Aging

[PamNY]

Oh yes, "Water for Elephants" is a wonderful book and very pertinent to this discussion.

Michelem, this is an interesting topic -- thanks for starting it. I think your concerns make perfect sense -- there are very real losses associated with aging, and acknowledging those losses is all part of the fun. It's not a sign anything is wrong.

I love reading about the active and lively people in their 70s. NY biker, your story about walking all over DC made me smile. My aunt who came to Manhattan in her eighties was just like that. She waded into the middle of Sixth Ave. and hailed a cab like a native.

My most fun friend in NYC was my parents' age. She would always go to Central Park with me when it snowed, she would go to most any rock concert, and she was never, ever dull. I have friends in their forties who won't do half of what she did.

[Crankin]

Using those standards, my 85 year old dad is more fun than some of my 50-something non-riding friends.
I really think there is a growing "generation gap" within the same generation, once you get into your forties. I look at people at the grocery store, around town, etc. and it's disturbing. Now, some of these people didn't care about their health when they were young, either, but once they age, the whole process just accelerates. My DH is bothered even more by the poor health habits he sees around him, mostly because at 53, he is able to continue to be an in-shape cyclist who rides 2-3k miles a year, with 2 stents, taking 5 medications a day. He just wishes he had started it all in his twenties, because it's all poor genetics.

[badger]

I turned 39 a couple of weeks ago, and my "joke" is I tell people I turned 29 (I've been saying that for about 7 years now). But I truly do feel about 29 inside, and I think with the right lighting I could pass for an older-looking 29

I'm lucky that I don't look my chronological age, but I'm starting to see way too much grey in my hair. I'll probably have to start dyeing in a couple of years.

I'm still not hearing my biological clock ticking, but I think my time's running out. Oh well.

And yeah, it sucks how it takes longer to heal from injuries and aches and pains are getting a bit too commonplace.

[NbyNW]

It would be bad news to feel older than one's actual age.

That was my reaction when I read the original question.

I was one of those kids who was 14 going on 40. I started to get gray hairs at 13. And as I moved through my first decades of adulthood, there were probably times when the reverse was true!

Chronological age seems to matter less as the years go by. I have to stop and do some math if someone actually asks me my age.

The closer I get to 40, the more in sync I feel with my physical/chronological age. Don't know why, or what it means.

Second half will definitely be interesting!

[shootingstar]

I have to stop and do some math if someone actually asks me my age.

Well, you can tell the next person: time flies, hard to keep track of my age.

I actually have to think of not my age, but take time to remember ages of my family members. Every year, it has to be updated. Might sound stupid, but there's a middle sister that I can never immediately and accurately remember her current age.