of junior high (taken as a form of torture by a homeroom teacher) and seriously I was a flat chested scrawny little thing! Wearing Levi jeans from the boys department b/c there wasn’t a girls or juniors size that fit my super slim hips!!! Ahhh the good old days. And you NKOTB shirt is awesome, I think my sister had the same one, and NO I wasn’t allowed to touch it!!!
Rose L. says
Oh honey, you are not old! I turned 63 a week ago, that is old!
I do find it disconcerting to see the actors/actresses from my youth (I saw the first Saturday Night Live!) aged as well. I watched Disneyland being built in California and was at grand opening as a child.
Michael @ CraftyDad.com says
: )
Loo says
thanks för many great and recognizing laughs!!!
Will not reveal My age, but been there not too lång ago and am now back in the blissful denying phase ???? Love from Sweden
Laura Reich says
Oh. My. Word. I feel *exactly* like this. I’ll turn 33 in a month and my husband will be 40. I was always the young wife and mother. I was 19 when I got married and we started having kids a year later. I was 27 when my 5th baby was born. Last night I got together with ladies from church and one of the young moms referred to me as her “older woman” in reference to Titus 2.
It took me about 8 months to realize the lines under my eyes were not just from a lack of sleep, that my jeans had not just shrunk in the dryer after 5 years and that my breasts are never going to look good outside of a bra again. And I want to punch myself in the face because I know I’m going to look back in 10 years and long for my mid-30’s. So, now I’m trying to accept the fact that I’m 33 while struggling with what that looks like and feeling guilty that I’m not enjoying it. Being an adult is hard work.
Luisa says
EXACTLY. I was feeling all fine and dandy and then I had my first kid at 32…then everything pretty much went downhill after that. Ha!!! Seriously though, I’m pretty sure my little 18mo old has aged me by about 10 years. Now, I’m all “Can I handle another?” “Pretty sure that I can’t.” “What if I can?” “Should I have another back to back before I become ‘high risk’?”
Geez louise. 🙂
Jennifer says
I am in tears over here. Laughing so hard! I’m older than you and feel your pain. And get this, I turned 40 in January AND found out I was pregnant for the first time. WHAT?!? You’ve got it so together and I’m in awe. Late bloomer here. With droopy boobs. You’re welcome for the visual. 😉
Shannon says
I completely know how you feel! In my 20s when I would go places with my kids I used to have people stop to ask how old I was because they couldn’t believe I could be more than 16 years old. Then they stopped carding me at the liquor store…and people stopped asking about my age or looking at me strangely for having kids. And the guys stopped hitting on me when I went out. I totally panicked! (Not that I need to be hit on, of course, but it is startling when it disappears!) Oh, and I have to add to your movie casting comment. But when they cast some attractive guy I feel like a creepy old lady now! You don’t know whether to enjoy or go scrub the gross off for the next hour! Anyways, I wrote a similar post not long ago if you want to check it out.
https://moonlightandlullabies.wordpress.com/2015/06/06/why-being-30-isnt-so-bad/
Angie g says
I love your post. As I approached 40 (as slowly as possible) I feel every bit the same way. well except the sun thing…bring on the vitamin D!!! I do use the sunscreen on my whole family after we get our 15 minutes in though. Hey, I live in the north and we only see the sun a few months a year so the wrinkles will be my trade-off 🙂
Tara says
So, I’m turning 30 this week. And for months now I’ve been saying it’s not a big deal, and thirty is NOT old and it is silly for people to freak out when they turn thirty, like it’s some huge, life changing thing. And then today at the doctor, for which I had actually put on my nicer clothes and done my make-up, the nurse looked at me and said “Wow, you look exhausted” and all those positive feelings about getting older just flew right out the window.
I’m totally up for that five week vacay. It will be easy to find someone to watch three kids for that long, right? 😉
LosinMyMind says
HAHAHAHHA! I love this blog post! I’m also 35, and now even closer to 36, and I’ve also had this disturbing revelation of myself this year. I got glasses this year, and not just those cute little computer glasses you only need at work, but glasses that I have to wear all the time or I can’t read what the next exit is or see the TV clearly. I went into rebellion this summer and stopped wearing them – Bwhaha! I need them, and I need to get over it, but I was SO mad that I HAD to wear glasses all the time. So many other things I can relate too, but I get it – I totally get it!
Marcy says
So……I think of myself as young inside…then I look in the mirror and I think, wow I sure feel younger than I look!!!! I have the joy of watching my three grown children, all married and two have babies, be parents and be self-sufficient, mature adults that are positively contributing to society. I am 53 and actually so enjoying this stage of my life. Totally loved being a Mom and all those years of raising my boys, going to their games, family vacations, breakfasts watching ESPN, and all the other wonderful times. Now… My husband of 31 years and I are so enjoying going on little road trips, weekends with our friends, hiking, out to lunch or dinner spur of the moment…no matter what the stage of life you just need to embrace it and enjoy it! When people used to complain about their birthdays and getting older my sweet Dad would say, “It is better than the alternatative!!!” I learned so much from him but I think one of the biggest things was living in the moment.
Deanna says
I found my 40’s to be fabulous and I am loving being in my early 50’s. I often find myself surprised by my age – in my mind I am still 25! But growing older has it’s benefits. The main one being that you gain more confidence in yourself and stop worrying about what other people think. That’s my experience anyway. I feel more me!
Embrace your life! God has you right where He wants you!
Adrienne says
Hahaha “I am in fact, not a vampire”. I’m sad because I always thought once I hit 35 that’s like crossing the threshold where you can’t become a vampire anymore. That no vampire is going to decide to make a 36 year old immortal. So I’m 36 and missed the boat.
For the record I’ve read your blog for 5 years. You are so very clearly young at heart and beautiful. You’re living it right. Don’t dwell on stuff you can’t change. Embrace the lines! They mean you smile a lot 😉
Beth M. says
I turn 37 in October and I secretly wish I lived in a downtown high rise condo with only myself as a responsibility. But these two children call me mom, and two dogs need feeding and a husband counts on his wife, so I guess I’ll stay in suburbia and keep driving my mini (van in case you think for a split second that I’m cool enough for the other mini). I’m beginning to see why mid life crises happen and are so appealing! Thank goodness these kids are adorable!
Michele says
This was the best thing I’ve read in a long time! I’ll be 38 in September, and it doesn’t feel like I should be that old. I could relate to everything you wrote. Have you seen the ecard that says “I still feel like I’m in my 20s until I hang out with 20 year olds and then I’m like, nope nevermind!”?
I’m a teacher and I always feel like I’ve been the young, fun teacher at my school, and now students I taught are teaching with me! What?!? I’m now the veteran teacher!
Bring on the gray hair, wrinkles, age spots, and cellulite…well, maybe not cellulite!
Faye says
Love this post! Love! I am 51. Yeah. But, I feel great and life is really good. I went camping with my 3 daughters this past weekend – they planned the meals and did most of the packing for me. We cooked and talked and laughed our pants off – well not really, but you know. So there’s that! I remember turning 30 – I was totally distraught – I was driving an ugly station wagon with WOOD on the side. Wood!!! It was horrifying. So, I went through what you are going through. But I still am feeling a little aghast when I call people in their 20s “kids”. But they are! And then I feel old – but only then.
P.S. thanks for your planner! LOVE!
Jaclyn says
Thank you for this! So awesome. I totally relate. I am 34 and have been feeling and noticing so much of what you wrote about. Thank you for helping me laugh about it. I just keep praying that with age, the Lord will grant me more wisdom and patience to go with, and that wisdom will help me look past my wrinkles and age spots onto the more important things in life. Because like it or not, those age spots just keep on coming.
Rach says
This is perfection. I cannot even begin…it’s all true and funny and true.
CT Granny says
Mentally, it gets a lot better. Physically, it gets a lot worse. Knees? Replaced. Cataracts? Removed. Stamina? Totally missing. Metabolism? Sluggish at best.
Went to Disneyland a few weeks ago. Last time I am going on the Matterhorn. Disks in my back just aren’t doing the job anymore. Didn’t have the stamina to climb up to Tarzan’s Tree House (used to be Swiss Family Robinson, does no one read that book anymore?). Took one full day to recuperate from the 18,000 steps we took before my phone died.
Years go quickly. Days, not so much. Practice letting go bit by bit.
Peggy says
You have so made my day! I just realized if you are 1/3 through life–I just got extra years as I was thinking I was 2/3 through life and I just hit 64. But, do the math., two thirds would be 70. Thank you! I am not over the hill yet! love your blog!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
Hey! Once I started reading your post I was going to go all General Patton on you! A little nudge {my version of General Patton’s slap} so that you came to your senses. Every age is great! I am in my *ahem* just say over the big 6-0 and creeping closer to the other one. I don’t think about it. I cream the living daylights out of my skin and I thank God I never was a sun worshiper. The reason is I never could tan — I’d just freckle. Heck , I’m Italian and I’m supposed to tan. Regardless — live life to the fullest and don’t look in the mirror. Isn’t that a great philosophy. By the way — Happy 35th. May you have many more!!
MAH says
WOW, girl, I don’t want to be around when you turn 65! By the way I love 65. My favorite age was 50. It is a good thing that you haven’t gone through menopause (naturally, no surgery) which I did at 34!!!!! Now that is a real REALITY show. Good luck with getting old.
Kim domingue says
Fifty five year old, late bloomer here! Got carded until I was in my mid thirties.When I was somewhere around fourty three, I remember being in a store and was startled when I turned around and there was this older woman, right up in my face, and I remember thinking that I hadn’t heard anyone walking up behind me and what was WRONG with this woman, she was WAY TOO CLOSE to me and…….. OMG! I’m looking in a MIRROR!!! I went home and called my best friend and cried out the whole sad story to her. We laugh about it now but, man, it sure wasn’t funny then! My cousin gets to claim the
“Got It Worse Than You” award though. In the last year or so, she has consistently been referred to as my mother when we are out in public together…….she is only five years older than I am……. and I can promise you that I most certainly do not look 35 or even 40. She says it’s an award she would rather not have won! Growing older is not for the faint of heart!
Teddee Grace says
You balled your eyes out?! I didn’t know they allowed that in movie theaters.
Rochelle Alves says
That was SO dang funny. Thank you for the laughs today. And I hate it when people guess my age accurately, too. And worse, when I’m pretty sure I’m a few years younger than someone, only to find out the reverse is true. The few years don’t really matter, until they are not in your favor! Ha! Keep writing. You’re really funny.
Donna Marie says
I only feel 61 when I look in the mirror and wonder who in the *&*# is that woman!!!
david says
Great post!
I’m the youngest in my family (by a lot – my sisters are 10, 15, and 19 years older than me…can you say “accident?”). And I’ve always identified myself as the youngest- always “mature for my age” etc.
And then, suddenly I was chronologically older than almost anyone I knew.
I tried to explain to everyone that I was still actually the youngest because I had been the youngest longer than they had. I had youngest-seniority.
Nobody bought it.
You look great! Hang in there and enjoy the “now.”
David
Colleen@Lilacdrivedesigns says
Loved reading this post. I’m rounding the corner to 47 (wth)…how in the shizzballzz did I get here??? Seriously. Keep doing whatever you can to stay fit and trim. eat well. walk. sing. laugh. love. breathe. Whether we fight it or embrace it, it’s going to happen.
I wish I could slice 10 years off, that would be nice. I’m having a really hard time realizing that I’m now closer to 50 (can’t even wrap my head around it) than I am to 40. There are studies out there about the mental aspect of aging, turns out attitude really is everything! Stay positive and just keep moving 🙂
Laura @ The Turquoise Home says
Noooooo!!! The dad from Beethoven did NOT turn 80 this year?!? I’m so old right there with you (34). 🙁
ashley @ the handmade home says
I am SO GLAD I’m not the only one who found this completely traumatizing!!! He must have been older when he made the movie, because I always thought he was, well, our age when he made it. And when that movie came out, we were probably the oldest daughter’s age. So weird!