Thursday, December 4, 2008

Ahhh..the joys of aging..

There are certain things about being in my 50s that I really like:


1. I do not give a shit what people think of how I look. No really! I use to want to have the latest styles, the nails and hair..the whole bit. Now I just do stuff that I like..if others like it too..that's cool.

2. I get to not work. I have worked up until this point since I was 14 years old. I deserve it, have worked hard for it.

3. I get to enjoy my kids. Not the "oh my god I have this overwhelming responsibility to raise these kids and they drive me crazy half the time" anymore...they just love us and we love them and love hanging out with them. Now they are bringing grand babies to us to love. Need I say more?

4. I get to say I did an Ironman in my fifties!! Not just one, but three! I am sure doing IM is incredible at any age but when you add the fifties factor, it just sounds more impressive to me..

5. I can blame alot on menopause...tiredness, weight gain, crabbiness, almost anything..

Things that suck about being in my 50s:


1. I will never, never have a flat stomach. And it is getting worse. I have loose skin all over me where muscle use to be. Wrinkles in places I do not want to have wrinkles. I can't really botox my arms, can I?

2. I need more sleep. I just can't do the "get up at 5:00 to swim" anymore..just cannot..

3. I find myself thinking about death more often. Like it is more close than it use to be. Nothing to morbid, just a fact.

4. I am stuck in a routine and seem to have lost some of my spontaneity. Like, let's go to the movies on a whim just doesn't seem to make any sense to me these days..

5. The worst part is my memory really really sucks these days. It is a bit better than a few years ago but I still have a hard time remembering some conversations, mostly with the family. I must repeat myself because I cannot remember the stories I tell half the time...I use to be soooo organized!!! Now I am lucky to remember to get our bills paid. I was the anal traveler who always had everything order WAY ahead of time. Documents checked and rechecked months before big trips.

Well, this brings me to our current plight. H asked me a few weeks ago if our passorts were up to date and I said why of course they are good until 2010. Well, as I pulled them out of my drawer yesterday, much to my angst, H's expired in Sept. 2008. Oh shit! My memory failed me again!! Mine is the one that expires in 2010-duh!! We are leaving Tuesday for Cancun and as of 2007, you must have a passport to fly into Mexico. After many frantic calls to the passport government agency, it became clear there is no easy way to get a passport in 3 days. The only way to have a chance is to show up at one of about 6 locations around the country, one of which is Denver, in person and try and get your passport renewed. Weren't we just in Denver?? To make a longer story short, Hartley now has to fly to Denver Sunday night. He has an appointment with the official passport agency on Monday AM at 8:30 where hopefully he can get the process done right away. I fly to denver on Tuesday and we meet up to fly to Cancun. This change in travel schedule cost us and would have cost more if I went with him so he will be up there seeing my little Hadley along the way while I sit here at home packing. I don't think I have ever felt so stoopid. I do not think I have ever made a more dumb travel mistake..One time I lost my driver' s license and didn't realize it til I got to the airport and had to go home to get my passport instead and take a later flight.

I blame this on my age. CRS-can't remember sh#^*t!! We will laugh about this someday I know. I will be the butt of family jokes..I can feel it coming..Grandma Debi had some weird illness and had to wear a mask around the baby then forgot her passport had expired..something like that will be a family memory for sure...

10 comments:

Calyx Meredith said...

You know, a few weeks ago when H asked you about the passports you were what - peaking for your third ironman? I think there may have been a lot going on in your brain! Best, best, best of luck getting the travel snafus sorted! You very much deserve an extra Kahlua & Cream when you finally get to Cancun and can relax!

Spokane Al said...

I hear where you are coming from. And there are probably many more points to add to your list, but I can't remember them.

I have always heard that when we get old, we will be just like we were when we were young - only worse.

I guess we can begin to test that theory out now.

Tania said...

Aunt Debi, I don't know if it will help or not but, Erin.. my younger sis.. about 4 years ago.. maybe 3... when she was like 20 or maybe 21... she was in Tenn. and had driven up to memphis to fly out of there, and when they got to the airport, she had forgotten her wallet.. which means.. no id.. and worse than that, she had to listen to uncle nigel give her a hard time for.. I think months after that.. hehehehe I love you! You are great! I miss you guys!!
Tania

TRIHARDCHIK said...

I can relate to so many things about being 50--you're so right, the memory really gets messed up. Since my kids are only 11 and 15 (and I'm 53) I get teased by them ALL the time.

Hope you get the passport thing worked out and have a great trip! Happy Holidays!

Anonymous said...

Hey, I have that same CRS disease!!! It must run in our family! :-)
Love you
Molly

IronWaddler said...

I have that same disease!

What were we talking about??

Duane said...

You are funny! But oh can I relate to the memory thing and becoming disorganized when I too used to be so anal about planning. Now I'm more of a "shoot from the hip person", not good!
Have a great vacation!

IronSnoopy said...

mmmmm...Cancun...mmmm....

What were you saying?

It'll all work out and you'll soon be on your merry way to...mmm...Cancun...!!!

Fe-lady said...

I hear you on a few of those points that you made.
But I am liking my wrinkles more and more and even the loose skin around my middle. Core stuff is really helping me there tho...planks and side planks really work! No, I will not post pictures...not yet anyway!

I think half the reason I keep working is to have that routine and to give my brain an adrenaline shot. I do much better on days that I work versus days that I don't...but yeah, isn't it nice to not HAVE to! (I started working at 14 also and never took any time off for daughter, school, etc. Feels much better when you DESERVE it, doesn't it!)
Have a great trip!

RBR said...

I felt the same way about number 1 when I hit my mid 30's. It was the most freeing thing in the world!

Enjoy your vacation and your recovery!