This is 40…
I recently turned 40. It was surreal and included an overwhelming several days of well wishes, love, and affirmation that I probably don't deserve. But I reveled in it anyway. I did a little bit of reflection before posting my official thank you...
I want to thank everyone for the calls, texts, and FB posts to wish me a happy 40th birthday. It is not every day one is congratulated for surviving to middle-age. I also want to answer a few of those “do you feel older?” inquiries:
I did not wake up feeling old all at once…old age has been delivering this gift of humility for quite some time now.
A few observations:
1. I no longer correlate the days of the week to a foil birth control dosing card but, by one of those plastic flip top vitamin holders from the drug store. The boldly printed M, T, W, TH, F, SAT, SUN are easier to see without my glasses, so I never forget my multivitamins…moreover, it is nice because I do not have to take two Geritol on Wednesday if I overlooked to take one on Tuesday. There is no potential for disruption to my monthly calcium or zinc cycles.
2. I am no longer allowed to ride in my teenager’s car. Apparently when I turn down the rap music blaring from the stereo to explain that an “artist” with a track dedicated to his sweet mother, another devoted to his daughter, and yet another with a shout out to the “bad ass b******s bouncing on his d***”, probably could use some professional counseling, a few more princess tea parties, and a lot more phone calls to his mother is not “advice”…it’s “nagging”. I need to stop, “momming all over everything…”
3. I find no shame in paying $10 to have my groceries delivered to my front door, then making a special trip to the supermarket to return the hand delivered watermelon, because, “It’s not the right shade of red, and I think you can do better – I’m not mad, just a little disappointed.”
4. I believe that it is thoughtful to leave the “Lifehouse” station playing on Pandora radio for the cat and dog while I am at work. They have not appreciated each other very much lately, and a little Christian rock is always good for the soul – “listen to the words, girls.” You can watch Ellen again when you start getting along better.
5. Maturity is paying more for good bras and shoes because they are worth it, but you stick to black and beige. Because I’ll be damned if I’m paying that kind of money to not be able to wear this damn bra or these damn shoes with EVERYTHING.
6. I will treat myself to a massage now and then not because I feel the need to be pampered…but because I worked in the yard yesterday or went bowling last night and for some reason, I cannot move my neck, and my hammies are sore. Is that normal?
7. Do you like my new glasses? Be honest. These frames are the only ones sturdy enough to hold the thicker lenses I had to get this time around. I think the doctor’s exact words were “WOW, someone has gotten older!” And this pair cost more than a mortgage payment, so if I die anytime soon, please bury me with them – I actually want to get my money’s worth.
Do I feel older? Not today, but I will let you know when I do…it will probably be tomorrow.