Alphabe-Thursday..."O" as in what is OLD?

It's time again for Alphabe-Thursday sponsored by Ms. Jenny over at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent." This week we are studying the letter "O" as in OLD.

What is OLD?

When I was ten I thought OLD was 13. I couldn't wait to be 13 years OLD because then I'd be a teenager. I was pretty sure that would be the magic age. I'd suddenly look more mature instead of so baby-ish. I'd probably find myself busy going to dances, talking to boys on the phone, etc. I packed away my beloved dolls because I was too mature for them now (AKA too OLD) and then waited for the boys to come calling. I waited and waited.

Next I waited to be OLD...OLD enough to drive. In New Jersey that meant 17 years OLD. At 17 I could finally get a learner's permit. Yes, I couldn't wait to be OLD. On the morning of my 17th birthday I arrived at the DMV with my birth certificate in hand and was issued a permit. After a little practice I went back for the driving test and somehow managed to parallel park successfully for the very first time on the test! Yes, I was OLD and it was great.

Then I looked forward to being OLD again. I grew up in New Jersey only a few miles from the New York state line. The drinking age in New York state was 18. It was 21 in New Jersey. Yes, I wanted to be OLD enough to drink in New York state. I pictured myself perched on a bar stool with a drink in hand looking very OLD and mature. My mother had no idea. She was strict and would have had a hissy fit if she had known about my desire to be OLD. On my 18th birthday I went "up state" as we used to call it and had my first drink. It was official. I was finally OLD enough...or so I thought.

Of course, then I wanted to be OLD enough to vote and drink in New Jersey. At that time you had to be 21 for both. I couldn't wait to be OLD. I turned 21 on December 29th and was able to have a New Jersey drink right away, but I had to wait almost a year until I could vote the following November! Still, this getting OLD stuff was pretty good.

At 22 I decided I was OLD enough to get married and at 23 I gave birth to my first son. My second son arrived almost 17 months later. Now I was actually starting to feel a little OLD. Just a little bit.

Then I started dreading 30 a little. For some reason that really sounded OLD to me. My third son was born a month after I turned 30. Wasn't that kind of OLD to be having a baby? Remember, those were different times.

OK, we all know 40 is OLD. Hallmark lets us know. Those black balloons they sell at the grocery store let us know. I've even seen black roses and black icing on birthday cakes. You don't have to hit me over the head. Yes, 40 is definitely OLD. My mother sent me a dozen red roses on my 40th birthday. It's something I'll always remember. I loved getting the roses, but turning 40 not so much.

Then I started dreading 50. Yikes, 50 really sounded OLD! And to make it official AARP found me. How do they do that anyway? For the first time I noticed wrinkles and gray hair. Yes, 50 really sounded OLD.

It seems like I no sooner turned 50 and it was time to dread 60. YIKES! Doesn't 60 sound really, really OLD? I was starting to feel it too. Little aches and pains started creeping in, but I laughed them off.

How about 70? Does 70 sound OLD to you? Not to me. I'm OLDER and wiser now as I get closer to 70 years OLD. I'm starting to think 70 isn't all that OLD after all. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow and I'm much more appreciative now of the time I've been given. Life experiences will do that to you. In a little over 4 years I'll be 70 years young!

Time marches on, so hurry over to Ms Jenny's and visit other other Alphabe-Thursday participants.