Tuesday, July 26, 2011

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.

25 comments:

  1. Hi Betty, visiting from Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday. Great post. I had the same ideas about growing old. The other day I heard something popular in the late 50's/early 60's described as "mid-century", it made me feel ancient. xo

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  2. I guess none of us older than 25 really wants to get older. In our hearts most of us are still young. :)

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  3. It's funny how our perception of age changes.

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  4. While I don't like getting old, I'll take it over the alternative!

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  5. Great post! I need to write a post like this! What a nice history of you! I love learning new stuff even if you were trying to act old! Hugs Anne

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  6. I love how you wrote about the different stages of growing older or getting older.

    I think your as old as you think you are. You sound YOUNG!

    I'm home.

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  7. I think that saying is true, "you're as young as you feel" - I certainly it's a better way to think in terms of age.

    have a sweet day.

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  8. Time marches a bit too fast for me!

    It's hard to believe we ever thought 30 was old! LOL!

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  9. This is all so true and so beautifully written, Betty.

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  10. Time is flying! It seems to pass by faster as I get older.

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  11. Time is flying! It seems to pass by faster as I get older.

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  12. Anonymous4:21 AM

    Love this! Sounds like you are absolutely 66 years young, and I hope to be the same way when I'm "old." =>

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  13. I do believe that most of us of a certain age followed this train of thought.

    I certainly do not believe 70 to be old. My father-in-law was 94 when cancer took him....and he was not old at all.

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  14. Oh the walk down memory lane. You touched on all of the ages that I looked forward to, and the ones that I can not believe loom so close. In a few days, I will be the same number as a deck of cards/just eight years from sixty wondering where the time has gone, how did I get this "old"?, does everyone still feel young like me?

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  15. Really liked this and could relate to it, too.

    =)

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  16. Oh Betty...... I love this post. I sure can relate and remember all those feelings of old.

    When I look at our son who is 47 years young, and I see his face starting to age......goodness, I can't believe I just turned 70.....in my mind I still feel in my 40's or 50's. Age is strange.
    Hugs,

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  17. I know exactly how you feel! I am creeping up on sixty and it's not something I'm looking forward to for some reason.

    fifty was no big deal, sixty seems so old to me right now!

    sigh...

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  18. Anonymous7:10 PM

    Interesting perspective here. I don't remember being that reflective about any of my birthdays. The one thing I know for sure is that I never wished to be younger again. Been there, done that as far as I was concerned! I'm a few months away from 60 and genuinely feel like I'm in the prime of my life! Thanks for a wonderful and thought-provoking post.

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  19. Age is just a number. We are only old as we feel. I am never going to old. HA

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  20. Betty, I love the way you described each milestone and age bracket! I'm right behind you at 63! That number looks old to me but I have to remember that my mom passed away just 20 days short of her 96th birthday!
    Great post.
    Loretta

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  21. Wow. What an outstanding link this week.

    Old is a moving target for me. On the days I feel physically bad I feel OLD, OLD, OLD! When I don't hurt...I foret that I am actually getting OLD, OLD, OLD!

    This was really cute. I think we never get old as long as we remain curious and adventurous.

    That's my story...and I'm definitely sticking to it!

    Thanks for a thought provoking link.

    A+

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  22. What a great post! It's really interesting how different we think of being "old" changes as we grow older. I use to think the same way about wanting to be older when I was a kid. Now that I've turned 30, I feel like I'm older even though there's still so much growing I need to do.

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  23. Yes, it's funny that when we are kids, we can't wait to get older - and then, all of a sudden, we're what we used to call "old"! Your post has given me hope, though.

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  24. I know a thing or two about getting old as well Betty. My mother is 65 also and she could learn from your example. I wish she could laugh off those little aches and pains, but instead we hear all about them. Even the cats!

    It has also gotten to the point that I find I must pay attention to her driving. It is my greatest fear that when she leaves the house to run out for cat food she will become distracted and end up in Florida!

    Regardless, I applaud you for feeling you will soon be 70 years young. That is such a healthy attitude to have! I think at that age my mother will be too young to drive.

    Thanks for the great read Betty!

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