I turned sixty and seem to have become invisible.
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Anonymous
| I'm almost 40 and have noticed over the last couple of years that I definitely get fewer looks than I used to (on a scale of 1-10, I'm probably between a 6-8 depending on your type). I mind a little but not a lot since I'm a really self-conscious person and have always found people looking at me kind of unsettling and annoying. Generally speaking, I like to blend in. The harder part, for me, is becoming less attractive to myself. That sucks. But most of the time - and I think this is born of having babies late - I'm just happy to be alive. |
Anonymous
I know I'm supposed to admire the author based on this essay, but I don't. She sounds acid and nasty and looking for a fight everywhere she goes. I think she could have accomplished her same goals by confronting the schoolgirl without yanking her ponytail, and by politely requesting a pleasant seat by the window instead of demeaning the waiter and treating him like a servant when he was surely just following management's orders to hide the old ladies in the back. Not impressed. |
Anonymous
NP here and I couldn't disagree more! I loved that essay! Thank you so much for posting it, PP. |
Anonymous
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I agree, OP, we do slowly become invisible as we age. But I have also noticed that I have more freedom and can get away with being bossy with complete strangers!! This essay reminded me of something I did two years ago on a short flight from Atlanta to Savannah...
There were three young soldiers, all women, who were coming home after deployment. They were hoping to all sit together in the front of the smallish plane (they wanted to get off first and all together to greet their families). The flight attendant said that it wasn't possible unless other passengers were willing to change seats with them. I was one of the passengers and of course I agreed immediately -- and then I INSTRUCTED the other two passengers next to me that they were moving, too. They did. I never would have been that bossy when I was younger and I doubt anyone would have listened to me anyway. Another example was on a recent trip to France. I spent my junior year in college in France and was always afraid to speak for fear of making a mistake. I went back last year and spoke my bad French with fearless abandon! I could not possibly have cared any less what mistakes I was making. There are benefits, OP. "Pity me not for beauty passed away". |
Anonymous
my pleasure! Yanking the ponytail was fantastic in my opinion too! If you have really seen some of these awful brats in action--I wish I had the courage to do something like that. The fact is age gives you a pass on many things. And OP, I would agree that your neighbor was laughing at the prospect of her dad thinking romantically about someone that she may consider out of his league--you! In any event, her comment was tactless and you should regard her as a boor for saying such a thing. |
Anonymous
Wait. What? No. |
Anonymous
You've got to be kidding. Just accept it? Surely you jest. And yanking the ponytail? Priceless. |
Anonymous
+1 She sounds delusional. She thinks that changing from a nice old lady into a rude old lady somehow makes her more young and vital. I can just see her rude-ing around and being very proud of herself. |
Anonymous
| I am surprised by this whole thread. I thought there would be more people content with their age. What I have seen from my mother and her sisters is complete, total, "I'm so happy I don't have to give a shit anymore" glee. They've even told me so- "Don't be worried about getting old- it is awesome!". And they weren't schlubs when they were younger either, they were quite beautiful. |
Anonymous
Accept what? Please re-read. Yanking someone's ponytail is assault and could get you arrested, 70 years old or not. Being 70 isn't a license to shred everyone around you. |
Anonymous
She isn't "shredding" anyone! She refused to be seated in the back of a restaurant because she was old! Are you okay with a restaurant policy seating Blacks and disabled people in the back of the room and out of sight?! And the yanking of the ponytail - perfect! The girl was a monstrous brat purposely frightening people - what better way to deal with it than to frighten her? |
Anonymous
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Reading comprehension - it's a good thing!
No, I don't think belittling a waiter was the correct solution. It's surely the manager's call, not the waiter's, so the correct thing to do is (again, re-read!!!) politely insist on sitting up front, and ask to talk the manager, but don't talk down to the server ("shut up and serve us like a PROPER waiter" - jesus!). |
Anonymous
You can stop now, Dear. Not everyone will agree with you on all things. No need to try to insult people or think they didn't understand simply because the disagree with you. |
Anonymous
You sound like a contrarian just for the sake of it. It was an interesting essay. I didn't agree with all of her behavior but at least she was an actor, and trying something new, and then describing her journey. The schoolgirl's behavior sounded bizarre and erratic, maybe she was high? |
Anonymous
I'm pretty sure she could say she could say she was defending the people that the girl was assaulting. Defense of others is not actionable. And the humor in this essay is British and very, very dry. Some of you calling her rude are completely missing the hyperbole of British phrasing. Dave Barry is probably more your style. |