When I was Forty-Two

 When I was 22 and life was so full of hopes and dreams, I was happy to finally be considered an adult to the rest of the world.  I couldn’t wait to be all grown up and not be treated like an ignorant child.  

When I was 32 and life was full of the pleasures of becoming a Mother, I was happy to finally take on the responsibility of teaching what I knew and loved to my little ones.  What a happy pleasure it was to finally become a Mommy!!!

When I was 42 and life smacked me right up-side my head, I declared war against time and age.  I was happy to declare that I refused to grow old!!  With every fiber of my being I strove to deny my age and live like a kid.  So determined was I that I even told people, when they asked me my age, that I was 24 and suffered from dyslexia.   When I received the welcome laughs, I would say, "See?  Age is in the mind and silliness is a good sign of youthfulness!"  🙂

Even when I turned 43, I could still get away with it.  It didn’t seem so bad to say I was 34 and still suffering from dyslexia.  

When I turned 44, the delusion died a horrible death.  Finally, I was forced to admit…"I am getting older."  My body told me, "Hey lady, wake up and smell the coffee – no matter how badly you want to, you”ll NEVER do cart-wheels again!!"

Then, to my great horror, I turned 45.  I realized that if I were ever to be blessed with a long life, according to statistics, HALF OF IT was already gone!   Trust me, I was quickly and miraculously CURED of my dyslexia!!  LOL!!  

In eleven short and dreadful days, I will turn 46.  *gulp*  No longer do I wish to be "all grown up."  The hopes and dreams of my youth have been dashed away to be replaced with new, more mature hopes and dreams; like:  "I hope I can climb the stairs fast enough to make it to the toilet in time," and "What a dream come true when I’ll be able to walk farther than 50 yards!"  

I’ll be only 4 years away from the big FIVE-OH, and that scares the noodles out of me.  Didn’t someone once say that, "It’s all down-hill from there?"  

Of course, when that time comes, perhaps I could once again get away with saying, "I’m 05 years old and suffer from dyslexia!!"  

Wait a minute…… I better not.  It might be mistaken for early dementia.   Oh heck!  I have a bad feeling I’m not going to grow old gracefully.   But at least I’ll have a good excuse for acting silly!!!  🙂