I glanced down the other day and saw these unattractive, old, veined and wrinkly hands. Old lady hands. And then it's like the universe shifts in that instant when I am forced to acknowledge they are my hands.

Anonymous wrote:It was not until recently, when a 40-something fellow worker (dimwit) asked if I was retiring soon, that is hit me. First of all I have no plans to retire in the next 12 years (55, single mom kids in high school), and that I look old enough that someone would ask! Kinda depressing, thats all.

Dimwit probably wants your job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I made a new friend volunteering. She's younger, but we get along great. Then she sent an email calling me her "other mother".

Sigh.

This is the goal of aging--to have others look up to and feel comforted by your presence. I would be happy in your case!

Her mother is probably her best friend. Or do you give her a lot of advice?

I have a few years before I hit 50, but will be sending my oldest to college next year, and visiting all the schools has really taken me back to my own college days. How did that get to be so long ago? It don't feel like I should be preparing to send my own child off to college! I am grateful for each day, though, and will never complain about my age -- only comment in amazement about how quickly I got here!!

As a motherless girl, I needed older women to serve as mother figures to me. Even when I was in my 30s and 40s! You always need a mother! So I wouldn't feel badly. Lots of women think of their mother as their best friend! I hope and pray my daughter thinks of me like that someday (right now she's a teenager....).

I feel old and ugly. I've always looked 10 years younger than my age, but turning 50 something shifted, and I look 10 years older!! How did this happen? I don't feel older, and I don't act older, but I sure look it. It's shocking when I try on clothes in a store, and look at that old lady in the mirror! Who is she??

Considering the alternative, I'll take aging and looking old! My aunt is in her 90s now, and going strong! I pray I make it there, all my faculties and most of my health intact. Life is so short, and when it's over, it's over!

Anonymous wrote:I made a new friend volunteering. She's younger, but we get along great. Then she sent an email calling me her "other mother".

Sigh.

This is the goal of aging--to have others look up to and feel comforted by your presence. I would be happy in your case!

I made a new friend volunteering. She's younger, but we get along great. Then she sent an email calling me her "other mother".

Sigh.

It was not until recently, when a 40-something fellow worker (dimwit) asked if I was retiring soon, that is hit me. First of all I have no plans to retire in the next 12 years (55, single mom kids in high school), and that I look old enough that someone would ask! Kinda depressing, thats all.

Anonymous wrote:I am only 40 but am experiencing the same thing. I aged suddenly in the past 2 years. Its so depressing.

In the last three years I have ages big time. At 55 have weathered job loss and death in the family.

It's unbelievable to me. I was always the youngest amongst my friends growing up, and the friends I'm in touch with from that time are turning some pretty amazing ages now as are their spouses and it blows my mind. Meantime, I'm parenting a preschooler and building relationships with other moms in his school. Of course they know I'm older -- and of course I'll never be the youngest in his social network!

Anonymous wrote:My DH is 50 and in the past year or two, he's started to act a bit old. You know, set in his ways.

I totally feel that way.

There is a funny Louis CK bit on turning 40 and you go to the dr. complaining about a pain and the dr just looks at you and says "yeah, that happens a lot at your age".

My DH is 50 and in the past year or two, he's started to act a bit old. You know, set in his ways.

my beard grew in during the hurricane and I couldn't believe how much white there was!

I am finding that a lot of things marking 25 year anniversaries surprise me.

I am only 40 but am experiencing the same thing. I aged suddenly in the past 2 years. Its so depressing.

Anyone else out there who says, I am 50+ and look OLD! How/when did this happen? I always have looked younger than my age until recently. Finally caught up. Or visit with an old friend and say "Who is that old guy?" Oh, my old friend from college.