About three years ago there was an article in our local paper about the bridge that is located in the town next to my town that needed to be torn down and rebuilt because the bridge was too old and dilapidated, and well, in the state of disrepair or ruin…. and would become dangerous if it wasn’t replaced immediately. They said the original bridge was built and finished in March of 1953. I had to read this twice before I rolled the newspaper up in a ball and tossed it across the room hitting the nearest wall. You see, I decided to write this blog because it has been so difficult for me personally to believe that I am now over the age of 60!!! This has been a running theme with my posts during the last year. You see the bridge that was so old and decrepit and dangerous to mankind was one year younger than me. I arrived on the scene on March 3rd, 1952. Yes, they torn down that OLD bridge to make way for the young, strong, new, efficient, beautiful, bridge. The old bridge was replaced and it was replaced in record time.
Okay, I know I’m not a bridge …. at least my common sense tells me I’m not that particular bridge but in my heart of hearts … my mind told me that I could possibly be that dilapidated bridge needing to be torn down and replaced by a new, shiny, pretty, stronger bridge. This actually induced a feeling of genuine anger that started in my feet and rose to the top of my (over 60) skull.
First, let me explain …. all of me (so far) is exactly the same me that arrived on the scene in 1952. I have the same nose, the same face, the same breasts that haven’t been lifted. Nothing has been lifted. My teeth are my teeth. I didn’t add new covers to my old teeth and so far I haven’t had them bleached…. although I think I am going to whiten them the next time I visit the dentist. I haven’t had any Botox injections as of today’s date. Even my nails are my very own nails. They aren’t fake or gelled …. just my own old nails. My lashes are my own as well. I do add mascara to make them look longer and a bit thicker however, underneath they are my own lashes. My hair is now long and (so far) still pretty thick and somehow it has kept it’s shine… maybe that is because once every 8 weeks or so I add color to it to keep it naturally blond…. I know that somewhere under this color is gray and white hair that is longing to show it’s true colors to the world … but I am not going to let that happen as long as I have two hands to apply the natural blond color, that comes in a box, to my head and hair. I do ride my stationary bike but not as long and as regularly as I should … I have just added the gym to my very short workouts. My goal is to workout one hour a day and six days a week. I will do this to add to my life and to my strength but really it is so that I look better when I look in the mirror. So much for good health. I did do one thing 34 years ago that I believe has added to my health and maybe helped fight off a few wrinkles. I quit smoking. I loved cigarettes more than, food, alcohol and yes, probably more than sex. Somehow I stopped smoking and it might have been one of the hardest things that I have ever done in my life. Another thing I really like, is vodka. I loved to have a martini or two or a Cosmopolitan or two as my nightly cocktail hour…. along with a glass or two of wine. I decided that this was too much for my aging body, so now, I limit myself to martinis for special occasions, not every night.
I have made it (so far) to the great age of 66 years and counting. Sure, I have some aches and some pains here and there and when I buy wine and the girl or guy at the checkout counter asks to see my ID I secretly hope they are shocked when they check my birth date on my driver’s license. After the cashier has carefully checked the date of my birth ( this is a law in my state no matter how old you look) I ask the cashier if they are surprised at how good I look for a woman of my 100 years. The cashier usually gives me a confused glance as she continues adding up my groceries.
Well, I decided to keep pretending that I am still the young girl who could dance all night. I will continue to be the same girl who was interested in and by art, history, politics, literature, as well as new Netflix shows that I can binge watch while sipping on Champagne and munching on popcorn. I will continue to keep up with technology so that I am not left behind as I age. I will try my hardest to embrace at least some “rap” and I will try to keep learning new things to keep my mind from hopefully fighting off the possible dilapidation of old age. I will still flirt, at least with men who are from ten years younger on up. I might keep dating … and who knows, I might even consider some romance…. I’m not dead yet. I realize I am not younger than springtime anymore but I am young at heart. As the song says, “If you should survive to 105, think of all you’ll derive out of being alive. And here is the best part you’ll have a head start. If you are among the very young at heart.”
Until Next Week…
Is There Sex After 60? (Navigating Single Life After 60) 