Current Mood:  Comfy

Current Music:  Late In The Evening  -  Paul Simon

I've had some serious discussions about the price of pork chops.  I’ve conversed about what makes your white’s whiter, retirement savings plans, college funds, the usefulness of minivans, the need for afternoon naps on the weekend - the list goes on ad infinitum.  When did middle age start creeping in?  Seems to me that it snuck up on yours truly one Tuesday afternoon last year.

The realization that I was no longer perpetually 17 years old came with the startling discovery that I could no longer read fine print while wearing contact lenses and was constantly pulling a Mr. Magoo over the morning paper.  Convinced that the optometrist had messed up my prescription, I marched myself right back to his office to complain.  When the double check was completed, the lousy bastard turned to me and said "Your eyes are changing again, very common in middle age".  MIDDLE AGE!?!?!?!?!?  What the hell!!!! I'm only, only, only...dear lord I’m middle age!!   But it can't be!! I still have a child under age 10!  I still wear my hair long, insist on high heels, and crank the volume on music to ear splitting decibel levels!!   Oy vey!  middle age!

I found myself studiously reading all about the necessity of calcium in the diet of *gulp" a woman my age.  I started to check out moisturizers that guaranteed to wipe those crinkly lines off your face in two weeks flat, and considered sheering my hair back a number of inches.  This went on for months.  I carefully noted each and every middle age "thing" I did.  Paranoia you say?  Damn straight!!  Hiccers found herself smack dab in the centre of her very own mid-life crisis.   In order to combat this I went in the opposite direction and practiced a few weeks of denial.  I would simply not think about age, it didn't exist.  Look at me! I'm Peter Pan and ain't never gonna grow up!!!  As you might imagine this solution was about as successful as  sporting stripes with polka dots.  I still found myself talking about the price of pork chops.  It was inevitable.

Some time later, probably on a Wednesday morning,  I found peace with the whole conundrum.  Acceptance crept in.  I decided that middle age wasn't so bad after all.  I can get into any movie or bar without hassle, and thankfully my mother can no longer ground me.  I can also still ride the bumper cars at an amusement park if I so wished, stay up all night watching TV or flick on the Saturday morning 'toons.   I can wear my hair and clothes any style I prefer, on any given day.  The volume level will remain jacked to full because that is me.  Age doesn't change the core of my spirit.  I've found a great mix of young and old to make this person what she is today.  I'm enjoying the comfort that middle age brings.   Thoughts of growing old no longer scare me.   When the finger of the elderly stage taps me on the shoulder some Sunday at twilight, the core will still remain the same. 

Can't promise you that I'll be giving up the wrinkle cream anytime soon, but that's a vanity issue, and one best written about early on a Thursday.

P.S, Jen (Summer Free) you asked, above answers.  Enjoy it, it rocks!

Hiccers

I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn't itch.
 

VERY WELL WRITTEN. 

I can well remember that day when the optometrist gave me that speech, Finally some thing I can relate to

I am ageless like the fine wines
I only get better with the passing of time
Choices open up to me
The doors to my destiny
Looking back only prepares me 
for my journey through the doors ahead of me
I will not waste my time on what could be
my future is awaiting me

lately (note the use of bold face ...no accident ) i find myself wearing my pants up near my chest and complaining about the government a lot.

hahahaha.........love this Pdiddy. I have to tell you that I raced a mom in a mini van tonight into a merging lane and I won...............bad part is that my 11 yr. old wittnessed it and I had to explain that I am at an age now that I will no longer tolerate being walked on by younger people. I won that road war because I am not going to take it anymore (Twisted Sister) Made my mad dash and reveled in my ability to be agile (Mitsubishi Eclipse) rather than a gas sucker like her mini van. Danged princess wives out here had better watch out. Bad thing is that little mini me is cheering me on the one hand and she is scolding me on the other. I made her promise not to tell her dad or else............hee hee.

Just don't do a face lift . . . unless you want that look of surprise on there permanently!

lol at Paige.....I can so relate as I've done the racing thing and I won every time too....ha ha ha.....those little brats out there today think they can win over this stay at homie mom....I think not.....what they don't know is that I use to race with my first husband back when I was 18.....I know how to put the medal to the pedal.

Ok now back to your RYN: I've been hearing that alot Paula so I'm guessing coming from you it must be true.....and one more thing, we have alot in common for I still have a child under ten,am growing my long hair back,I still insist on wearing high heels, and when it comes to my music there's no such thing as turning it down.......I crank the volume up so high that my review windows vibrate.....as for middle age,.......MIDDLE AGE MY ASS.....no such thing as I've said many times and I'm a strong believer in that it's just a number and it's all in how you feel and for the most part I feel 18 on good days and say 55 to 85 on bad days....thank Gawd I don't have many bad days.

If we ever get a chance to meet I want to see you and I on the dance floor with high heels,thongs and long hair with the music blaring,drink in hand toasting to middle age women all over the world cause WE ROCK!

All I'll say is that you don't have to ever conform, some of us are meant to be 21 forever...I have to run now cause my brother is having his 50th birthday party and I'm late...Oy Vey!!!

This was a great post Paula.  I went through my mid life crisis at age 50.  It was kind of rough!  I kept looking in the mirror and wondering how those wrinkles got there.  I looked inside of myself and critically analyzed where I've been in life and what I've accomplished. 

And then I decided to let it go.  It was not a positive place to be, and I can't change what is.

And I agree with Summer Free!!!!  I can just picture the two of you out dancing and raising hell!  LOL!

Judy

RYN - what is a fricken PITA

you wrote - you a PITA you're doing ok baby

I was about to send a squad of special forces to look for you, I wouldn't tell Kathryn what a PITA is.

BTW it is nice to see you back