Getting older is a good thing

[Julie Lewthwaite]

Not necessarily a popular view, I know, but on the whole I've enjoyed the process so far and let's face it, it beats the shit out of the alternative. I find it fascinating how I and others change as the years pass - in my twenties, I was very much not the person I had been in my teens, in my thirties I had moved on again and now that I'm sauntering through my forties, more change happens. Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm still essentially the same person - I'm even still hung up on some shit I should have left behind a long time ago - but I'm looking forward to fifties me and beyond and I might get past that stuff yet. I find I care less these days about those things that are transient and irrelevant and I like that. I'm also less easily wound up; things that once might have got me stewed, I can often now giggle at. As for those things that truly deserve attention, I generally consider my response where once I might have bowled in. These days, I wouldn't merit the 'Red Julie' nickname I was once known by. Yes, there's something lost for something gained, but isn't that fair?

What isn't so great, however, is the physical change. I've never actually been able to see all that well, but have been lucky enough to see just fine with lenses or glasses. Now, however, I find that for very close work I need to peep over my specs and peer closely. Sadly, it isn't possible to peep over contact lenses - although, believe me, I've tried! I was wearing mine yesterday when I sewed a button on a skirt for my mother - it took me as long to thread the needle as it did to do the actual sewing. Very frustrating! As for other considerations, may I refer you to Dr W. Connolly, who has reported at length on certain aspects of aging. For example, I now find it almost impossible to lift a heavy object without accompanying the exertion with a noise signifying the effort expended. Unlike the good doctor, I have no family to bribe with regard to having me put down if eating is accompanied by an excess of 'tongue work', although if I'm lucky, I will actually live to see the years during which I smell less of Aromatics Elixir and Pomegranate Noir and more of piss and gin. Let's face it, that aspect of things won't be my problem.

On a more cheery note, we watched 'Venus' tonight. If Peter O'Toole, Leslie Philips and Vanessa Redgrave aren't a damn fine collective advertisement for the merits of aging, I'll down my Sanatogen in one and pray it chokes me. The wrinklies are dead! Long live the wrinklies!

[Clea Simon]

Great post, Julie!
I, too, regret the vision loss and also the ability to drop holiday weight with only a week or two of work. But, screw it all, I wouldn't trade my old hips for any of my current confidence (or my current lack of caring who is listening). Maybe this is the beginning of dementia, but I'll take it. Long live the wrinklies!

[Julie Lewthwaite]

Ha - I know just what you mean, Karen. The middle aged round bird in the mirror is totally at odds with the stroppy 18 year old who appears to be running the show a lot of the time! As for the rest of it, you go girl - I'm with you all the way! (Although I might drop behind a bit - I've got this dodgy knee, you see, and an arthritic toe (just the one) and then there's that other thing...) ;-)

[Karen from AustCrime]

LOL - loved this post Julie - I'm screeching to the end of my forties - mildly confused about when that happened and a bit disconcerted about the old woman who looks back at me from the mirror - where the hell did my mother come from!

I've always been deeply concerned by allegations that you tend to become more conservative as you get older (politics / opinions / whatever) - personally I'm bucking that concept with everything I've got - and the great thing is that once you become "a woman of a certain age" you can say outrageous things and people are so startled you actually can speak, you get a word in ;)