Today is my &#?/%*th birthday! My wish is to be able to say the number without cringing. I know I'm being silly and this is a phobia I've gotten in my head. It's just that, when I'm not thinking about my age and I hear some story about a &#?/%* something person, I automatically think of this person as being old.
When I think about this logically, I remind myself that I'm only one day older than yesterday and that I have the mental outlook of someone who is, at least, 20 years younger. And people tell me that I look 10 years younger than I am. I'm in very good health and have some pretty good old-age genes. My mother is 89 and my father is 94 and neither of them have any life threatening illnesses.
The irony is that I probably "inherited" this mindset from my father, who, in his younger days, complained about old people: they drive too slow, they're penny pinchers and complain all the time.
Not that my father needed to drive the point home, but, about 4 years ago, he and my mother moved into an assisted living home. After a month, my father told me, "This place isn't working out for me." I asked him why, and he said, "I don't like it; there are all old people here!"
As I think about my hang up with age, it's not the absence of youth that bothers me, it's that I'm afraid that people will think I'm old when I tell them my age. So, I guess I should just get over it and come clean.
So, ok...here goes: I'm 60 years old today! Yeah, that wasn't so bad! "60 is the new 40", right? Ha, I spit in your face Mr. 60! My age doesn't define me! I'm still cool.
Yes, I feel better now that I've unloaded my fears about getting old. In fact, it's liberating!
But, hey, if anybody asks, can you just tell them I'm in my fifties? Thanks.
Author's note: Marie Nicole doesn't know it, but she gave me my first birthday present yesterday in her post entitled: "Roller Derby: A 3-Word Story, her entry in Trifecta, where she said that you're "never too old" to learn new things.
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I wrote this for the Trifecta Week 41 Writing Challenge, where we are to write a 33-333 word story using the word, "absence", in the context of something which is wanting or lacking.
Happy Birthday! This is a great post. I have had these same thoughts on my birthdays. I hope you celebrate your youth today!
ReplyDeleteBo, thank you for your comments and good wishes!
DeleteHappy Birthday, Lumdog! So if "60 is the new 40", that makes me only 30 and while I feel quite young (and hope I look less than my actual age as you do and I'll gladly take those 10 years off) I wouldn't wish to go back to that time. Would you?
ReplyDeleteYou are the age you are in your mind (your dad sounds hillarious about "old" people!). I will gladly refer to you as Lumdog, that fifty something year old if you will kindly do the same and call me that forty year old! Deal? Have a great day! (Glad you got that gift from Marie Nicole)
I think you hit the nail on the head. I don't want to be younger, I just feel like I am younger that what some people would perceive me as being.
DeleteSince I'm as guilty as the next person about these misconceptions, I'm more sensitive to it when I'm on the receiving end! ;)
It's funny and sad about my father. We are both learning some hard lessons about aging.
Thanks Gina. As always, you provide great feedback and I appreciate your good wishes on this happy, but awkward day! :)
Happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteHow about you just stay 59 and holding? It's funny how age kind of sneaks up on you. I know when I think about my age, I'm shocked...I think, "no way! I can't possibly be that old." But I am :) (Sure don't act it, though!)
I got a card that said happy 58th, the idea being that I'm starting to count backwards now! BTW, I just want to say that you don't look or act your age, even though I have no idea what it is ;)(and I'm not asking)! Thanks for your comments and birthday wishes Janna!
DeleteHappy Birthday! :D Wait, I just realised something... if I am only 18 does this mean I am the baby of Trifecta? XD
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy. I'd bet you're on of the youngest. I don't even want to guess where I am am on the other end of the spectrum! :/
DeleteAwesome post too! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you Amy. It's my first post where I just talk about myself. I don't like to do this too much but it was fun this time.
DeleteI turn 50 in exactly one month. I can appreciate how you feel, but I'm refusing to grow up. I might be old in age, but I can be young at heart.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!
Thanks Tara. I've never grown up. You would not believe what things I've done that fit into to the category of: "I know I should act like a grown-up, but..." No dangerous stuff though!
DeleteThat's funny. Supposedly my great-great-grandfather, who lied about his age (too young) before joining the Union army in about 1863, was one of the last survivors of the Civil War and came home from a Grand Army of the Republic meeting in his 90s complaining about how the meeting was full of old men. By all accounts, he was both in excellent health and a stubborn old coot.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!
Yes, this sounds like my father. Thanks for commenting and the birthday wishes Annabelle.
DeleteHappy birthday! I like to lie about my age also. I'm 29. Really. I am. Ok so I'm lying a bit. I'm really 32. Give or take a few...or ten. Hope you enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeanna. I think you have the right idea. Keep 'em guessing! ;)
DeleteHappy Birthday!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHappy Birthday! I'm right behind you -
ReplyDeleteThanks Annette. From reading your posts, I think you have a few years before you get there!
DeleteHappy birthday! Terrific post.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! My parents say that you're not old until your conversations consist of detailed evaluations of your health and all your doctor visits mixed in with discussions of food or church. Maybe that cheers you up a little?
ReplyDeleteYes, I hate to talk about all of those things, except maybe food, so I guess I'll never get old (food thing might age me a little). Thanks TMW!
DeleteHappy birthday. Age is but in mind I believe.
ReplyDeleteGreat writing.
Thanks Ruby. I agree. I just don't always remember!
DeleteSorry. You are still too young to get the Senior discount here in Florida. Happy Birthday! :)
ReplyDeleteI guess they had to raise the bar. How old do you have to be? I actually like not being eligible. Thanks for reading.
DeleteHaha! Wonderful Lumdog. And Happy Birthday!! I'm 60 too! Come on in the water's great! And your Dad sounds like a hoot! I was eating lunch at an assisted living cafeteria once and they were singing happy birthday to a person who was celebrating their 96th birthday. When they were done a man at the table remarked "Ah! to be 96 again!" HA!
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda. You look like 30 in your picture! ;) Yeah, my dad is a hoot...sometimes.
DeleteHappy Birthday!!
ReplyDeleteAge is all perspective. My cousin's five year old tells me I'm an old lady, and I'm 24.
Yep. I think your definition of "old" increases with age. ;). Thanks Renada.
DeleteAs a mere child of 56, I just want to say: It must suck to be so mother%^&**ing old! I kid, I kid; this was a great post. HB.
ReplyDeleteTTD, thank you. I just dropped by your site and I'm a little out of breath now. But, hey thanks for the kudos on the post; they may be the last ones, given my avanced age! All I can say about being 56, try to relish each year, because, it goes fast!
DeleteHappy Birthday, Lumdog! Sixty isn't old--especially not when you have healthy parents in their 90s. My aunt ran her first marathon at 40. She's over 50 now and says she's amazed to find all the things she can do now that she never had the time or the guts to do when she was younger. I guess it's all about perspective. Thanks for linking up!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Lumdog! I love it, "there are all old people here." LOL!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tessa. I think there are a few young folks around here, Amy Bird, Rendada, but I get your point. I have to say though, I've been most gratified with the comments from the young people, since they get the idea that age is a relative term. I wish my kids understood this! :)
DeleteI just realized you were quoting my father's comment. He clearly has a knack for stating the obvious, in an absurd manner. But, even though I thought you were talking about how the bloggong crowd is older, I was glad to have the opportunity to comment on the responses I received from the younger bloggers.
DeleteA Very Happy Birthday to you .... Age is just a number. The mind and heart defines our action :-)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Thanks for coming by.
DeleteGreat take on being 60 years young. Thanks for putting it in words.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteYou're 60??? Man that's OLD! ;)
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of age and certain men like the dudes from the Rolling Stones or even Howard Stern, I think yeah - somebody can totally rock it at any age. When I look at my husband who's like 50-something I instantly forget all my prejudices about age. But then, the other day when I bought a pair of tore up jeans and she asked me my age (for some store birthday giveaway thing) I - without a blink - knocked off 10 years from my birth date. I guess some things still hook us up...
Happy (Belated) Birthday ya ol' Dog! :D
Thanks Marie. That's exactly what I'm saying. Objectively, I can see that age is all in your mind, but in my heart, I'm still self conscious about it!
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