 Forty is Fabulous Recently I celebrated what can only be called one of life’s greatest milestones. Yes, I did it. I turned the big 4-0. Yikes! I said it! And it only hurt a little. :O) What I would like to say about turning forty is that people make it out to be a life changing type thing and for many of us, it just ain’t so. Yes, society sees it as a turning point. I do too! It’s a postive turning point as far as I’m concerned. My paternal grandmother always said: “Nobody has good sense till they’re forty” I think what she meant is that wisdom, heck forget wisdom, just plain old common sense is a thing we earn. Not something we are born with or that we necessarily acquire with age...BUT hopefully by the time you’re forty you will have enough sense to rejoice, celebrate on that momentous day! How many times in your life will this happen? Remember how you couldn’t wait to turn 16? So you could drive legally? Then you couldn’t wait to turn 18, so you could drink legally? Well now it’s 21, but you get my drift. Each birthday is something to be thankful for. I mean....think of the alternative of NOT having one. lol. Now youth has it’s advantages, don’t get me wrong. But whoever said youth is wasted on the young knew what they were talking about. So many of the silly things I use to worry about do not matter one iota to me now. Yes, there can be a down side to middle age...I mean, do I miss being a size 8? Of course I do! But that was 20 years and 3 children ago. I have learned to love me as I am though. If I don’t love me, I sure as heck can’t expect anyone else to. This year my husband had to renew both our license plates as he and I share a birth month. He brought home my new tag and put it on my truck. It was several days before I realized the first part of the tag said “U 41” I had to laugh and tell my husband “Nope they missed it by one year” but next year it will apply! I want to say that for a woman today, living right now in this time in history...don’t fret about little things like birthdays. We are blessed beyond measure to live in a free country, with limitless opportunities for those who are willing to work hard. We have so much more than our grandmothers’ or even our mothers’ generation had. We are earning more, are finally more appreciated in society (though we still have a long way to go, baby!) and we are living longer. And as far as the middle aged thing....you baby boomers do realize we make up one of the largest demographics of our country? That means things will be geared for and around us. What’s not to love about that? The new me is a totally together chick. I think I like her. The new me meaning the me that finally knows what I want. The me that feels secure. The me that will speak up against injustice towards others. The me who can cry in movies and at funerals and at weddings and not give a damn who sees. If wisdom does indeed come with age, I will flaunt my new found knowledge at every available opportunity. I will tell my kids on a daily basis: “Just wait till YOU have children....” and the ever popular “One day, you’ll know what I’m talking about” Our parents said it to us. It is our beholden duty to pass it down to the next generation. Somewhere in heaven my mama is smiling. * * * * * * * copyright Elizabeth Alday, 2001
When I'm An Old Lady When I'm an old lady, I'll live with my kids, And make them so happy, just as they did. I want to pay back all the joy they've provided, Returning each deed. Oh, they'll be so excited! I'll write on the wall with reds, greens and blues, And bounce on the furniture wearing my shoes. I'll drink from the carton and then leave it out. I'll throw stuff in the toilets, and oh, how they'll shout! When they're on the phone and just out of reach, I'll get into things like the sugar and bleach. They'll snap their fingers and then shake their head, And then when that's done I'll hide under the bed. When they cook dinner and call me to meals, I'll not eat my green beans or salads congealed. I'll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table, And when they get angry, run fast as I'm able! I'll sit close to the TV, through the channels I'll click, I'll cross both my eyes to see if they stick. I'll take off my socks and throw one away, And play in the mud 'til the end of the day. And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh, And thank God in prayer and then close my eyes, And my kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping, And say with a groan, "She's so sweet when she's sleeping!" - Author Unknown Warning by Jenny Joseph When I am an old woman I shall wear purple With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me. And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter. I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells And run my stick along the public railings And make up for the sobriety of my youth. I shall go out in my slippers in the rain And pick the flowers in other people's gardens And learn to spit. You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat And eat three pounds of sausages at a go Or only bread and pickle for a week And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes. But now we must have clothes that keep us dry And pay our rent and not swear in the street And set a good example for the children. We must have friends to dinner and read the papers. But maybe I ought to practise a little now? So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.    The set on this page was made by me. All Designs by Hunnylover property of me. If you would like to use any of the sets, please contact me for permission. |
