My birthday was last week. Because I can barely stand to speak the numbers, I’ll just say I’m in my late-to-mid 40’s. Okay, 48. There, I said it. And believe me, I am grateful for every year that I have. I am not, so far, one of those people who dreads every birthday because it’s one year closer to death. Every moment is a moment closer to death. For everyone. It’s gonna happen. So I’m glad for all of the moments I get. However…
Like some effort from the Universe to remind me just how gosh-darned grateful I should be, there have been multiple reminders of my getting older, none of them good.
Recently, I went to a business event where there would be cocktails. Everyone had to show their ID and get a stamp on their hand if they were over 21 and therefore able to obtain booze. The guy, who wasn’t much above 21 himself I’m sure, took one look at me and said “oh, no need to show your ID, you’re waaay good to go.” “Great! Thanks!” I said in one of those moments when you think of everything you really should have said after the fact like “dude, you could humor me at least” or “watch it, you’re old enough to be my son, literally” or something else wonderfully biting and witty.
Last week, I went to get my driver’s license renewed. When the young fellow behind the counter (aren’t there any people over 25 working? Anywhere?) asked me my hair color, I hesitated and said, “well, it’s kind of in transition between blond and gray. Is there a box to check for that?” He said “since you’ll have this driver’s license picture for the next five years, let’s go with ‘gray’”. Nice assumption. Punk. I wanted to say “I might be dying it, so there!”
The other night, my husband and I were lying in bed. I said, in that ultimate mood-killer, “I feel like I’m falling apart, physically,” and started to list my ailments and physical sags and aches. “Oh, don’t get me started,” he said and started listing his (thankfully he didn’t add to MY list). We sighed and rolled away from each other. Who wants to get with that!
Then this morning, our soon-to-be 15-year-old said, “I can’t believe I’m almost 15. Soon high school will be over, then college, then a job and family and… It all goes so fast!” Did I mention she’s 14 right now?
We tried to comfort our rapidly-aging child and said “don’t get hung up on all that’s ahead of you. Focus on each day and live it fully because it does all go so fast. And if you are always focusing on what’s coming up, you can’t appreciate what is NOW.” She wasn’t impressed, or deterred. But my husband and I looked at each other and said “good advice.”
– CO Correspondent, Courtney
7 comments
That’s great advice you gave even if your daughter won’t fully understand it for a decade or so. 🙂 Also, 48 is not old, not even close!
Happy belated birthday 🙂
I totally know what you mean. My birthday is Thursday and time is going by too fast. I’m definitely closer to 40 than 30, but somehow, since mommyhood, I now have the attention span of a 2 year old. Belated happy birthday, by the way.
Good advice! And you don’t look a day over 30! I would always ID you! 😉
Getting older…blah. I am turning 34 on Friday. I actually feel pretty good about it. Life get better with age!
Happy belated birthday!! Honestly, you don’t look old at all. I probably would have made some whitty remark to that guy lol.
I used to want to get older, but now in my late teens I wish I was still a kid again. 😉 Even though I am in my late teens I feel like I am just that ten year old girl that I once was!! I’m just trying to live each days as it comes. 🙂
Sheesh, you must’ve wanted to smack the guy checking IDs, LOL! If it makes you feel any better, my fiance is 14 years older than me, and there have been instances where we’ve been in bars together and he got carded and I did not. It was pretty funny when I was in my early 20s, but the older I get, the less funny it becomes. 😉 I also can’t believe they made you put “Gray” as your hair color – mine is pink my driver’s license photo so I think I may have just put “Other”? LOL!
Happy belated birthday!!