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

Re: You're only young once, old forever.

[catelin.livejournal.com]

All very good points, kind sir. I would never hide my age. The dishonesty of it bothers me. I met a woman who claimed to be 26 at the time and I remember thinking to myself how she looked (to use a Texas phrase) rode hard and put up wet. Turned out she was 32. I never forgot that. I'd certainly rather have people marveling at how good I look for my age; not secretly thinking how bad I look. Hope you are doing well! I was worried when I heard there was a change in things for ya'll. You, my dear Mr. Fogarty, will always be very Bill Holden in my book! : )

Re: You're only young once, old forever.

[shigolch.livejournal.com]

Right! It's best to be honest for that very reason. On a similar note, I've always thought it was interesting how the media always adds ages after names like so:

Myra Higginson, age 52, was caught stealing stuffed chickens from the local grocery store on Sunday. Witnesses say she was cursing at the stockboys and whistling Neil Diamond songs in a barely-audible manner shortly before the incident...

I always wonder why we're defined by our ages instead of something like, say, the color of our eyes or the size of our shoes. I think they're equally ridiculous ways of categorizing people.

Myra Higginson, size 8, was caught stealing...