Aging Gracefully?

I had an interesting weekend that I thought I'd share with you.  My husband and I are blessed enough to have the most fun, loving friends on the planet.  For years we've been getting together as couples or splitting up for girls trips/nights out or golf trips for the guys.  Every so often all 6 couples get 12 bleacher seats and hit Wrigley Field.  This year started out as fun as past years.  The guys sat in one grouping on the left and the girls (how long can I use the term "girls"?) sat on the right.  The guys spent the entire game gambling and pouring water on each other (did I mention most of us have hit 40 or are near?) while the girls chatted, drank beer and talked with the young group of guys on our left.  There were about 6 of them in their mid-20's.  Darling!!  Asked questions as if they were interested in our boring lives and we answered as if our lives were as exciting as a 25 year old starting a new career and living single in the city.  It all started out fun, light hearted and lots of teasing but somehow the teasing took a bad turn.  I asked one of them to take a picture of the 6 of us.  We re-applied lip gloss and made sure he got our best angle considering we were in bright sun in the bleachers.  We were all posed and thinking we looked hot (I don't mean sweating) when one of the "darling" boys said "Smile desperate housewives!"  It was as if someone threw water on us.  We glared at him and one of them said "No, he meant hot housewives!".  Needless to say the damage was done.  He busted us.  We were thinking we were hip, cool, and young when we are really married, old(er) and trying to stay hip.  We brushed it off as the pros we are and just got another beer.  The fun continued when the 25 year old asked me what it was like growing up in the 80's?  Another slap of reality.  I remember asking my mom what it was like growing up in the 50's.  I am now that woman who gets asked what it was like growing up in a certain decade.  When did that happen?  I still feel like I'm 20 something (most days). 

I went out to celebrate a friend turning 40 with a couple of friends last week and we were talking about what it is like to be 40.  What does it mean to us?  It was a a great discussion and I'll tell you it wasn't anything about wrinkles, sagging boobs/knees/arms...or gray hair.  It was about feeling sexy, sexier than we did in our 20's.  It was about feeling like we didn't have to get anyone's approval anymore, we were free to be who we want to be and not who someone or society is telling us to be.  So, I will gladly tell someone what it was like to grow up in the 80's.  I'm not 40 yet (2 more months) but when I am I'll let you know if I still believe this : )

Comments

[Jody Brower]

I laughed so hard at this one. I think it's fabulous that boys in their 20's were even paying attention to anyone in their 40's. Keep the faith and keep looking fabulous!

[Bonnie Glennon]

Loved it! You are so good at what you do. How cool that 20 year old guys thought you even deserved a look. Bet you all had more fun than the young ones.

[karen]

Too funny! I got a great chuckle! Hey, at least you can laugh about it!