I turned 33 last week — or “one-third of a century,” as my dad pointed out — and have lately been thinking about how I’m getting old. It’s a thought that’s popped into my head now and then, pretty much since I had my first child. But here I am, a one-third-of-a-centenarian, and the thought has been popping up more often.
Here are a few of the old-person red flags (see if any of these sound familiar):
- I get pissed at the young hooligans hanging around the playground when I bring my kids there to play. I’m particularly annoyed at their smoking, cursing, texting and sullen looks. Kids these days! No respect.
- My 95-year-old grandma sends me jokey birthday cards about how we’re both old ladies now, ha-ha. What???
- The thought has crossed my mind that a van might be a good vehicle for us to have. A van!
- Going out past 10 p.m. seems unthinkable to me.
- When I’m around young folks (you know, in their 20s), I refer to TV shows only to learn they’ve never seen or heard of them. (WKRP in Cincinnati, One Day at a Time, The A-Team, to name a few.)
- I find myself bending over quite frequently and exclaiming, “Oh, my aching back!” It really hurts, ever since I birthed that last baby.
- I’m really, really envious of retired people.
So there you have it. I’m on my way to becoming an A.P. (Aged Parent). What the hell?
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OK I have to say you do sound a tad old here in this post. You are only as old or young as you let yourself be. (and I am older than you).
Getting old is only in our mind.
Age never prevented people from doing things:
http://www.whatwasdone.com/
Okay, the one about your grandma giving you old lady birthday cards cracked me up.
I feel ya. We're the same age. I once told a youngun that Meredith Baxter Berney would play me in a lifetime movie and she was like "Who?" and I said "You know, the mom from Family Ties" and she said "What is that?" Sigh.
Too funny! I totally agree with all of 'em. Thanks for the laugh! What recently made me feel old was having our first babysitter over to watch our daughter. I still vividly recall my own babysitting days so it was rather surreal!
A couple of weeks ago, during lunch with some co-workers, I launched into some discussion of the whole Mackenzie Phillips/consensual incest revelation. Only 2 of the 4 people who I was talking to knew who she was, or what One Day at a Time Was. And when I referenced Valerie Bertenelli, they only knew her from Jenny Craig (not the show, other movies, Eddie Van Halen's wife). I'm old. But your grandma sending you old lady cards: hilarious!
Okay, I know I'm only 27 (boo hiss) but seriously I'm feeling this right now too. My bf and cousin, Kat, and I had these discussions right before we turned 27 that we were on the up slope of getting old. Some of the things I notice are:
When I listen to the radio and accidentally turn on KISS 107 fm, I'm quickly changing it b/c I don't even know the songs anymore. WTF, I used to jam to that station but now I seriously find myself listening to Oldies 103.5 and knowing most of the songs.
Last observation, I'm yelling at kids in public. The other day I yelled at a kid for throwing his garbage in the street rather than the garbage can 2 feet away from him. What gives me the right to do this? I guess b/c I'm his elder I can yell at him (or at least that is what I told myself to justify).
YIKES!! And your post was hilarious by the way!
Very funny post. Love the references
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