And you may ask yourself, "Well, how did I get here?"

[catelin]

I burst into tears yesterday. The remark that brought this on was significant only in that it made me realize how changed I was--how changed my life was. Most of all, it made me see that I wasn't the person I'd thought myself to be. This offhand string of sentences from someone younger than me, expressing surprise that anyone had ever found me attractive. There I was, sitting in the car, suddenly feeling like Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard. I sat there and held my tongue. I finally blurted out, "You don't know anything about me!" as I slammed the door and stormed into my office. I'd wanted to scream at him about how I used to be something. How I had a life when I was younger that he couldn't even imagine. How I'd been the object of affection of people who wouldn't even bother to give him the time of day. I'd wanted to do all that until I realized how stupid it would have sounded. How ridiculous I would have been. "I used to be a contender!" Blech! I absolutely love the life I have NOW, but I suddenly felt compelled to defend myself with an image of my younger self.

He called and apologized. We are very good friends and he hadn't meant it the way it sounded. I told him that I know I'm getting old. I can see it in my face. I can see it in my body. I realized yesterday, even knowing I'd feel better the next day, that it bothered me. He suggested that it was because my friend is getting married, and here I am still single. But it's not that. It's not that complex; it's not that deep. What I realized yesterday is that I am vain. I have always been vain and I always thought I wasn't. I always thought that I never cared about how I looked. I've hardly ever worn makeup and most days I can't be bothered to do much more than brush my teeth and comb my hair. I always thought that getting older would be fine. What disturbed me was having to admit to myself that it did bother me. The fact that it bothered me at all fucking bothered me even more! I'd always expected to be above such pettiness. I felt like a boob, sitting at my desk crying over something so stupid. I was supposed to be calm...peaceful and serene...gracefully growing old. And here I was bawling like a baby behind my closed office door.

I finally just told myself, "So what?" So I'm vain. So I've got to start growing into a new face. It's not going to happen overnight. I'll have time to get used to the idea. I'll do the best with what I have and become the fabulous old dame I am destined to be. I am the first night of a full moon and I'll be damned if I'm gonna cry about it any more!

Comments

I'm sure it would've bothered me too.

[gloriajn.livejournal.com]

It's not that people don't find me attractive, because they do. But people don't realize how old I am. In fact, when I listed my birthday in my bio, I intentionally left off the year. Somehow, I'm afraid that would affect people's attitudes towards me.

It always pisses me off when I hear people marvel about the fact that Madonna is still reinventing herself and still going strong at 42. What most people don't realize is that I'm older than her! I wonder what these same people would do if I told them my real age? Faint?

Sorry if I'm getting off on a tangent, but this is a sensitive area for me too.

Re: I'm sure it would've bothered me too.

[catelin.livejournal.com]

Yay! Exactly! I had a friend last year who suggested that I start lying about my age. "Come on," she said, "You can easily shave off about five or six years and no one would even bat an eye." Thing is, I just never worried about it. I never thought of myself as old regardless of what my age was. I think what bothered me the most was realizing that someone actually thought of me as old. Me! Old! Ha! Then I got pissed! It's so silly, isn't it? But the fact that you know what I'm talking about makes me feel a lot better. And who knows? Madonna may end up making middle-age cool. (I'm having visions of young girls painting wrinkles onto their faces! Hehe! If only!) ; )

Re: I'm sure it would've bothered me too.

[leisaie.livejournal.com]

People suggest I lie about my age online. They tell me that I would easily pass for 21- but why would I want to? Perhaps all we need to do is find the good part of whatever age we are. I'm sure that there are good parts of every age, if we choose to open our eyes to them. Yeah, age is a little touchy for me too...