Getting Older

Last year, when I turned 42, I didn't want to turn OLD and up until a week ago, I actually forgot about turning 43. I forgot my birthday. This realization was followed by frantic scrambling for the calendar and an attempt to figure out how the year went by so quickly, leading me to several conclusions.

Maybe I am too old to care about my age

OR

maybe forgetting IS a sign of aging

OR

maybe I have reached the point in my life where instead of lying about my age, I'm bragging about it. After all, there could be something to the rumor about 40 being the new 30, right?

*pausing for thought* -- - - - - - did I doze off?!

It’s my birthday as I'm writing this, so I will share with you
what I've learned. Enjoy!

I've learned that grey hair DOES multiply when you pull it out.

Multiply, breed, whatever! There is more of it every day and it is unstoppable!

I've learned that the "grey busters" stuff that is marketed by the hair color company is hooey. It doesn't bust anything except the fact that attempting to cover your grey only makes it worse because in a few weeks it is even greyer with that weird freaky grey kinky thing that hair does when it IS grey.
.....And HELLO! Where the HELL did that one come from that was NOT there yesterday? And that one, and that one.... ??

Pluck!

I've learned that gravity is NOT friendly. No details necessary. Ew.

I've learned that keeping friends is easy, losing them is hard.
Nowadays, I consider myself blessed, because it’s as simple as my friends are people who love me despite myself. Friendship is priceless!

I've learned that it is easier to get older than to get wiser.
Ah! Wisdom comes with age, yeah, sure, but you have to be open to this phenomenon. Just because you are getting older does NOT mean you are getting wiser. This I know, because I am wise that way.

I've learned that being right isn't necessary.
Just because I say it doesn't make it true. Although I think it AND say it doesn't mean it is fact... Dang it!

Being right is an ego trip that I am no longer interested in going on.
...HOLD IT! There is ONE exception: if you tell me I'm right and you say it like you mean it then I will be happy to accept.

I'm just old and tired from attempting to convince everyone else around me that this is the case. Besides, I've come to accept the fact that knowing I'm right is good enough for me. You can continue to be wrong.

I'm convinced my sanity is slowly deteriorating as I have found bits of it here and there; the usual place is where I look last. What is disconcerting is the whole of my sane-ness is never the same. I suppose that sooner or later, the shards will become so minute I will be unable to reassemble them.
You know, the arthritis and astigmatism and all.

oooooOOOO! Getting OLDER is SO .... FUN?!

I've learned there is a difference between want and need.
The expensive purse I longed for is now a distant memory as I cram the part of my life I carry around with me into a $12 faux leather bag that somewhat resembles a purse. Or there is that
lime green hand me down straw bag with a pink letter "K" emblazoned on the side. Yeah, uh, it was free!!

NEED / WANT - - NEED / WANT - - - say it with me!

I've learned there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
You have to go through it to get to the other side. No getting around it or jumping over it, just get through it. Sometimes this sucks. Actually this always sucks.

If it is dark then you know you are NOT in a great place. Most of the time, the batteries in my flashlight don't work and if I had a candle I wouldn't light it, but because I'm old I worry about catching something on fire. I might burn that tunnel down and then where would I be? In the dark. Alone.

So, this is why I should get one of those flashlights with the crank handle that I saw on t.v. the other night when I couldn't sleep. You know, the kind that doesn't need a battery, it always works!

I've learned that a promise isn't a promise.
I found out the hard way most people aren't to be taken at their word. It is such a shame as all I really have is my word, so when I give it, I mean it. However if someone makes me a promise and doesn't follow through, then buying expensive things to compensate is nice but it would mean more if people just kept their word.

I've learned that learning is worth it even though it is difficult and sometimes messy.
And this is where I will leave off, as you see, my age is only a number. It is about what I feel in my heart that matters even though my soul may be old, and my body certainly feels ancient.

I am always trying to live my best life and every day that you see me or talk with me IS the very best day of my life!