A friend and I recently had a discussion about aging. We decided that when we turned 30 it was hard because we were no longer “in our 20s” so we were no longer youthful.
When we turned 40, it was a little bit harder than turning 30. In order to be proactive I did my first marathon right before my birthday and turned 40 feeling fit, thin and invincible. Turning 45 was actually harder for me.
In hindsight, those milestones seem insignificant compared to turning 50. Fifty signifies being more of an adult than I feel. Also, how on earth can I deny being middle aged any longer. Do I really think I’ll live past 100? I have probably lived at least half of my life.
Anyway, I am a little worried about reaching this next milestone. Though most of the time I feel just fine, other days I’m sent into a panic.
Should I do something momentous? Should I pretend to age gracefully? Should I just freak out?
Regardless, since I am a writer, I decided I’d like to track this year from 49 to 50. Hence this blog.
So I hope those of you who found this blog will enjoy reading about how a woman in denial approaches turning 50. And yes, the names will be changed to protect the innocent.
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On my 49th birthday, though I'm not really happy with my hair. The photographer (who shall remain nameless) took the picture against his will and I felt funny asking him to retake it. I couldn't really see it on the camera without my "cheaters" anyway. The photographer said it looked "fine". So, this is how I look at 49 when I wish my hair was lying down better. At least the color of my hair is great.
Me on my 50th birthday,
A nice thing about traveling in Barbados is that the currency conversion is easy: 1 to 2. Shop owners would say something cost "1 American, 2 in Barbados." One evening my brother-in-law talked about turning 50 later that year. I said, “Yeah, but you'll be 100 in Barbados.” Now it's my turn.
50 New things
- Rode a tram to the top of a mountain, despite my increasing fear of heights.
- Visited Palms Springs, California.
- Finished a half marathon in under 3 hours! My personal best!
- Ate octopus. In Spanish it is "pulpo." Yes, it was at a Mexican restuarant.
- Ate at an In-N-Out Burger.
- Ate Chinese food in Chinatown.
- Ate seaweed.
- Attended an Alumni Association event.
- Bought chianti.
- Climbed over a 2-story cargo-net wall.
- Don't own a dog for the first time in over 23 years.
- Entered and finished a 12K.
- Had a colonoscopy.
- Met up with friends who lived in my college dorm.
- Ran in a running race.
- Rode a trolley.
- Saw and climbed the famous Lombard Street.
- Saw Redwood trees.
- Shopped at an Asian market.
- Signed up for a running race that I will run.
- Took my kayak out -- by myself!
- Visited San Francisco.
- Walked across the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Went to a brand new, cool bar with my friends.
- Went to see a free concert on the river -- WaterFire.
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Aging Gracefully?
- Me
- At various times in my life I have had a few "issues" with aging. Thirty was tough, 40 not so bad (because of the marathon I walked), 45 was harder because I was past the halfway point between 40 and 50. So, here I am at 49 thinking about all of the implications. Have I lived half my life? More importantly, have I lived MORE than half my life? When will I ever feel my age? When will I ever ACT my age? When will I be old? When can I quit coloring my hair? Or maybe I should say, when SHOULD I quit coloring my hair because I look ridiculous? Because I am a writer, I've decided to share this year of panic with anyone who might find it interesting. And no, I don't expect to age gracefully -- I plan to fight it kicking and screaming. And the screaming started today -- December 13, 2009.
Me
On my 49th birthday, though I'm not really happy with my hair. The photographer (who shall remain nameless) took the picture against his will and I felt funny asking him to retake it. I couldn't really see it on the camera without my "cheaters" anyway. The photographer said it looked "fine". So, this is how I look at 49 when I wish my hair was lying down better. At least the color of my hair is great.
Me on my 50th Birthday
Me on my 50th birthday,
Not so Obvious Signs I'm Getting Old
- The TV volume has to be really loud
- My stories are repeated over and over and over...
- My kids get impatient with me
- My hair guy buys my color in bulk
- Lots of foods upset my stomach
- I need reading glasses even when wearing contacts
- I hate current music
- I get tired really early and wake up early
- Have to switch to decaf in the afternoon
- Everyone I talk to mumbles
Blog Archive
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2009
(15)
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December
(15)
- "That's a Good Photo of You"
- Today I Hate Technology
- I am Too Old To ...
- Merry Christmas -- Happy Holidays!
- One Particular Santa
- Death of a Young Actress
- Freak Out Moment
- Old to a 6 Year Old
- The Annual Christmas Happy Hour
- I am Old Enough to Know...
- What was Mom Doing?
- Connecting the Dots
- I Like It, But It Doesn't Like Me
- Happy Birthday to Me!
- The Truth about Aging
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December
(15)
Places I want to Visit (Before I Die)
- Crazy Horse (You can hike to it only one weekend a year.)
- Mexico (Again)
- Australia
- Mount Rushmore
- Grand Canyon (I want to hike it)
- Machu Picchu
Things my Dog Ate
- Instruction book for my heart rate monitor 1/6/10
- Weight-lifting gloves 1/5/10
- Bag of pig ears (they are like raw hide, only pig ears) 12/30/09
- $20 bill
- A box of chocolate-covered cherries
- A check from a friend
- A meatloaf
- A pan of brownies
- Bag of Chipotle tortilla chips 12/30/09
- Can full of cooking grease
- Cookbook
- Dish towels
- Half a loaf of bread 12/16/09
- Half a pecan pie
- Newspaper
- One leather glove
- OSU football jersey
- Our mail
- Plate of Christmas cookies 12/28/09
- Sticks of butter
- The zip-in liner to my leather coat
- Underwear (lots)
- Used tissues
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