Friday, September 6, 2013

The Ol' Blonde Mare is Back

Thought for the day:  I'm very young at heart. Unfortunately, some of my other parts are a bit older.


Aaaaaaah. We had such a wonderful time with our friends in Tennessee. See that picture? Would you believe I took it in their back yard? Yep, lots of land; lots of privacy; lots of beautiful scenery and wildlife to see. We saw deer and turkeys ambling around their property every day... and the guys even saw bear tracks when they went tromping off into the woods.


As for Kati and me, we all but wore the letters off the Scrabble tiles. The guys were interested in more intellectual pursuits, so the four of us also played quite a few rounds of Fact or Crap? and Dirty Minds. (Yes, those games are every bit as sophisticated as they sound.)

Lots of fun. Come to think of it, the only thing we didn't get much of was... sleep. And ya know what? We don't bounce back from a string of 4AM nights nearly as well as we used to. Funny how that works. Dammit.



We spent one day at a verrrrrrry cool museum. Can anybody guess what it was from this picture?

(I'll tell you all about it in a later post.)


For now, I'm gonna share an excerpt from a post that first ran in April of 2011, with the title Age is Just a Number. (Why yes, I am feeling a little tired and oldish about now... thanks so much for pointing that out. But I'll betcha I'd perk right up if somebody pulled out a Scrabble board...)


********************

Thought for the day:  How can I possibly be "over the hill" when I never made it to the top?



Sometimes, I actually forget how old I am. I mean, no matter how old you are on the outside, don't you still feel young on the inside? So what if the outside doesn't look as good as it did twenty, thirty, forty years ago? I say, avoid those lying mirrors! Got some sagging parts? Parts that swing? Eat until the wrinkles fill out! OK, so it may be a little more difficult to deny the creep of age after Uncle Sam starts sending you those  thank-you-God-life-is-good social security checks every month, but for that, I have two little words of advise: direct deposit. (Why be reminded?)

Alas, there are times when the tra-la-la-la I'm still young inner child gets a solid kick in the teeth. The best thing to do then is spit out the blood and have a good laugh about it.



Like last summer, when some of our grandchildren were visiting. I convinced my son and granddaughter to spin the jump rope for me so I could demonstrate the fine art of jumping in. I executed it perfectly, too, and it felt great! Just like being a kid again. For a few beautiful moments, I felt as graceful and light on my feet as a ten-year-old ballerina. But then, zip-a-dee-doo-dah, my feet went out from under me, and the next thing I knew, my arse hit the driveway like a one-ton sack of potatoes. I thought it was hysterical, but the rest of the family was mortified... and they wouldn't "let" me play jump rope anymore. (Spoil sports!)

So, pbbbt! Don't let aging get you down. For one thing, it's too damned hard to get back up again, but mostly, it's because this really can be a terrific time of life. So enjoy it! Let me remind you that no matter what her age, any woman can have the body of a 21-year-old, if that's really what she wants. But (Bada-boom!) she may have to buy him a few drinks first. And ladies, as much as we've grumbled over the years about men not looking at our faces when they're talking to us, it's a little reassuring to know that, even at my age, men are still looking at my boobs. (So what if they have to squat first?)

How about you? Is there sometimes a disconnect between the real you and what the calendar tries to tell you? Can you laugh about it? After all, we don't stop laughing because we get old; we get old because we stop laughing.


                                       Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other.



114 comments:

  1. of course, I laugh about it.... it's hilarious. As I've written ... I walk by the mirror and demand to know who the hell that is...

    I don't like the hang down stuff. AND I don't like my fingers not being able to bend all the way to my palm. I don't know why I think that's important. but they hurt when I try to pick up a something or other and realize ... my middle finger is stiff and it hurts when I bend it. I don't like it. I want to wear a red sun dress again and not scare the kiddies.

    but I think that ship has sailed… you see that video of the old woman who dances down the stairs? I need to fetch that. hilarious FOUND it.. HAHaaaa

    http://youtu.be/nDlHEWglH2c

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    1. you gotta listen all the way to the end... to hear an 88 year old woman use that language is hilarious...

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    2. Carolyn - consider yourself the recipient of a huge hug. My face hurts after I watched that clip. I have a new hero...

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    3. Oh that's a gem, that video, thank you! She is so cute (yes, I heard what she said at the end :-) - and I love how she swings - and then prudently fetches her bag - and then swings again. Shows us: "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"

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    4. Oh, Carolyn, that video is PRICELESS! Thank you so much.

      May we all have her kinda spirit when we hit her age. It must be a joy to know a feisty gal like her.

      Delete
  2. Elza Gate. Manhattan Project. I look forward to your impressions. As to age, I delight now in the company of good minds, like yours, and humor --also like yours. I read your blog not just to learn, which I do, but because of its positive outlook which is good for me. These are good times, Susan, and we get to be part of them!

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    1. Oh, aren't you a smarty? Cool. It was an amazing place to visit. History oozed out at us on every side.

      Well, thank you. How very sweet of you to say. Dude.

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  3. I have a recalcitrant body, and a recalcitrant mind - but am hanging on to as much as I can of both of them. And should obviously dance more...
    And, like Geo. I am looking forward to the post about the Manhattan Project - about which I knew nothing before Google led me some of the way.

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    1. Yes, wouldn't you LOVE to throw caution to the wind and dance with abandon like that gal in the video? With my grace, it'd be more a case of throwing out my back...

      Cool. I hope to post it sometime next week.

      Delete
  4. Tennessee is where I might be heading if I ever sell my house. By then, of course, I'll be so old that I won't know what state I'm in. Hell, I hardly know now. I'm mostly in a state of confusion.....

    No way to avoid getting old, even though I've tried every possible ploy. I avoid looking in mirrors. I don't even think about birthdays. Keeping a positive attitude and a sense of humor is the best bet. And a few games of Scrabble never hurt anyone.

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    1. Tennessee would be a fantastic place to hang your hat, cowboy. I hope you get to do just that, and sooner rather than later.

      Yeah, a positive attitude, a sense of humor, and LOTS of puzzle-figuring and game-playing is my chosen antidote to that low-down lying mirror. Nobody's ever gotten out of here alive so far, but at least when I go, I hope my last words make somebody smile.

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  5. Now that's an awesome backyard!!
    Glad to hear you had a great time.

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    1. It IS! And that's only a teeny tiny portion of it.

      Thanks!

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  6. Hahaha Susan, I do laugh about how young I feel inside and how my outside is not trying as hard to keep up... lol

    The good thing is that I don't care as much, I just try to be the best me and dress me up as well as I can:)

    Great post girl and thank for the good wishes for my David... I won't relax until I know he is better... even then I am sure I will be crazy with worry... This is when I need to be there, darned the distance... :(

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    1. Good way to put it... "the outside isn't trying as hard to keep up." Not being obsessed with how we look is a good way to be, I think. It's certainly a happier way to be. People who feel the need to Botox every wrinkle and surgically lift every sag aren't fooling anyone, and the only ones gaining from those procedures are the doctors who fill their bank accounts on the backs of their patients' insecurities.

      I know you won't relax until he's better. That's what friends do.

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  7. Over the Hill - well, that became part of the title of my book. Most people realised it was a joke, and those that needed it explained, well, they weren't going to buy it anyway!

    Onwards and Upwards - whatever age we are!

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    1. I started reading your book the other day. I admire you so much for going after your dream, and can hardly wait to get to the part about Cambodia.

      YES! Phooey on the calendar! UP off the sofa, and ON to adventure!

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  8. Aging? Let me tell you about a woman I saw last Monday night. I was at our "Her Majesty's Theatre" where a radio show was doing a live broadcast to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Theatre. One of the people interviewed was a 91 year old woman comedian who also sang and danced at the theatre in her younger days. She's as funny as...well I can't think of a comparison, we'll just say I laughed a lot...anyway she demonstrated how she can still lift her leg straight up in the air and pretend to play banjo on it and then she did the splits. I was very impressed.
    I have to say though, that if I skipped rope then fell on my bum, I'd be hospitalised for a week!
    I think you're right about the feeling younger than we are, many days I forget that I'm now over sixty. I feel about 37, which was a really good year for me.

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    1. Ninety-one and still lifting her leg straight up in the air? Holy mackerel. I don't think I could EVER do that... not at any age! (If you didn't already check it out, Carolyn... the first to comment here... included a link to a terrific video of an 88-year-old dancing. I think you'd get a kick out of it.)

      Yeah, I forget how bloody old I am sometimes, too. But ya know? If you think about it, we truly ARE "younger" at our ages than our mothers or grandmothers were at the same age. If they were fortunate enough to live as long.

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  9. Dear Susan,
    till now I'm happy to say I don't feel much of age (except wearing a scarf, when before thought it makes me nervous). I'm not dying my hair (my way to be honest to the guys, but they don't notice it), I don't botox or have surgery (but a lot of sport and good eating and meditation and looking at life with a thankful heart). I don't tell anybody how old I am, it is not denial but hindering other people to place a badge on me.
    And I laugh a lot. Do you know the hilarious book "Mutton. Age before beauty. Maybe" by India Knight? (It has some length in it, but I am always grateful for something that makes me laugh out loud).

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    1. Oh, I like the way you think. I don't have a problem telling people my age, because it kinda tickles me to see their reaction. Not a biggie, but I look a lot younger than I am. But I like the concept of not wanting people to place a badge on you based on a number. I totally get that.

      No, I'm not familiar with that book, but I'll definitely look into it. Thanks!

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  10. Getting old starts way to early. Sometimes I wonder if I'll even make it to 60. Ah, life.

    Glad you had a great trip.

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    1. Nope, I disagree. The longer I live, the farther away the definition of "old" gets. Heck, now people have gotta be at least ninety before I consider them old. But attitude has a lot to do with it. Some people in their forties already act old and defeated by life, simply because they think of themselves as old.

      Thanks. It was awesome.

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  11. I don't know what the museum is, but I look forward to hearing about it! And wow, what a property your friends have. If it makes you feel any better, I was NEVER able to stay up til 4am without feeling the consequences -- not at any age.

    Love the joke about how a woman can still have the body of a 21 year old! ;)

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    1. Geo already guessed the museum, and it's the museum at Oak Ridge... about the Manhattan Project.

      HA! Thanks. Yeah, that does make me feel better. My hubby is a night owl, and I'm an early morning kinda person, so I'm more used to getting up at four than going to bed then.

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  12. Hahaha...great post. I love the part about the 21-year-old. that was a hoot :)

    Yes, I don't feel as old on the inside as I look on the outside. I think the mirror is lying, so I'm no longer speaking to it :)

    Have a lovely weekend.

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    1. Thanks. I'm glad you liked it.

      Talking about mirrors, the absolute meanest ones are in store dressing rooms. Wouldn't you think they'd put nicer ones in there, instead of those hateful things that belong in a fun house? (And soft flattering lighting, too.)

      You have a wonderful weekend, too.

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  13. I do believe that age is a state of mind. I feel like a kid at heart and I hope I never lose that.

    I love Tennessee BTW. I go at least once per year to Gatlinburg. I love going during the fall and seeing the foilage changing colors.

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    1. Absolutely. A positive state of mind goes a long way. That, and a sense of wonder about the world, a sense of humor, and a love of play. From what little I know of you, I think you have all of that. There's no reason you shouldn't remain a kid at heart as long as you'd like.

      I've never been to Gatlinburg, but I'd love to visit in the winter, when there's a little bit of snow on the ground.

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  14. We don't bounce back as quickly as we used to, we tend not to take chances anymore, and hot foods don't agree with our stomachs. However, more things are funny, friends are more dear, and small things don't matter as much. We appreciate more, we love more, we cherish more.

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  15. I read somewhere that getting old isn't for sissies. But what's the alternative?

    Exactly.

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    1. Yep. If I remember correctly, Art Linkletter wrote a book titled, "Getting Old Isn't For Sissies." Or something very close to that, anyway.

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  16. After the long weekend and about five hours of sleep, I'm definitely doubting the age-is-just-a-number thing. Ugh. Is it the weekend yet? :)

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  17. I hope when the guys saw the bear tracks, they tromped the heck right back out of those woods!!?

    I try not to focus on my age as the number sounds so friggin' big. The #1 reminder for me is fashion. I see see something in a shop window or on TV that I think is adorable, but then I imagine how ridiculous it would look on a "mature" woman. Suddenly, I remember my age. Must be memory loss setting in. :)

    VR Barkowski

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    1. The guys tromp back? Heck, no. They were headed out to do some target shooting, and that's exactly what they did. (Luckily, they didn't come across the bear while they were out there. )

      Oh. Fashion. That's a funny one. On the inside, I still LOVE the same sort of clothing I wore forty years ago. I immediately zero right in on it when I see it hanging on a rack. And immediately have to zoom back out. (sigh) Otherwise, I'd be like Donna Douglas. Remember her? She played Ellie Clampett on the "Beverly Hillbillies", and the last time I saw her on TV, the poor thing was still sporting the same be-ribboned ponytails and lace-topped gingham dresses she used to wear on that show.

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  18. What an amazing backyard! I'd never leave my house if I had that view right outside my window. Glad you had such a great time. :)

    I had to laugh about the jump rope, because I would have fallen right on my arse even when I was 10 years old. I've always been the clumsiest person around. I can only imagine what would happen if I tried it now LOL.

    Enjoy your weekend, Susan!

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    1. I know! Their yard is wonderful. With all those woods, can you imagine how gorgeous it is in the fall? And in the winter, when it snows?

      Too funny. The girls in my neighborhood were jump-roping, roller-skating, bicycle-riding fools. On the inside, I still am. But alas, only on the inside.

      You have a super weekend, too.

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  19. The body can sure break down
    And make it harder to get across town
    But young i remain in the state of mind
    With my ever so childish rhyming behind

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    1. Gravity insists on having its way,
      And we all get older every day.
      But stay young at heart
      And young in thought,
      And let Miss Clairol color the gray.

      Delete
  20. Yep...still 16 at heart but 116 in the hip.

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    1. It sucks, but then again, it's better than the other way around. Aching hips can be replaced, but nothing much can be done for an old fuddy-duddy at heart.

      Delete
  21. I'm 78 & I forgot what I was going to say!!

    Love your "fishducky approved" button, but I think you should make it a little smaller.

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    1. HA! That's why the good Lord invented Post-it notes, isn't it?

      Okay, as soon as I figure out exactly how to do that...

      Delete
  22. That looks like fun. I love Scrabble, especially with The Hurricane because we truly play for fun.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Your fishducky button is a little too big, so it looks fuzzy. You must have your button the correct size, or you might lose your duckhood.

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    2. Scrabble is one of the BEST games ever, isn't it??? Another one you might like is Word Yahtzee. It's a lot of fun, too, and even folks who are too "intimidated" to tackle a game of Scrabble are willing to play that one.

      Yeah, I know the button was big and fuzzy, but that's how I received it, and I wasn't sure how to shrink it. No problem. No sirree, I didn't quack under pressure... I waddled right over and snatched another button from Fran's blog. Much better! My duckiness has been preserved!

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    3. We used to play Boggle Master a lot, but it was kind of annoying because Favorite Young Man ALWAYS won.

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  23. I love this post! You certainly have a great sense of humor about everything! Direct deposit. I'll have to keep that in mind! ;)

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    1. Thanks. Yep, as long as I can laugh at myself, I'll never run out of material.

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  24. very funny. I've never had good eyesight, so as long as I take off my glasses in the restroom or poolside I look fabulous. The good thing about aging is I can answer a lot of Jeopardy questions, because I lived when that history or whatever was happening. We have to laugh, that's for sure. And as long as there are post-it notes, and we remember to write and read the post-its, we'll get by.

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    1. Yeah, and we have to remember where we PUT the darned Post-it notes, too. (Always in a very "good" place...)

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  25. What a great spot your friend call home. I don't know about the deer and wild life, though, I have that and get real pissy about all the fencing I have to put around my gardens. But I love that picture of the water.

    As you mentioned running in to jump robe, I could feel that rhythm that one has to first acquire with the rope, then jump in. I'd land on my rump too just cause I can't jump repeatedly that fast. Hope you didn't get black and blue.

    Loved the one about buying a 21 yr. old some drinks first. Hahaha

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    1. Dam Sam.... not jump ..robe...rope. My new computer is still in the box. Have to get to Bozeman to my guru to get it going.

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    2. Our friends don't have any fences, and they don't have any gardens, so the critters don't cause any problems for them.

      Yes, it's exhilarating to catch that jumping-in rhythm, isn't it? I was only a little black and blue, but not really hurt. (Just my ego.)

      Bada boom... glad you liked the silly joke. (Of course it's silly. We'd have to FEED him, too.)

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  26. That was yummy. I chuckled more than once, especially at the tiny dammit and the squatting for a view part.

    Have I told you lately that I love you? ;)

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    1. Thanks. I'm glad you got a few chuckles from it.

      Awwww. Reminds me of a song. "... well, darlin', I'm telling you now..." The feeling is mutual.

      Delete
  27. Oh now! Thank you for that laugh. No SS checks for me yet, but our daughter loves mocking us when AARP sends us invitations to join.

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    1. My pleasure, but hey! Don't you be knocking my AARP! Their old lady discounts are just dandy... Me? I get invitations to visit nursing homes. (sigh)

      Happy weekend!

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  28. Oh-my-god ... I just watched that YouTube video! How bloody marvelous - especially when the lady said; "I could dance all fucking day!" What a delightful sight. It positively made my day...

    As do your eclectic blog posts, Susan. Enjoy your weekend :)

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    1. Isn't that video the BEST? With any luck, maybe we'll be able to pull that off at her age, too. (I may have to censor the language, though. I doubt if I'll be doing much "dancing"....)

      Thanks. You have a super weekend, too.

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  29. It took forever to get down here to this comment block. I'm impressed. You have lots of peeps.
    What a beautiful scene at top of post. To have that on your property. Wow.
    I've decided after spending a year scrutinizing myself in the mirror that I will like the way I look. I intend to simply like myself more. Healthier than my old attitude. I don't much like the aging process but I do what I can, cleaning and creams, and going to leave the rest up to nature.
    Love the old woman. Go aging women.

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    1. Hi-ya, Barb! Good to hear from you.

      Well, I don't know if I "like" the way I look; it's more of a detente. C'est la vie, right? But at least I'm pretty good friends with myself. (I never judge a person by her looks.)

      Take care. Yeah... go us!

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  30. It's funny how I feel the same as I did when I was 20, generally. I do wish time would slow down a bit though.

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    1. I kinda think most of us still feel like we're twenty, (on a good day) until we try to do something we thought was a piece of cake when we were actually IN our twenties.

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  31. Glad to have you back! And really glad to hear you had a great vacation--what could be more fun than a Scrabble vacation with good friends?!

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    1. Thanks! It's good to be back.

      Ah, HA! Another Scrabble lover.

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  32. My mind still thinks I'm in my twenties. I'm gonna have to hurt my gynecologist, because he says I'm past middle age. Of course, what does he know, he's just a whipper snapper fresh out of school, smelling like Clearasil.

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    1. HA! Haven't you noticed? Seems like most doctors and police officers fit your description. I hate it when my doc says something about how I'm at "that age..." It always means I'm in for some "fun" medical tests.

      Delete
  33. Hi Susan .. sounds like a wonderful holiday - and isn't it funny ... if someone pulls out a board game and we settle in - the time can dash on by ...

    Your old Granny above .. makes me cringe in many places!!!

    Enjoy catching up with sleep mostly by the sound of it .. cheers Hilary

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    1. It WAS wonderful. Yeah, I'm a real sucker for board games... and card games. Except for Monopoly. That one isn't a favorite.

      Cheers!

      Delete
  34. that granny in the last pic should join Olympics!
    It's always good when you feel younger than you are.... I sometimes don't believe I have as many years as I have too :)

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    1. Yeah, she'd set a Guinness book record for oldest gymnast. Once we hit about thirty or so, I think most of us are surprised at how old that lying calendar says we are.

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  35. Keeping the inner child alive is wonderful. I feel young at heart while I also treasure all the wisdom that my years have provided. I feel grateful. Life is better with all my years on board.

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    1. I love all the pictures, and the serenity of that landscape is amazing.

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    2. Right! We're never too old to play. And that cute little girl of yours is only too happy to play with you. She'll keep you young, for sure.

      Delete
  36. "even at my age, men are still looking at my boobs. (So what if they have to squat first?)"

    Bwahaha! That was excellent. I've been thinking about this topic, too. I love being in my 40s, generally ... my 20s were too stressful with constant moving and work, my 30s too stressful with screamy babies and toddlers. My kids are the perfect age now, and I'm still young enough to climb trees with them. The attention I got from men back in the day was a mixed blessing; much of the time it was just annoying or downright scary. It's nice being taken rather more seriously now, by everyone. And my husband thinks I'm still dead sexy, which is what counts!

    I love Pixel's response. :)

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    1. Thanks. I'm glad you find my sagging body amusing.

      The forties were good. It's hard for me to believe how long ago that was for me... and that my KIDS are that age now. OY.

      Yeah, Pixel usually comes up with a good one.

      Happy weekend!

      Delete
  37. I don't know how I ever made it over the hill... but dang... I am there.

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  38. I LOVE Scrabble and will play it any chance I get. I also play Words With Friends which will not let me play a wrong word. This has affected Scrabble challenges. Since my son also plays Words With Friends, we never want to challenge a word in Scrabble, even if it looks all dorked up. We figured that we learned it in Words With Friends. For example, in the past, I would have never thought that "za," "oe," or "mm" were actual words. Apparently, they are.

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    1. Woo HOO, and yet another word game addict! I kinda think the world is divided into two camps: those who love Scrabble, and those who hate puppies, chocolate, and world peace...

      If you can find it, check out Word Yahtzee. It's fast-moving and lots of fun. (Even those puppy-haters enjoy it.)

      Delete
    2. I think I shall.
      You know, I may challenge the people who bash my brains in on Words With Friends to a game of Scrabble. That way, there is no whiff of cheating.

      Delete
  39. Just keep body and mind active and mix with young people - which is exactly what you appear to be doing, Susan. Also - don't worry about it.

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  40. Thank you for the laugh, Susan, your attitude towards ageing sounds absolutely encouraging. I'm at my fortieth so the age doesn't bother me much yet but the truth is that when I was turning the fortieth birthday, I felt confused and needed some time for the realisation to sink in that it didn't mean the end of the world. Since then I've arrived at the conclusion that as long as I feel balanced in my soul, I can laugh at the fading skin and greying hair. It's all about who we see in the mirror! :)

    Lovely thoughts for the day, lovely and wise to be precise. And your visit at your friends must have been great, the lacking amount of sleep seems to be objective criterion. :)

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    1. I'm happy to make you laugh. The way I see it, aging is inevitable, so we might as well make light of it. As long as we don't take ourselves too seriously, we'll always be able to find something to laugh about.

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  41. your family time sounds awesome. :)

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  42. Hi Susan! You are so funny. I can just see you tangled in a jump rope. Loved the part about aging ... I still feel young inside, but would never want to go back to another age. I'm not falling apart yet, luckily.

    I'm glad that you guys had a great time with your friends. What a beautiful pond.

    Hugs,

    Kathy M.

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    1. Hi-ya, Kathy. Now if I want to jump rope, I have to make sure none of the family is around to freak out. I don't think I'd want to go back to an earlier age, either, because this is a good time of life for my hubby and me. Then again, I wouldn't mind TOO terribly much if I looked like I did years ago...

      Delete
  43. I know what you mean about age. I remember the first time it got me was when I went back to my college for my five year reunion. I spent significant time examining myself in the mirror prior to the event. My recurring thought was, "I look like I could still be in college." And I actually thought it was true...

    Until I got back for my reunion. I looked at all of the students and they were so YOUNG. Like babies. I couldn't believe it. Of course, I still felt young enough that I could go back IF I wanted, but that was eye-opening.

    Love your jump rope story!

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    1. I think the first time I realized age was sneaking up on me was when Smarticus and I went to our high school class reunion. We only went to one, and it was like our 30th or 35th, somewhere in there. Anyhow, we were astounded by how OLD all those other people were!

      HA! Laughing at my pain, huh? (Luckily, my arse is pretty well padded...)

      Delete
  44. Now, that's an opening shot I would like to have hanging in my lounge. Alternatively I would like to have the house from where the shot was taken! :-)

    Greetings from London.

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    1. I think I'd rather see that shot when I looked out my window. Their house is quite lovely. Lots of natural wood and big windows.

      Greeting from Atlanta!

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  45. I think just by feeling young at heart keeps us young. Never mind our age.

    All the best!

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    1. Yes, feeling young at heart certainly helps, but we have to maintain a certain level of physical and mental activity, too.

      All the best to you, too, Nas!

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  46. Glad you had fun in Tennessee! Great line about getting old, because we stop laughing! Adorable photo of Kati in the cupboard! That last photo of the flexible elderly woman really makes me look bad!

    Julie

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    1. Hi-ya! Welcome back. I hope all is well with y'all.

      Hey, that flexible old lady makes us ALL look bad, no matter what our age.

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  47. Welcome back! That's a stellar backyard view!!

    The disconnect is my body w/my mind. My mind thinks I'm young, my body says, 'hullo, really?' It only irks me when I see my 80'ish neighbor outside getting up and down far better than I do when she's gardening. :)

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    1. Thanks! Oh yeah, they've got a fabulous piece of property.

      Yeah, my mind and body aren't always on the best of speaking terms, either. But they have to eventually make up. (What choice do they have?)

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  48. There's definitely a disconnect between the real me, the calendar and what the world sees. I think I'm 17 or at most 20, but that's not what the world sees. As the song goes, "In my heart I'll always be, forever young," and that's the way I like it.

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    1. Yeah, that seems to be how most of us feel. (Guess I'm not as unique as I thought I was, huh?) That song is PERFECT. Good thinking!

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  49. Hi, Susan--I popped over after I read your comment on my blog, and I'm so delighted to find and follow your blog! I look forward to reading more!

    I turned 50 this year, so I read your take on age with interest. I am still finding it incredibly weird to be 50. I don't want to be younger, but 50 just sounds so--different. Half a century!

    I love Scrabble, but my husband will rarely play with me. He says I win too much. :-)

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    1. Hi-ya, Tina. Thanks so much for popping by and leaving a comment. I do appreciate it.

      It's funny how our perspective on age changes, isn't it? I remember teasing my friends years ago about turning a "quarter century." I didn't do it when they turned fifty, because some of them were a little touchy about it by then. Me? I'm just glad to be here... and glad my hubby's still here. But he doesn't get overly excited at the prospect of playing Scrabble with me, either. (sigh)

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  50. Nice to visit you here and I love that peaceful lake view. I see my graying hair in the mirror and it scares me every time! Have a great day.

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    1. Hi-ya. Thanks for stopping by. There's a very simple solution to that graying hair, ya know. Either color it, or ditch the mirrors. Problem solved. HA!

      You have a great day, too. Welcome aboard.

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  51. Hi Susan, Thanks for stopping by my blog and becoming a follower. Loved that you had visited my hometown just this last weekend and can't wait to read the post and see it through your eyes. Boy, did that gate picture ever bring back some memories for me! Looking forward to "knowing" you better!

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    1. Hi-ya. Thanks for stopping by and returning the favor. I'll be counting on you to help me keep the facts straight when I post about Oak Ridge. Again, I gotta say... it's a small world! I'm looking forward to getting to know you, too, Sharon. Welcome aboard!

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  52. Inside I'm the same as I always was. My body begs to differ, but I ignore it as much as possible.
    I had to watch the video and the end is what really had my laughing till I got tears in my eyes! :)

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    1. Yeah, me too, but I've gotten myself into trouble a time or two by ignoring what my body was trying to tell me.

      I'm really glad Carolyn posted the link to that video. I think we've all enjoyed it. That old gal is a real hoot.

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