A Flannelette Nightie and Practical Socks-Middle Age Dilemmas
With a shaking disposition and a reluctance to gather my ailing thoughts, I have finally come to terms with the fact that I am fast approaching my 47th birthday, and I am not looking forward to it one little bit. I was talking to a friend the other day, who just so happens to be the same age, give or take a few months, about this very thing. I must admit at the time we were discussing the subject, It was very light-hearted and involved intermittent giggles and far away looks of sadness at times gone by! God I am depressing!
Anyway, before I explain what caused the giggles, I have taken it upon myself to accept the fact that my life is kind of half over. I will be 50 years old in 3 and a half years and it scares the shit out of me. It’s quite a strange feeling because I do not feel like I’m in my forties at all; I feel more 25ish. I had my children in my early thirties, so they keep me feeling quite young I suppose.
No disrespect to my parents, but when I was in my twenties, they were in their forties and they seemed really old, even though they had a young outlook and lifestyle; it was just the thought of them approaching 50 that made me feel a little uneasy. And here I am in the same boat, with the months going by pretty fast and wishing time would just slow down a little bit for me. It does really speed up as you get older.
Anyway, now I’ve depressed you to the extreme. I want to talk to you about the funny things that seem to be occurring over the last couple of years.
As I mentioned at the outset, my friend and I were discussing all the stuff that seems to control your actions as you approach middle-age, and the fact that you can’t seem to do a thing about it. One of the situations is this. You see, I’ve never been into reading magazines as such, you know the celebrity rubbish, because it does not interest me one little bit. I confessed to her that I have started to buy the woman’s magazine called ‘Woman’s Weekly’. It’s the sort of magazine that incorporates the odd knitting pattern (this I refuse to do), for the older woman and advice on menopausal issues and, well, I can’t quite put my finger on it but it’s pretty good. I think it’s just my age and the fact that my feelings and interests are changing; or, I’m turning into a boring old fart! My friend then confessed in return, that she regularly reads her mother’s ‘People Friend’ magazine, (for people passed retirement age), during her weekly visits to her home. She text me the other day informing me that she’d just read a very informative article about crotchet and hemorrhoid cream. She was laughing, but her comment had a hint of honesty about it.
Then there’s the other things that keep happening; like when you walk into a supermarket or chemist and check out the menopause vitamin supplements instead of the eyeliner.
When you consider buying a new car and check out the versatility and robustness of the ‘Skoda’, rather than the sexy sleekness of a top of the range Toyota, etc.
You buy practical warm clothes for the winter, and soft fleecy night wear. Well I go to bed alone so who cares!
Checking for new wrinkles each morning when I wake up.
Thinking about making Jam! (Honestly, I would never have considered this 2 years ago)
Talking about nostalgic things on a daily basis with eyes glazing over.
A need for more specific stronger spectacles.
Getting excited when ‘Barry Manilow’ croons on the radio.
Finding it more difficult to lose weight. (Tummy’s are the issue here).
Reading novels my mother has suggested about war, romance and servants.
Aches and pains that take longer to clear up.
Talking about ‘the change’ to your girly friends, who also talk about hot flushes, weird periods, fluctuating weight issues, night sweats and absent mindedness. (Just ten years ago it was all baby talk).
And, I dread to say it, agreeing to accompany my mum to a ‘Cliff Richard’ concert.
Anyway, ladies this is what you’ve got to look forward to. Or, do I need to reset my frame of mind?
Comments appreciated!
X Pip
Last thought: I have a soft spot for Monty Don and ‘Gardener’s World’.
