Monday, September 16, 2013

I'm Not 20

I have a birthday this week, and if you've been around here for a while then you know I am not a grown up when it comes to my birthday.  I like it to be a big deal-ha! My family pretty much always comes through because they
are used to me
know me.

So guess what?

I'm not 20 anymore.

Does that surprise you, because sometimes the reality of that statement surprises me, and believe me, I am a long, long, way from 20. In fact my youngest child is now more than 20 so there you go.

When I was 20 I never had to spend a weekend with my foot elevated and iced because of a weird and random reaction to an antibiotic. True story. In fact, I'm pretty sure the only time I visited a doctor in my 20's was when I a) needed an immunization and form signed for a job, or b) I was pregnant.

Saturday marked my third trip to the doctor in two weeks.

When you're 20 you bounce back from stuff.  50-somethings don't bounce, at least not in a good way. Stuff lingers, and often requires more than one visit to a doctor who is also more than 20, but just barely.

When I was 20 I ate what I wanted.
Pizza in the middle of the night? Why not?

I cannot even tell you the last time I had pizza.

Wait, it was at my mom's and it was an emergency. We had driven down to her house, and arrived quite late without having eaten, so we ordered pizza. When I was 20, late night pizza was no big deal. Late night pizza now is a carefully considered decision, one we debate at length before giving in, and then asking ourselves the next day, "Why in the world did we order pizza at that hour?"

When I was 20 I didn't spend a lot of time thinking about how early was too early to put on my PJ's. Occasionally I wake up thinking about how many hours until I can put on my PJ's. I file this thought in the perks of getting older column.

We're not really sit around kind of people here, especially on the weekends. I know lots of people live with their yoga pants planted firmly on their sofa all weekend long, television remote in hand, but that's never been us. Hubs is not good at doing nothing, so while I sat on the couch all weekend long with my foot on ice, he worked in the yard, took his car and the pup for a drive in the country, ran a few miles...did stuff.

It's good to have a husband who still feels 20, because it keeps me young too.

I think?

When I was 20 I worried about so much unimportant stuff.
Another one for the 'bright side to growing older' column in my head.

When I was 20 I thought 60 was old. You kind of rethink that once you've hit the 50-something mark. Except for the weekends you spend plunked on the couch, doctors orders. Or the weekends you spend plunked on the couch due to an unexplained sleep injury. Do you get those?

Not unless you're something more than 20.

When I was 20 I thought retirement was for senior senior citizens. You know, people who were really old, not people who were 50-something. 60-something. 70-something. I also thought my abs would remain perfectly perfect and my children would always be within arms reach.

Allowing myself to insert a tiny little sigh here, because when you're the age I am, you give yourself a break sometimes.

When I was 20 I never gave a second thought to my 20-20 vision, my natural hair color, the movement in our 401-K, or the notion that an oven, water heater, and garage door could all 'break' within the span of one week.  Stuff like that's for grown ups, right?

Here's something I know right now...with every age you lose a little, gain a little. Your perspective on life is constantly evolving, but who you are at the core is still who you are at the core.  You can eat right, excersise, work crossword puzzles, stay current with the new technologies, color your hair, and correct your failing eyesight, but you are still older today than you were yesterday.  Every single one of us.

And that's not all bad or all good, it just is.

Do I wish I were turning 20-something instead of 50-something?

Honestly, no. I lived my 20's and I loved them. I was a college student, a newlywed, and a fresh faced mother before I left my 20's.

They were happy years, exhausting years, full to overflowing years, and while the events of my 50's will not be the same as those of my 20's, I hope when I look back I'll describe them the same-

Exhausting-happy-full to overflowing.

" He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's" Psalm 103:5

22 comments:

  1. I do look back fondly at my 20's, but do (mostly) like the now. If I had only known how fleeting those days would be, but I'm happy the memories are good ones - those were our years of moving around the country. Loved your post and happy Monday!

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  2. Reading this was a blessing. I chuckled and I shook my head in agreement. It all describes my life too. Except my babies are 43 and 39!! And the hardest part is them not being within arms length. My grands aren't in reach either and that's sad. But they're all healthy and happy so grandma is happy. My perspective on age is constantly changing too and I'm keeping up with the new technology. :)

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  3. Hi Joyce,
    I'm sitting here with a temperature of 102. In my twenties I never got sick! I also ate pizza, fried bread dough at carnivals and chips and dip.
    50+ is tricky. Yes, I get those strange sleep injuries, and I would guess you took some Levoquin that gave you the foot problem.
    I feel like I am just getting to understand life, but my body is playing tricks on me.
    I have no idea what my real hair color is anymore, and 20/20 vision is a thing of the past!
    Hope your foot feels better soon.

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  4. I hope you are up and running, feeling much better. Enjoy your birthday!!!!!!
    AND Yes, I can relate, many times I don't want to go back to being 20 and I enjoy some of my wisdom BUT I have to admit there are some things I am not overly thrilled with about my forties, I could do without my wrinkles lol.
    My mother is 82 and doing relatively well, I can only hope to be as healthy and have her active mind at that age (notice I am assuming I will make 82) :)

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  5. Good morning! Oh my, again, I could have written this word for word...it is soo true! I sit here icing my knee's (which I do every morning!) but I have added my lower back to the routine this morning as I have spent too much time sitting at the sewing machine recently. When I was in my 20's I started my day juggling babies, schedules, and taking my run, haha. How things change. But would I go back? Not a chance in the world. HOWEVER! I would love to be just where I am in life, with my physical body still functioning like I was 25. I could look older, as long as I FELT the same, haha. Now I am really dreaming huh? Enjoy your day!

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  6. Yes it is harder to bounce back as we age but I love the wisdom that comes with it.

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  7. Oh my, I wouldn't do my 20s over. I guess there is a reason for everything, including a bad marriage, but I would not do it over. I turn 62 in December, but don't consider these my December years at all. Life has continued to just get better!! Good post! Enjoyed it.

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  8. I definitely don't bounce anymore!!! :)

    I just heard on the radio, they were talking about a scientific study of the perfect age... it was 50!! I would have thought in the 30's... but they said its the age where you still feel decent, wise, made money in your job, have grown children... all sorts of reasons...

    I'm still sticking to wanting to be 30! :)

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  9. Well this is an understatement for sure! Ha. Oh man, can I relate! I'm looking forward to the time change and rain so that when it's dark and raining at 5:00 I can 'legitimately' put my PJs on. :)

    And since when is it NOT grown up to want your birthday to be a big deal?! We are never be too old for that!

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  10. I would love to still be in my 20's and know now what I didn't know then! Being in my 50's has caused me to slow down a little (chuckle) and really enjoy living. Have a great birthday!

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  11. Feel better Joyce and have a happy birthday!!

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  12. I am in my early 40s and I could not agree more with what you said. What on earth did you do to your foot hun?? Happy Birthday for what's its worth hun.

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  13. Hope your feeling better. Great post Joyce, I really enjoyed it. Happy Birthday!!!!

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  14. I LOVE my birthday . Everybody knows it too! Happy Happy to you!!!!! Enjoy it

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  15. Happy Birthday dear Joyce. :)

    My sister and I were laughing last night remembering the giant fight she got into with her husband over registering for wedding china when she was 22. It's funny now because that's not something she would give a hoot about now. So some things are better, but MAN what I wouldn't give for 20something skin!

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  16. You are so right in saying that as the years go by it is not all bad or all good....it is up to us to find the good and it sounds like you have.
    Happy birthday to you!

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  17. I agree with everything you said!
    The pajama thing must be universal! ;)

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  18. I really love pizza and wish I could eat more of it! :)

    Happy Birthday! Hope your day is full of fun!

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  19. I've often said I'd like to relive my twenties again. Those were the days...

    Sorry to hear about your foot, but sometimes it's good to just stop and 'smell the roses'. I've just promised myself to spend more time doing just that!

    Happy Birthday to you! I hope it's a great one :)

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  20. I loved this post so much! Hope you're feeling better!!

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  21. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, (I'm singing, you understand) Happy Birthday dear Joyce, Happy Birthday to yoooooou! (and many moooore!!!) :o)

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  22. I love this! I know it's late, but I hope your birthday was wonderful!
    Did you find the song "Overcomer" by Mandisa? :)

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