This is My Mid-Life Year

It's been too long since I wrote on this blog. Let's call it life with two kids. But seriously, I have been thinking there are no excuses, and so I remain excuseless (is that a word?). Now this November I turn 50 years old. Yes, the big five-o. Have been reading about ways to look ten years younger, etc. Charla Krupp's book is pretty good, and I have been wearing the pink lipstick and dark jeans, cut my bangs, etc. However, yesterday I went to buy some art supplies with my six year old daughter and the sales lady says cheerfully to my girl, "You're out shopping with grandma?"

Let's just say, "Ouch!"

I told the lady I was not her grandma, but rather her mother. I was polite. Honest, I was! She apoligized. But, oh, what a moment that has lingered with me. So much so that here I am today writing about what this kind of remark feels like. It feels crappy and it makes me realize that no matter how hard I try to deflect my age, it is creeping up on me anyway.

The good news is, one can try too hard. I am kind of a natural person or "low maintenance" as Charla would label me. So after yesterday's debacle, I woke up to the fact that the two most important things I need to do are to: stay in shape and be natural. I try and walk every day for thirty minutes (a New Year's Resolution that I've actually been keeping) and have been eating more fruits and vegetables. I have given up caffeine. I am having a hard time giving up sweets; so I have just reduced how much of the sugary stuff I devour in a day.

I wear comfortable clothes that are simple and stylish. I just bought one of those heavier necklaces that are popular now -- lots of chains in different textures -- and that piece of jewelry gives me an "edge" (or at least I think so!). I color my hair but fantasize about how easy it would be to just go gray.

This is where I'm at. The baby steps add up to the big changes, I believe. This year I will put this philosophy to the test! And I promise to write more, too.