Portrait of the Artist as a Middle-Aged Broad

[catelin]

I will be thirty-seven years old in a few weeks and for the first time in a long time, I am acutely aware of my age. It's not so much that I would like to be younger, but simply a sense of transition. A friend who is fond of taking photographs of me lately told me that I have an "interesting" face. "You will be like Georgia O'Keefe," he tells me. I look in the mirror sometimes and see shadows of my younger self playing off the aged face that is barely beginning to emerge.

I have become more accepting of my circumstances, less apt to rage against the beds of my own making. There's no weakness it that, much to my surprise. It has actually made me stronger and less likely to wallow in the emotional angst and bullshit I was once quite fond of. I have cleared the path for myself over the last couple of years and I now have an unshakeable feeling that wonderful things are ahead of me.

Comments

[thezeroeffect.livejournal.com]

Thirty-seven is a lovely age. I thought nineteen would be incredibly frightening. Haha. You should start celebrating now.

I like very much what your friend said about Georgia O'Keefe. Quite eloquent and poetic. Sounds like you're acquainted with Buddha, there... :-)

Take care--

[strike-anywhere.livejournal.com]

I felt that way a bit when I turned 35 in August...

Then I read some 21 year old's journals, watched some of my college aged students, and came to the conclusion that it only a different set of problems you trade when you get older...

I wouldn't want to be 21 again for all the money in the world.

As for you:

you once said that I exhibited qualities of nobility. If that is indeed true, I will always be lounging in the shade of the nobility that comes from the way you love your boys...

Cate is one classy broad

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

You know, the person you remind me of in that picture is Katherine Hepburn. :D

[catelin.livejournal.com]

Nineteen...talk about transition! Mostly what I remember about being 19 is that I was overwhelmed at the size of the world I was about to make my way into. It was an adventurous time, to say the least. And you are right, thirty-seven is a lovely age to be...I am actually kinda looking forward to it. : )

[catelin.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean...I really wouldn't want to be younger again. Now if I could just have the body of a 25-year-old when I'm in my 40s, then I'd be....hmmmmm...I guess I'd be Madonna. ; )

Re: Cate is one classy broad

[catelin.livejournal.com]

Hahaha!! Yay!!! I always liked her.

Re:

[strike-anywhere.livejournal.com]

or that weird chick who does the AT&T comercials...

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[catelin.livejournal.com]

Yeah...what is her name? Sela Ward?

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[strike-anywhere.livejournal.com]

Excellent!

She (http://www.geocities.com/selafan/bio.html) turns 45 in July...

I have to agree with my wife here when she swears she's a vampire.

Depressing

[verian.livejournal.com]

I have opinions on age, they may depress the hell out of everybody though so I'll keep them to myself. I must say though, your attitude is wonderful, I wish I had the same.

[catelin.livejournal.com]

Wowza! I had no idea that she was 45...I'm even more impressed than before.

Re: Depressing

[catelin.livejournal.com]

Really, Verian? That suprises me actually...I wouldn't have thought it would bother you much at all. Look on the bright side, though. You'll always be younger than me! : )

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[strike-anywhere.livejournal.com]

kinda creepy isn't it?

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[catelin.livejournal.com]

I should be so creepy. ; )

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[strike-anywhere.livejournal.com]

I donno... think of the HOURS of workouts... the selling of your imortal soul...

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[catelin.livejournal.com]

Workouts??? Ok, forget it. Definitely.

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[strike-anywhere.livejournal.com]

*snort*

Re: Depressing

[verian.livejournal.com]

It has only begun to bother me of late, an early mid life crisis or something. I'm not worried about my age as such, more about what I am going to achieve before I die. Told you it was depressing!