So two days ago I reached the ripe old age of 50. I had been trying to wrap my head around it the last few months, so I didn't have a big melt down or anything like that. I can't believe that I'm a half a century old. That is OLD! Now if you are older than 50 you are probably disagreeing with me and if you are younger than 35 you are probably are looking at 50 the way I am.
In my head I just don't feel any older and although I color my grey hair (I've been doing that since I was 35) and I'm beginning to get wrinkles, I don't think I look that old yet - that too may just be in my head and be kind and don't burst my bubble.
I've just begun to wonder when I have to start acting older. For instance, when do I have to quit going off the jumps and the rails when I go snow skiing? Or when I do I quit repelling or water skiing or sledding? Or playing games like "will the subway door open where I'm standing" with my kids or other kids? Or jumping over the posts that we happen to be walking by? When do I have to quit scaling the rock to have a good lookout spot to see what is up the canyon just a little further?
The only thing I would like to quit doing is dying my hair, but I would definitely look old then.
So what constitutes old? And is there a time when we have to start acting our age?
Currently I'm teaching 9th graders - 14 and 15 year-olds - yikes I hear you say. I'm wanting them to act their ages or at least sit in their seats and stop bugging the person next to them. So if I expect them to act their age, am I supposed to act my age? And exactly what does that entail?
A couple of weeks ago Garth and I went backpacking (future blog post coming) with our friend Terry and four of his grandkids. Terry will be turning 70 this week and he is my inspiration. He carried a 50 pound pack along with his lucky horseshoe and is counting down the years until I can go skydiving with him (Garth won't let me go as long as we have children at home). He is curious, active, fun and annoying, but that is an endearing quality.
So last Friday, when I had the day off of school and I had lots of friends and family, call, email or post a comment on my facebook page wishing me a happy birthday, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I don't think I'm going to be old just yet.
