Growing Old, Growing Up

Posted on September 12, 2007 - Filed Under Tangents

dancing old couple

Do I HAVE to?

The answer is: yes and no.
Youth and beauty are fleeting. I realize that is stating the obvious, but it wasn’t always so obvious to any of us. I now understand why a lot of older people make the decisions they make even though those decisions may have seemed nuts to me when I was younger. It’s so unfair that wisdom comes after the peak of youth and beauty when we could have used those traits for the power of good! LOL. Too many of those days are wasted due to ignorance, the refusal to acknowledge that we didn’t know everything, and the inability to control the raging hormones in our young bodies.

Unfortunately, with all that we do have today, there still is no magical fountain of youth. We have no control over aging. It’s going to happen whether you are able to do it gracefully or not. So, yes, everyone ages, even if they are not fortunate enough to survive until they are considered old.

What about growing up? Well, doesn’t that term just mean “being responsible enough to know when to behave maturely?” That is my definition. And I certainly am responsible enough to know when to act maturely. So I guess I’m “grown up.” You won’t see me making spitballs at a religious ceremony, or talking through a movie at the theater. I don’t sing loudly at restaurants and dance around through the tables instead of eating my dinner. I don’t throw tantrums at stores when I can’t get what I want (well, most of the time - after all, none of us is perfect). My bills get paid, laundry gets done, dinner gets cooked and I try not to harm anyone.

That all being said, and since I have my own definition, I feel like I should not have to conform to the traditional understanding of the term “grown-up.” I feel justified in my beliefs that as long as I wake up breathing, and as long as I’m able-bodied and not in pain, I should be able to rollerblade, ride the rides at the amusement park, go to the petting zoo, swing on the swings, play video games; heck I should even be able to wear a two-piece bathing suit if I so desire (fortunately I’m not the one who’d have to look at that, yet I’m still kinda hot for an old auntie)! LOL.

So, if someday you see a little old lady, trying her hand at martial arts instead of knitting, attempting Dance-Dance-Revolution instead of using her walker, or maybe even sliding down the bannister instead of taking the escalator, be sure to smile and wave, because I hope that little old lady is me.

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Comments

11 Responses to “Growing Old, Growing Up”

laura (91 comments.) on September 13th, 2007 12:16 am

Teeni, i love your definition of growing up - being responsible enough to know when to behave maturely. That is just it! i don’t know i’d want to be a grown up if it meant that i had to give it all up. but there’s a time and place.

i hope that little old lady is you, she’ll totally kick ass on Dance Dance Revolution- for sure.

Thanks Laura. That’s just it - there’s a time and a place, but no need to act decrepit before your time. If you are blessed with arms and legs and are able to move them without pain, then by all means MOVE THEM - because someday you may not be able to. That’s all I’m saying.
Opal Tribble (96 comments.) on September 13th, 2007 7:36 am

I think people, at times, think they are supposed to act a certain way simply because they fall under a particular label. I don’t let any person or group define who I am. You’re definitely not old! As with a good wine you will get better with age. You’re enjoying life. I am also.

What’s wrong with dancing around tables? The other restaurants should feel honored that they are getting a free table dance! If you see a loc’d woman dancing around a table when you are in a restaurant that might be me!
Opal Tribble (96 comments.) on September 13th, 2007 7:37 am

That should have read….
The other restaurant goers should feel honored

Well, I hope I run into you then, Opal. We will be: one loc’d woman and one loco woman dancing around between the tables! LOL
markalan (14 comments.) on September 13th, 2007 8:35 am

I still spit spitballs in resturants and religious ceremonies. I mean, how are my kids going to learn if I don’t teach them the proper ways without getting caught?

I must not be responsible enough to know when to behave maturely because I am told all the time I am so childish. In fact, my wife will always tell people that she a single mother of three children.

Your kids mus think you are a hero, Mark! That is cool though.
TGH on September 13th, 2007 9:46 am

Don’t let her fool you. If you are wearing a dress shirt with pockets in the front and go out to eat with Teeni, her mind turns straw wrappers into basketballs and sees your pockets as the hoop and there is no stopping her.

This IS true. And I am pretty darned good at straw-wrapper-ball, I might add.
kiinunobaka (5 comments.) on September 13th, 2007 10:08 am

XDDD

You just made ME a grown up with that post.

Do we really want to deal with the lunacy of that?

And I Aspire to be the BEST old person EVEEERRRR I’ll be like… 80.. and like… rude… and loud… and obnoxious… and happy… so… people will love me… because i’ll be totally batsh*t crazy and still make cookies with the best of ‘em

Cookies? Nah - that’s for the kids. I’ll be making tiramisu!! LOL. I’ll help you eat some of your cookies though.
calamitysims (42 comments.) on September 13th, 2007 10:25 am

I love this post…I especially like TGH’s comment! ROFL!
Kami (321 comments.) on September 13th, 2007 12:58 pm

Teeni, I love your attitude! If you can MOVE, then do it baby. That has been my philosophy for that last couple of years to and the benefits are endless.

I want to be doing martial arts with you when I am considered to “old” by society too
You are so much fun! straw - wrapper ball - hee hee. I bet there is never a dull moment when you are around and that, my friend, is a VERY good thing
Thank you, Kami!! You are so sweet! I’m glad you think I’m fun though. My poor husband - sometimes I feel bad for him and wonder if he can keep up with me, even though he is younger than I am! LOL
Melsie (53 comments.) on September 13th, 2007 4:13 pm

I love this post!! It is absolutely true!! Use it while you got it!! Being “grown up” doesn’t mean that there is no fun involved. It may mean having a different kind of fun, but you’re not going to be the mean old woman.

I would love to play you in Dance Dance Revolution!! That is one of my favorite games!!! Glad you don’t let age get to you. It’s only a number, how you feel inside determines your age. Cheers to youth of the soul!!

I’m really not that great at DDR but I do like playing. It is fun and the music is catchy. It’s really fun watching my husband try to do it! LOL
Hannah (382 comments.) on September 16th, 2007 7:01 pm

So true!! I am not going to grow up old and boring and I’m glad you aren’t going to either! Age is just a number, and you’re only as old as you feel!

Good - cuz most of the time I feel 23 and I think that is a good age.
Growing Old, Growing Up « on July 30th, 2008 10:36 pm

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