Thursday, May 22, 2008

Nothing But A Number (Thursday Thirteen #38)

Blow up the balloons and bring out the cake! (Chocolate, please!)

There's a birthday girl..errr, woman, in the house! Who? ME!

I am 42 years old today. It ain’t nothing but a number, though, because I don’t feel my age, or any age for that matter anymore. I just feel like me.
Rock Chicky RANTastic!

Today is Thursday Thirteen...and here’s mine...


Thirteen REASONS I FEEL OLDER AND YOUNGER THAN MY ACTUAL AGE


1. OLDER: I was surgically menopaused at age 29. Monthly woes seem a lifetime ago away and I’m already so far past hot flashes and night sweats that it seems like kid stuff to me.

2. YOUNGER: I love fashion trends and always want to wear the newest and coolest stuff. I’m not what anyone would call “curvy” and I don’t fit in women’s sized clothing. The best fit for me is in the Junior’s Department and I have to watch myself that I’m not wearing the same things as my teenaged daughters or they might collapse and just die. We certainly wouldn’t want that to happen!

3. OLDER: My hair has been noticeably gray since I was 26. I’ve been coloring for so long that I don’t even know what my natural color is. Oh, who am I kidding? It’s gray!

4. YOUNGER: I love the music my kids listen to and I have to be careful when I’m driving a van full of their friends home because when I hear “Apple Bottoms Jeans...Boots With The Fur”, I start dancing. Their friends think it’s a riot, but my kids get mortified. I know they’ll appreciate my quirkiness when they’re older ;)

5. OLDER: I see lots of people my age just having babies or lugging around toddlers. My 4 kids are teenagers. In fact, my oldest was 17 yesterday and is about to be a senior in high school. Baby strollers and Barney have officially been swapped out for driver’s licenses and being allowed into “R” rated movies.

6. YOUNGER: I’m more of a screw the PTA meetings, I’d much rather go dance to a bar band until I fall over kind of person. I really don’t care all that much if they celebrate the letter “P” day in Kindergarten with pretzels or popsicles. Either way is fine. No need for a meeting in my opinion on that subject.

7. OLDER: Because of my TMJ issues, I’m usually experiencing some kind of pain in my jaw, neck or shoulder. When I moan about it and use Ben-Gay, I feel and smell like I’m about 100.

8. YOUNGER: I am crazy about technology and I was told by my daughter that I am the only mom she knows who regularly sends text messages. Sooooo kewl ;)

9. OLDER: I freak out when I see those crows feet and dark circles around my eyes. Halle Berry, who is only a few months younger than I am, just had her first baby and doesn’t have crow’s feet and circles!

10: YOUNGER: I actually prefer listening to my teenagers and their friends gossip rather than hearing people my age groan about their mortgages or gas prices.

11. OLDER: Because I no longer have hormones of my own, my joints sometimes ache. Especially in different weather conditions. I feel older than my years when I can predict rain because my fingers or knees tell me so.

12. and 13. OLDER AND YOUNGER: A lot of my friends are experiencing mid-life crisis issues, especially over menopause and not having any more children. Do we get rid of the crib and the maternity clothes? Been there done that so long ago, it’s like old news.

And while a lot of my friends are experiencing mid-life crisis issues, in my mind, I feel no different than I did in my 20's. I don’t feel as though I’m middle aged or even getting older. Only better, right? :)

Happy Birthday To Me!



25 comments:

Jessica Gordon said...

Happy Birthday!

Pretty Life Online said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them, and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.... Hope you'll visit my TT post too..

Sai Hijara - Ferraris said...

Happy birthday! Wish you all the best...Hugs!!!

Giggles said...

I have ten years on ya girl!! I will be 52 on the 28th!! Happy Birthday to you!! I am the same and love Indy movies, music, listening and being around youth. I like current everything! The old part, well that's the same too!

Hugs to you!
Giggles

Hootin Anni said...

I LOVE this...tho I'm nearing ummmmmmmm. six decades myself. I can relate to most of your 13. I really enjoyed this.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!



Mine's shared...C U THERE!!

Dustin said...

Happy Birthday!!!!

Hope it's a great one!!!

And you're right, one day your kids will learn to appreciate your quirkiness.

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday! I love this quote. If you don't grow up by age 50. You don't have to.
Happy T13!

Anonymous said...

Growing up is highly overrated. I tried it once and it depressed me. Now I just stick with traveling and enjoying life.

You got the right idea! :-)

Unknown said...

UGH I am gonna be 37 this year!!! YUCK!

Come see our wedding photos 9 years ago today!

My Busy Life said...

I must have stopped at the right blog this morning! Great list- come check out my TT- a little blast from the past, there is a few I know you will LOVE!

Darla said...

Happy birthday! I'm 5 years older, and I know the feeling. My teenager's friends are amazed that I respond to them on IMs and read "cool" books. But I've also got a *gulp* 22-year-old.

Jessica Morris said...

Happy Birthday!! Hope you have a great day :)

Laura Paxton said...

Happy Birthday! Hope it's a great day!

Happy T-13!

Toni said...

Great list. You sound like a super cool mom!

Anonymous said...

I don't mind getting old, but I wish I'd accomplished more in the years I've lived.

Anonymous said...

Happy B'day, you freaky, freaky person you...

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday! I just turned 30 last week! :)

The Mistress of the Dark said...

Happy Birthday! Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Thanks for stopping by my site :)

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to you! I think I like that you have finished all the duties (diapering and breastfeeding) at your age. Makes me think,I should have started earlier!

pjazzypar said...

Happy Birthday RC!!! I know all about your list as I feel both old and young a lot of the time for the reasons you specified. I even started graying at 25! I beg to differ with you on number 9 because we really don't know what Halle Berry has because we only see her all dolled up. I have seen your pictures...You look great! Enjoy your birthday and have a drink for me.

Anonymous said...

Don't forget to wear your...

Reeboks with the strap

then...

Turn around and give that big booty a slap.

I'm 42 and love the music (mostly) that the kids listen to too!

Happy Birthday!

SmileyGirl said...

Happy Birthday to you Rock Chick! Sorry I'm a date late but my wishes are right on. Hope it was a great one!

Malcolm said...

Happy belated birthday! I'll echo what Pjazzy said. Halle has the luxury of make-up specialists and the opportunity to get any of her imperfections airbrushed away. A meeting to decide how to celebrate "P" day in kindergarten?! I don't blame you for preferring to dance at the bar.

Phoebe Jordan said...

Happy TT and Happy B-Day! That is a list that I will have to consider as I get older and younger each day. Hope to see you at my 3rd edition about J.R. Ward at Talk About My Favorite Authors blog.

Sandy M said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! My number one is almost yours, I was 26. Very good post! Happy TT!