When Did I Become Old?
Posted: Friday, March 14, 2008
by Laura Trahan
Yesterday marked 13 years since the day I met my husband. We met in college at the young age of 19. I remember thinking I knew everything at the time.
As I sat and pondered the time in my life, a few realizations came to mind. The first and foremost was that I don't feel any different. I still feel like that crazy girl running outside a concert doing whatever it took to get his attention. Inside I feel the same-full of life, young, nave, but most of all 19!
When did I become old? Who is this person in the mirror with the dark circles under her eyes? What are those things sagging? When did my cheeks become so plump?
I guess I am trying to say where did the time go? I decided to compile a list of the things I hate the most since this realization of becoming old.
The dressing room gymnastics
This is for women. So men plug your ears. I was talking with a girlfriend today about the new shopping experience that old age has brought us. Since we have these rolls where none used to exist, we decided to try those undergarments that are supposed to tuck in said rolls. I have to admit that it is hilarious picturing ourselves trying to get the stuck piece of life-squeezing material back off after it gets stuck halfway in between the place where we started to get it on and the place where it should stop. Not to mention the sadness in picking the largest size anyway to try on so we would not be depressed when we couldn't get it up. Or worse, getting up only to realize that all the fat is bulging out on the legs where it has been pressed down! What is also annoying is the picture on the tag of the super skinny girl who obviously does not have any real bulges that need hiding in the first place. How old is she-19?
The lack of energy
I have never slept as well as I sleep now. I can remember staying up for hours having "pillow talk" with my husband in our younger days. Now it is a race to see who will be asleep first. If we need to talk we do it when we are both sitting up in the other room, because it is common knowledge that as soon as we hit the pillow we are out. Not to mention the fact that I can get winded walking from a parking space to a building. Oh and stairs, I try to avoid them.
Speaking of Exercise
They should have separate areas of the gym designed for those over 30. I can't tell you how annoying it is to see these young girls with no sags or rolls come in and run circles around me on the equipment. Seriously, sometimes I just want to reach over and push her off the treadmill. It would only take my pinkie probably since she is so light and fit. She makes it look so easy as she talks on her cell phone while running miles on the treadmill. Talk on a cell phone? I am trying to just be able to breathe!
Watching what I eat
Why is it when I could get away with eating/drinking whatever I wanted, I didn't? Now that I can eat a piece of pizza and literally see it transpose into my thighs, hips and cheeks, I have to obviously watch what is put into my mouth! I would have never appreciated the richness or taste of the good foods of today at 19. So why is it now that I can appreciate it, I am not allow to touch it for fear of a clogging heart?
Speaking of health
I can fall on the way to the car and be sore for weeks. I remember never even noticing falls as a teenager. Yes, I was a klutz. Not to mention the cabinets and drawers of medicines, face creams, vitamins, etc. I always wondered why my mom had so much junk. Now I know. We have to have ice packs, cold packs, heating pads, muscle creams, etc just to make it through most mornings. We need to look into a new house just to store all of these things that are supposed to make us look or feel younger, yet here I am looking in the mirror at the reflection of the crypt keeper.
I guess there are good things that come with age, but as I reflect on the last 13 years I am not sure what they are. I am told wisdom comes with age, but I think it is more experience after making mistakes. I'd much rather have the ability to make those mistakes than the body to not even be able to try!
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Ha, Laura to me you're still a baby and I can tell you from experience, "the best is yet to come" -- much comes with getting older and in reality, I am old enough to be your mom. I am a true believer that age is in the mind and I know of many 20 somethings who act older than 50 year olds! My great aunt Celia, who recently passed away at 98, found "the love of her life" at 90 and I had to lecture HER about the dangers of premarital sex which she just shrugged and defied me with anyway... go figure, huh? Good tips here and all the best to you!Ha Judi! That made me laugh-98 is an amazing accomplishment though! Hope things are going well with you!
hi laura, i enjoy the humor in your articles. it makes them unique. i have stopped looking in mirrors except the occassional tweezing of the hair that grows under my chin, and that nobody has ever once mentioned to me in my life, though visible as it may be. thanks for a well written piece, best regards, sueSue-Thanks for commenting! It is a good thing that nobody ever comments-they probably never even notice!
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