Image by Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto from Pixabay
by Kelli Bowen
While comparing weekends, I had a coworker nonchalantly point out that "we're getting old". First of all NOPE. Second of all, age is just a number. Thirdly, I'm as young as I feel. Oh crap...I feel old. Anyhoo here are some things I’ve come to terms and/or realized as I get older (not old):
Recovery takes forever! Miss A fractured her skull and went from a bruised face and black eye and then back to her face looking “normal” in less than 10 days. I had my cell phone fall maybe 30 inches and land on my cheekbone over 2 weeks ago...bruise still there. What the crap?
Speaking of crap: used to do things like jump out of a 2nd story hayloft onto a round bale that was sitting on the ground below. I’d just bounce off and walk away. In the past year, pretty sure I have tweaked my back getting off the toilet. How is that fair?
Speaking of fair: mirror mirror on the wall there’s no amount of home sales pyramid skin cream that diminishes these WTF lines on my forehead, these things have been developing over three decades and they run deep. I don't care what magical, all natural, face-dip, cell-enhancing tar paste you have, when we get older...we're supposed to show it. That's how you know you've lived a life worth living: laugh(WTF) lines and gray hairs.
Speaking of gray hairs: what's with the need for extreme thrill rides and/or dangerous activities? I think staying up late is extreme. I remember laughing at people who went to bed early. I remember saying "It's only 10:00, let's go out." Do you know who these people are? Young people without gray hairs or small children at home. Because here's the thing: I can get as crazy and impaired as I want, but that little human is still going to come knocking on my forehead at 7 a.m. with sticky hands and demands. If I don't get out of my bed to deal with both, they'll both just escalate and we'll end up an entire bin of baby powder scented Vaseline coating my walls, banister and youngest child. I've been there. This means Mama's gotta get up, so Mama needs some dang sleep...and caffeinated tea.
With all of the creeks, squeaks, moans and groans of getting old...er, there are also some really good things too. Laughing uncontrollably, getting the BEST hugs, taking in the sunrise, taking care of myself and my family, Hubby, Miss E, Miss A, knowing the value of myself and my friends and family, dogs, these are all really good things. When I was younger, I was always out running and looking for something. I was looking for the good things. Now that I'm old...er, I know exactly where the good things are kept. Some people associate getting old with falling apart, but I think it's really having it together.
Cheers to getting old(er)!
Not after 9 p.m. though, I mean, I've gotta be up in the morning.
Kelli makes her home in rural Cass County with her husband, two daughters (8 and 4), three dogs, and random poultry. She works for a regional seed company by day and tries to be an alright mom, wife, friend and writer by night.