The Apples in My Orchard

Lately, I am recognizing my age as a “50-something” woman. It’s okay. My husband is recognizing his, right along with me. These are the things that make me/us think that we are getting old:

• This winter was long and cold. We started saying in January that we were ready for it to be over, already! Hawaii or Florida, anyone????
• I am planning an escape for next February because I just can’t stand to think of another long gray, dark month! Maybe Arizona????
• I just found out that Hamilton, The Musical had rap and hip-hop music in it! (Really? My thoughts were – no wonder it’s so popular!) Personally, I’ll take State Fair, The King and I, and The Sound of Music, any day.  Don’t get me wrong – I love all kinds of music and I love history.  I’m sure I’ll love Hamilton when I see it (someday).  I was just stuck in the groove of the traditional musical. Being “stuck” is a sign of age, don’t ya know?!
• My contacts don’t seem to be cutting it anymore. By evening, I am wearing my glasses to see as clearly as possible.
• I ache! Oh, how I ache. Name a body part and I’ll tell you how it hurts!
• I hurt for no reason – except that I move. And, I keep moving.
• Both my husband and I are starting to wake up earlier and earlier!                              4:30 a.m., anyone?!
• My handwriting has become poor! It looks like chicken scratches! When I recently served as a judge for National History Day and had to write comments, I ended up hoping the student could read my cursive.
• Being happy is better than having a clean house! (Okay, I’ll admit my house is pretty clean.) But, still, I no longer rush around cleaning like a madwoman. I mean who really cares if I have spotless countertops or not?
• I don’t get some of the jokes with references to pop stars anymore. It doesn’t matter whether one of my teens is telling the joke or whether it’s a commercial on T.V.; I just don’t get it! Fortunately, this just happens sometimes, right now. I’m sure it will get worse.
• We are mistaking domestic animals for wild animals! (Really! Read my post about the Cougar in the Coulee if you don’t believe me!)
• I have serving plates that are older than our marriage! Seriously!
• Fortunately, I got rid of all the towels that were older than the serving plates! And, we’ve been married a long time!
• I cannot recall all the names of my teachers in grade school….I get to 7th and 8th grade and am stumped on a few! I suppose that isn’t too bad.
• I can talk to almost anyone, anywhere, about anything!
• Young adults (fortunately my own kids aren’t included here) think I don’t know anything and easily dismiss any contributions I might make. The trouble is, they don’t even want to know what experience I have – and, I have lots!  This particularly applies to the uppity young PhD student I met last week. Who needs it?

Yes, unfortunately, I recognize that I am getting older. And, wiser. But, sometimes I’d like to know what I know now but have my 25-year-old body back! Hey – there’s always wishful thinking!  Fantasy never gets old!