Here are two questions for you to think about…followed by a true story that led to these questions.
#1 When you think about your own aging body, what is one part of your body that is changing faster than you’d like it to?
#2 What is one thing you like about getting older?
Ok, now for my true story:
I’m 38 years young. And I’m pretty cool with that. But listen to this. David (my 8yr old son) and I went to Waffle House for dinner this evening, and on the way into the restaurant a woman (whom I would soon find out was 58 years old) was a few steps ahead of us and got to the main door first. She opened the door and then motioned for me to go first while she held it open. I felt bad because I was the guy, and thought she should get to go first. Plus, her family had already gone in, and I wanted to give her a chance to catch up to them — so I motioned for her to go and went to reach above her with my long arms to hold the door for her. She then sorta body blocked my reach (lol) and insisted that I go first. And to make the moment even more comical, she then makes the comment, “I have respect for my elders” (meaning she thought I was older than her so she should hold the door for me). She then follows behind us into the restaurant, and at this point must have started to second guess herself a little because she kind of chuckled, but yet in a serious tone proceeded to say,”I dunno, you might actually be younger than me. I’m 58, how old are you?”. At first I thought she must be kidding. I mean I’m 38, she’s 58, this is all a joke right? But after reevaluating her tone and seeing her facial expression, I truly believe she was serious! I didn’t end up telling her my age though (because I think I was embarrassed for us both at this point), but in response to her question I smiled and said something like, “yeah, I’m younger than 58”.
As I now sit in front of my computer, in the comfort of my home, I’m still having trouble processing all of this — how did she mistake me for being more than 20 years older than I actually am? Maybe it should be said that I was due for a shave and a haircut, so as far as bodily hair goes (lol), I was probably looking a couple years older than if I was all cleaned up (I gave myself a shave and haircut when I got home though lol). And it also should be said that my dad turned grey when he was pretty young, and I seem to be following way too closely in his footsteps, which I struggle with, because although I’ve had women compliment me on the whole salt and pepper thing, personally, I’d rather be much lighter on the salt, and much heavier on the pepper!…because I’m starting to feel self-conscious about it making me look older than I really am, and I don’t want to look older than I really am…especially because physically, I feel younger than I am! Need help getting that frisbee down that’s stuck on top of your 3rd floor roof?? I’m your man!! I’ll climb your tree, then jump like a squirrel and scale up the side of your brick house…grab the frisbee, then slide down the gutter and be back and ready for more before you can say “Wowwww, my hero!” (ok, I made all that up, but you get what I’m trying to say…I feel young inside!). And I’m slowly starting to accept that I look older on the outside than I feel on the inside, BuT not over 20 years older like this woman suggested at the Waffle House this evening! I’m not ready to be 20 years older!
This is me as a 58yr old Waffle. Did you notice my salt&pepper hair?
So now the story comes to an end and finishes where we started!
When you think about your own aging body, what is one part of your body that is changing faster than you’d like it to?
(for me it would be my graying hair!)
And, on a brighter note, what is one thing you like about getting older?
(for me it would be having Waffle House doors held open for me! Ha!)
Responses are welcome below. Thanks!
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“You’re not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have.” ~Oscar Pistorius, the first amputee runner to compete at an Olympic Games (2012 Summer Olympics, 400m and 4 x 400m relay)
…a pic of me during the Channel5 interview
Extra Extra read all about it!!…
