21

Turning 39 can be traumatic, especially for those of us doing it for the third time. As the fateful day approached, I conducted some independent research by asking my minivan full of kids how old I looked.

“About 45,” said one depressingly honest kid who needs a firmer hand at home (note to self: tell husband to get to work on that).

“Twenty-two,” chirped a brilliant and --- it must be said -- uncannily observant little girl named Elya. I instructed her to tell her mom that she should eat candy for dinner, and I lovingly replayed her comment in my mind until I asked her how old my husband Glenn looks. Bear in mind that he’s five-and-a-half years older than me — ten if you round up.

“Twenty-two,” Elya chirped.

Clearly drastic measures were called for. It didn’t help that the day’s mail brought a fashion magazine with skin-care regimes for women of different ages. The categories of ages were under 20, 20 to 30, 30 to 40, and 40 and up.