For those who don’t know, the title is a line from a very old song, “16 Tons”, made popular by “Tennessee” Ernie Ford. I think it was about coal miners… in any case, it popped into my head when I was thinking about my upcoming birthday.
I’ll be 57 on Thursday and I’m kinda wondering, where did the time go? Seems like I was 37 yesterday. I don’t mind getting older, actually. I mean, you get older or you die — there’s no third way. I mind a little bit when I see my little poochy stomach or the unfortunate little lines that have formed on the sides of my mouth, no doubt due to years of sucking cigarettes (I think it really is time to quit). The thing that bugs me the most, though, is having to bring up the font size on my computer. My eyes tire easily if I stare at the screen too long, which is a pain in the ass for a web content writer. But one has to make accommodations sometimes, and so I will. I try to remember to blink, bring up the type on my screen, and stop when my eyes get teary and blurry. Pain in the ass, I tell you!
Recently I was thinking about a friend of mine who had turned 52 at the time I was around 45. He said, “In my head, I’m 30 years old. Where did the time go?” Now I know what he meant. In my head, I’m about 35, still saying nerdy things like “cool beans” and searching You Tube for Aerosmith and Prince videos. I guess that’s what Boomers do now, huh?
Oddly enough, some ages seem cooler than others. I loved turning 50; I kinda liked 52 and 54. When I turned 55, I went around saying that I was “double nickels”. 56 just seemed like a blah number. As of Thursday, I can say “I’m Heinz 57!” I don’t know why, but that feels like it has a bigger cool factor than 56.
We’ll see.
I used Noxzema from the time I was old enough to wash my own face, all through school and into adulthood. Then I decided it wasn't 'sophisticated' enough and went with higher priced, higher end products. About 5 years ago, I went back to 
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Have started trying some of the uses. I tried using it a
If your going to be financially secure enough to venture out and see whats available in the B & B field...take your time and check it out. If you have to jump into a job..just to have one..you will not be happy. Hope you get the time to find wh
57??? You are still a young girl!!! I will be 60 next January and I cannot believe it! I realized i am no longer “cool” when all the women around me shave or wax their pubic hair and i am still w/hair. When i mention that they all look at me and say….yiak! I am doing a lot better when i look in the mirror and see an older woman. But I am still in shock when i see myself in pictures. YIAK, big time. The larger text size comes with the age, i have accepted that ok although i started wearing glasses in my late 40′s. At first i thought it was a mistake and due to some kind of illness. Went to the eye doctor xpecting a medicine or something and came out with glasses. Bummer! What about having to dye your hair every 3 weeks? That is a super pain in the butt. But hey, looking on the brite side of things. My grandmother at this age was considered ancient. We have evolved!
Good post, Five to Nine. I just turned 58 this last June and although I’ve started to feel my age (damn!), I still don’t look it at all. And in my head, I’m definitely in my 40′s – maybe because I absolutely loved my 40′s, although when I was in that decade, I sure didn’t feel THAT old either.
I hate having to dye my hair, I don’t like how dry and aged my skin is becoming, and my eyes got so bad my eye doctor can’t even find contact lenses that allow me to focus on anything. So I have to wear my glasses all the time now, and I really hate them. (I’ve worn them since 3rd grade, I’ve always hated glasses.) Being both extremely near-sighted and now extremely far-sighted is a huge PITA.
Still, it IS true that we should appreciate aging, considering the alternative. I’m actually facing that alternative, so my big goal is to make it to 62 and then at least another 5 years beyond that. This is because I want to collect social security and buy my husband a new pickup truck. Last summer he bought me my very first brand new car, and paid cash for it using the money he’d inherited from his Mom’s estate. So I’d really like to do that back for him.
BUT – I don’t like all the signs of aging I see on my face, and I *hate* the muffin top I’ve developed. Still, I’m praying really, really hard that I can do this “social security/truck” thing. Holy SHIT, though – that’d make me 67 or 68 by the time it’s paid off, and…… and isn’t that the age my MOM is supposed to be?!?
Happy birthday week. I love the Heinz 57 reference…does that mean that you are spicy, substantial, tried and trusted, who goes well in many different environments and experiences?
Loving that, Dr. She! You always know just what to say! (^_^)
I hear you, Portia. I’m still reeling over the loss of my brother last year and my mom is going on 81 and my uncle is nearly 83. They’re in relatively good health but death is a part of life that we know we have to accept… even though we fight it kicking and screaming.
Having said that, I’m smiling at some of the responses here. I knew I wasn’t alone in the way I’ve been feeling but it’s nice to see it here on the screen – LOL! I’ve been wearing glasses since I was a child and I’ve always been very nearsighted — a regular Mrs. Magoo! I guess it just never occurred to me that my eyesight would get worse. And dying hair; yeah, that’s a pain too. I started graying fairly early so I’ve been dying my hair since I was in my late 30s. But now it’s much more frequent, and what’s worse is that I lost a good bit of hair when I went through menopause. I wear a hair weave because the hair in the back is just as thick as it ever was but due to genetics and hormones, the hair on the top and sides broke off and fell out to the point where I *might* have about an inch of growth. Didn’t see that one coming! But even with the weave, I still have to dye my edges where my actual hair is visible.
Not crazy about my muffin top, my increasingly arthritic knees, and the fact that I have to slather on half a jar of body oil or cream to keep my skin from looking like Alligator Woman. Sigh. But I guess I should be grateful that people still don’t think I look “my age”, whatever that means. If only one could not only not look one’s age, but not FEEL it too! (^_^)
EXACTLY! And by the way, Happy Upcoming Birthday, Alligator Woman – grin. (I have alligator feet. It seems to be genetic on my Dad’s side, and I hate it since due to allergies, I can’t even go *into* places that do pedicures let alone get one.)
5-9 afternoon, Glad you’re up and running! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! The super good thing that came at my 60th bd is I don’t need glasses any longer, what!! That’s what the doctor ordered
..now if I could just keep the weight where I want it, bingo happier, hahaha…glad to be alive…TRACK
p.s. yeah, I know that song
Lucky you, TRACK! Actually, when I started having problems seeing small print on the screen, I went for an eye exam and was told that my vision had improved — shocked the hell out of me! Who would think anyone’s eyes would get better with age? Even so, I still find that if I don’t bring up the text, my eyes get dry and tired very easily. Sigh… freaks me out a little; it would just be my luck to finally find a job and get fired because I can’t see the damn screen – LOL!
As for the weight, I try to keep it manageable but the way I see it, at this age, any man who wants to be with me is gonna have to like his women “fluffy” – LOL!
Well I’m facing 59 on the 25th of this month. Oh, oh…so close to 60. I am not fond of ‘0‘s’. My girlfriend’s BD is this month & she is just 10 years younger than I am…and I love it because everyone thinks we are the same age…and you can be darn sure I’m not telling them any different !!!!
My mother did not look like I do when she was 59. Our generation looks so much younger than our parent’s generation. I don’t think I ever saw my mother wear blue jeans & l live in them. My sister & I have been blessed with good genes…LOL & jeans !!!
Happy Birthday Five to 9 !!