Me at 28
I don’t know that i really ever thought about what 49 would look or feel like, but if I had, I don’t think this would have been it. I’m really at a loss for how I got here. When they tell you growing up that the older you get, the faster it goes, they were not exaggerating. I don’t feel like what i thought this age would feel like. I thought it was old and I don’t feel old. Yeah, some days, I ache here or there, but my mind definitely does not register as being 49. My mind still thinks I can do flips. My body may go along with it once. Toby Keith said it well… “I ain’t as good as I once was, but I’m as good once as I ever was”! The crazy thing is… I have kids the age I still think I am sometimes. Well, maybe not 20, but I still feel 29 most of the time!
Some of the differences I have started to notice are the crinkly things on my face… you know, wrinkles. My eyeliner is not as easy to apply in a nice straight line as it used to be. Lipstick bleeds upward on my lip. When I smile, my skin moves. There are also starting to be a few “lighter” areas in my hair. It naturally highlights in a few places now, but they are strange very light colored highlights. I’m not sure how much I like them, so I cover them most days! My jeans don’t fit like they used to. I find that stretchy is better! I don’t pay much attention to these so called “experts” who say you shouldn’t wear certain things after a certain age. For starters, I will wear my jeans as long as I can get in my jeans. Spandex is my friend. But I whole-heartedly believe in covering up the spandex with other clothes! The sight of spandex over rolls is not pretty! Even if you are young, spandex should be covered by a long shirt! And, I used to do my best work from about 11 pm until 2 am. Now i find that most nights I am ready for bed by 11 pm. Occasionally when I really get on a creative roll, I will stay up until about 1 am working. But most nights, I am sound asleep well before then!
But, I don’t think I feel like I always imagined my parents at this age. This doesn’t really feel old. It’s actually mind boggling to think that next year will be half a century! Wow! But you know what, I have decided that whatever 49 may or may not be… I am going to own it! Yes, I am 49 years old! I’ve earned every wrinkle and gray hair that i have along with every extra pound I am carrying. I am not going to be ashamed of it or lie about it. It’s me! God has brought me this far and I am just going to be thankful!
Me at 48
