My thoughts on aging.

by Steph on July 29, 2008

It sucks.

The End.

Fine. Not really. Okay, it really sucks, but that’s not the end. I don’t know what little switch got hit in my head, but the fact that I am THIRTY. FIVE. has hit me like a ton of bricks. Thirty-five is when you’re supposed to be mature and wise and shit because hello? You are old enough to be President of the United States of America now. Do you feel me, people? PRESIDENT. There is no way I’m mature enough to be the President of our house, much less the ENTIRE EFFING COUNTRY.

And that’s another thing. I remember when my mom was 35 very clearly (I was 15, after all), and she seemed so out of touch with what was going on in my life. As if she could even remember the Jurassic when she was a teenager to be able to relate to me. Gawd. Now? I’m the mom who is wicked out of touch with the world and utterly clueless about the innermost workings of the teenage mind…except NO, I AM NOT!! I remember all the angst and drama and pain of being 15 like it was yesterday, not twenty years ago. Oh…my…God…TWENTY YEARS AGO?! How the hell did that happen?

So, now this whole thirty-five thing keeps rolling around in my head. The more I think about it, the weirder it sounds. You know how when you say a word or phrase too often and suddenly, it looks or feels or sounds weird to you? That’s where I am with this. “I’m 35 years old” has become this bizarre mantra which has as much meaning to me as “gobbledygook”. Except the part where hello? I’m thirty. five. years. old.

Aging sucks. The end.

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Vote -1 Vote +1Discussions with a 20 year old. « I Thank My Mother
July 29, 2008 at 11:22 am

{ 22 comments }

1
Vote -1 Vote +1Missy July 29, 2008 at 8:46 am

For seriously, 35 isn’t that old. I’m sure anyone under 20 thinks that it is. I’m sure if you asked Lenna she’d be like “OMG, 35 is totally over the hill.”

You’re not out of touch dude. You probably text more than they do and seriously. I’m 27 and I can’t run the intarwebs half as well as you do.

2
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph July 29, 2008 at 9:02 am

Missy – Lenna said, “You’re OOoooOOOllllllDddddDDdD!” But when I pointed out that rad Aunt Becky was a year older than me, Lenna was like, “But she’s not OOOooOOoollllllDddddd!!” The rat.

3
Vote -1 Vote +1d July 29, 2008 at 9:04 am

I’d have to agree with Missy there. You’re not old dude. You’re more hep and with it than a lot of teenagers. I think age really is a state of mind.

Like I said before, you’re young at heart dude and your soul may be the way friggin old, but you’re not old.

Oh, and dude, you would run the country WAY better….way.

4
Vote -1 Vote +1matteroffactmommy July 29, 2008 at 9:08 am

dude, 35 is not old. but i can certainly understand how it feels old to you. i will be 33 this year, and i’m already dreading the day it happens… 33 years old. sounds old to me.

as far as remembering when my mom was 35, i don’t really. i was 5. i do remember when she was 40 though because that’s when she decided to take up playing soccer. my sister is going to be 44 this year and she’s training to complete some more triathlons in the fall…

i don’t have teenagers yet, but i certainly remember the angst of being a teenager, and i’m hopeful that the memories will remain until i have teenagers of my own…

oh, and i’m an asshole because evidently, i missed your birthday. i suppose i should check your google calendar more often. ;) so, happy belated birthday from your biggest virtual fan! :)

5
Vote -1 Vote +1Candy July 29, 2008 at 9:18 am

Call me when you’re 47. But you probably won’t be able to because by then I”LL BE DEAD. Yeah, aging sucks.

6
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph July 29, 2008 at 9:30 am

d – I don’t feel OLD exactly. More like…fook, I don’t know. Like I’m so not ready for this. As for being the actual President, I doubt I could fuck it up worse. :grin:

MoFM – You’re not an asshole. I just wasn’t here for it to make it a huge thing like I normally do. Heh. Also? I loved 33. I like palindromes, though. Yes. I’m weird.

Candy – You won’t be dead. You’ll only be 59. That’s not even retirement age. :P

7
Vote -1 Vote +1Queen Bee July 29, 2008 at 10:04 am

ok, this is going to sound stupid, and I’m going to get a lot of crap for it…but here it goes. I’m dreading 25. NOT because I think it’s old, but because it’s a lot. I know, I know. 35 and 25 are NOT the same. But I’m dreading it. I’m hoping that this will get it out of my system and turning 40 will be nothing. You can’t tell me that people out there don’t dread 25.
But, you’re amazing! 35 is a great time in your life. And you have so much still to do (in a good way…in a finishing my 101 in 1001 way, not OMG, I HAVE to finish the laundry). Ok, not helping. I’m trying to. But I guess what I’m saying is I admire you and no age limit can change that.
Well…I have to go find my cheese head now.

8
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph July 29, 2008 at 11:29 am

QB – I get what you’re saying. I went through that at 30. Like “OMG! Now I’m officially an ADULT!” But it wound up being no big deal at all. Hopefully, 25 will be a great time for you like 30 was for me. :)

9
Vote -1 Vote +1Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy July 29, 2008 at 11:33 am

I’m two steps behind you. I hate it! Thinking about it makes me all sad and hang dog like.

10
Vote -1 Vote +1Pearl Wisdom July 29, 2008 at 3:49 pm

I just turned 35 last week and I am feeling the suckiness myself.

I am enjoying your blog! Your About Me section makes me want to switch to wordpress.

11
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph July 29, 2008 at 6:50 pm

Mel – I was okay until my actual birthday. I mean, not OKAY exactly, but since I turned 30, I haven’t been terribly excited about *any birthday. I figured this was the same. Yeah. Not so much. :grin:

Pearl – Well, hiya! Feel free to hang around as long as you like. If you ever need/want help making the switch, just let me know. I’m a huge, huge fan of WordPress. :)

12
Vote -1 Vote +1Jane July 29, 2008 at 9:07 pm

I did not like 35 at *all, so I can relate. Now, at 38, I’m looking down the barrel at 40 and…well, I don’t like that much either. You’re a real barrel of laughs today, you know that? Hee. Seriously, though, it *is really a state of mind. If I can still have conversations with teenagers and know what the hell they’re talking about, it’s all good, I figure.

13
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph July 29, 2008 at 9:31 pm

Jane – I can’t be funny all the time. :P And I don’t necessarily feel out of touch with my kids, but I feel very…hrm. Not ready for the perceived responsibility of being 35? I’m supposed to be a for real grownup now, and yeah. Not so much.

14
Vote -1 Vote +1Lindsey July 29, 2008 at 9:38 pm

I’m 32. And teenagers piss me off regularly. I look at them and think “I know exactly what YOU’RE thinking, you little shit, and you’re DEAD WRONG.” I partied Canadian-style this weekend, and the 19-year-olds (because the drinking age up there is 19, WAY TO GO, EH?) were perilously close to having mai-tai “accidentally” dumped on their stretch-mark free asses for being intolerable. On the other hand, I was grouchy from missing my nap that day, so…

15
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph July 30, 2008 at 4:46 am

Lindsey – First? YAY! You’re back! Second, does napping make us old? God, I hope not.

16
Vote -1 Vote +1Kim July 30, 2008 at 11:20 am

35 bah! That’s not old. Blink and you will be 40. I’m hitting 41 in a couple weeks. 40 didn’t even phase me.

I had a good friend say when he turned 40, that many of his friends didn’t even make it that old (big partyers), so he considered it an achievement.

And the maturity thing? I don’t think we ever get there – at least I haven’t yet :)

17
Vote -1 Vote +1mommypie July 30, 2008 at 11:25 am

Totally get it — weird, but I got the freak-out done and over when I turned 28. Just turned 40 a few months ago, and I can say, although it’s weird I’m THAT old, I’m proud to have made it here!

Maybe 35 is YOUR freak-out. Which is good because when you hit 40 you’ll be havin’ a blast.

18
Vote -1 Vote +1San Diego Momma July 30, 2008 at 4:28 pm

I’ll be 40 this year. Commence freak-out.
35 is like a soft, cuddly baby.

19
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph July 30, 2008 at 5:33 pm

Kim – It made me LLOL about 40 being an achievement. And oddly, I don’t think 40 will faze me at all. I think the thing that made me panic was ZOMG! I could run for President!! I’m not capable of that!! Then I took a look at some other Presidential candidates, and I realized it’s all good. heh.

MommyPie – I hope you’re right. Also? 40 is the new 30, right? So technically, I’m like the new 25, right?

20
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph July 30, 2008 at 6:47 pm

Deb – I think I’m having the early freakout. Srsly.

21
Vote -1 Vote +1myra July 31, 2008 at 8:07 am

I’m in the same club as MommyPie and San Diego Momma: I’m about to turn 40. It’s a very weird and scary. Because I feel like I’m 20. I see people who are in their 20’s and think I’m one of them, until I suddenly remember that I’m in an “older” crowd. And when you have to check those demographic questionnaires, at least at 39, I’m still in the young set.

A dear friend who is nearing 60 said that she wished she had realized how young she was at 40. She would have enjoyed it more. That changed my perspective a bit. Now I’ve decided that I am young and to be good with it. That doesn’t mean I won’t have a freakout in January though. And I expect you’ll be there to talk me down.

22
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph August 1, 2008 at 7:06 am

Myra – I’ll be there to talk you down. Promise.

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