Getting Older is Fun!

Yes, that's right. I said it. Aging is fun. Here's how I've come to this conclusion:

• Looks don't matter as much. As a woman, there's less pressure to be skinny, wear makeup, work out. Of course there's the compelling case to working out for one's overall health, but even when you do so at this age, you don't have to wear the latest, clingy-est outfits to the gym. Oversized t-shirts and sweatpants are dandy and even optimal. You don't like it? Then look away. (Not that you need any prompting to do so.)

• Forgetfulness is forgiven. Well, you still can't overlook things like your kid's birthday or Christmas, but if you forget to defrost your dinner ingredients, you can forgive yourself and order pizza with no remorse. After all, your memory is fading, so bring on the calzones!

• Watching TV shows and movies is more of an adventure. I used to get miffed when my mother inserted questions like, "Why are they chasing that guy?" or "What happened to the dog?" while I was engrossed in a show or a movie we were watching. Ah, but now I get it.  It's not that I forget whether I watched a show or not -- it's catching the subtleties or even some of the dialogue that is essential for understanding a character's motives. I wish I could tell my mom, "I don't know why they're chasing that guy, but I can now rewind the TV show and we can figure it out." But I know the time is coming where an essential detail like that won't matter to me at all. It's already starting to happen. In my mind, I think, "Okay, so he must have done something. Let's move on." Because otherwise, an hour-long show becomes a 90-minute, repetitious brain-drain. Let's move on.

• People think you're wiser than you really are. Well, this one works sometimes. In my job I deal with mostly 18-22 year-olds. They think I am the fountain of all that is wise (for the most part).  They don't realize what happens (see above) when they walk out the door. Sadly, I forget them. If I walk down the hall later in the day, I can pass by without recognizing a student I saw just an hour or two earlier. It's not that I don't care -- it's that I can't hold it all in my head (anymore). This is why I have to do a weekly review of all those consultations. My brain won't work the way it did years ago. I'd like to think it's because it's pretty full of awesome stuff and one day it will serve humanity for eternity. Yes, that could really happen.

There are many other reasons to love aging. There's the wonderful discounts one gets for being old. And of course, there's the early bird specials at the family-minded restaurants, like Luby's or the Golden Corral. My taste buds and teeth haven't deteriorated enough to be enticed to eat at these places, but give it time. It will likely happen. Oh, and casino bus trips, socializing at bingo, and manning the reception desks at hospitals are all the things to look forward to when retirement comes along. While these last things may not sound very exciting, when juxtaposed against a daily commute it sounds almost heavenly. Yes, aging is fun. Now go out and enjoy your slow creep to antiquity, Baby Boomers!!