Not From Being Old

When I was ten years old, I told myself that I wouldn't forget what it was like to be ten and how much ten year olds can actually do. I still think that ten year olds can do pretty much everything that adults need to do (that doesn't require them to be tall or strong or fertile). They can balance check books, cook, clean, take care of kids, and probably do most jobs with the right training.

I also decided that people aren't old until they are eighty years old and that as I approached eighty, I might change my mind about that. I still feel that way, too.

Now I'm thinking might be a good time to tell myself not to forget what it's like not to be old yet, so I don't go attributing certain things to being old or senile or something, when I've always been like that.

As a non-old person, I have nevertheless:
* gotten muscle aches, even when I couldn't remember using the muscle
* forgotten where I put things
* lost things irretrievably--until I gave up and replaced them
* forgotten people's names instantly
* not been able to get the names of years-long friends on the tip of my tongue, either
* forgotten what I was about to do, or why I walked into some room
* had straggly hair that wouldn't behave like I wanted
* had trouble opening jars
* broken a bone
* had injuries last a long time (sprained ankle for a year when I was around 30)
* had dark circles under my eyes
* made pretty ignorant decisions
* learned some things very slowly
* got lots of headaches (probably from dehydration, sugar withdrawal, hunger, stress, and/or allergies--it's my body's symptom of choice)
* took over a week to recover from colds and flus

(And my life is still great.)

Now, some of these things may happen at a whole new level in 30 years (or less), but I shouldn't ever be telling myself that these things never used to happen to me.

Cake of the Day

It's Sesame Street!



Here is a close-up of the Cookie Monster: