This thing with feeling more comfortable in your skin is real and it is wonderful.
When you listen to your wife...
This!
I allowed my hair to go gray a year or two ago, and I couldn't be happier with that decision. Absolutely, it marks me as "older." But so did trying to maintain the brunette that had clearly flown the coop some time ago. And I love no longer having to devote time and energy to trying to maintain that facade.
I think my new hair looks pretty good, too - at least, it draws compliments even from strangers. Including the ultimate compliment: two women in church, one in her 70's and the other in her 80's, gave up dying their hair not long after I went gray. One has told me that my new look inspired her! They both had been using fairly harsh colors, and I think they look much, much better now (but I'll admit to being biased).
I just wish I'd had the courage to go gray earlier. White heads are kind of a hallmark on my mother's family - a point that was reinforced with a recent homeland visit with cousins that are my age and younger. (But I am grateful that mine is more of a steelish gray right now... and I hope I'll be ready for the white when it finally comes!) I wish my mother had had a chance to see me sporting the family trademark, and that my younger brother, whose hair had much more salt than pepper when he died a few years ago, had had a chance to see this particular point of similarity between us.
Signs of aging:
Forgetting how old you are. I told everyone I was 41 all year. I’m 43 or am i 44? I’m 43. See? I declared 39 to be my last birthday, apparently, that stuck!
Walking into the bedroom to get something and forgetting the purpose for going there. Forgetting the whipped cream you had in your hands while you walked into the bedroom on the dresser. Going back into the kitchen to cook and realizing you can’t find the freaking whipped cream! Spending a half hour trying to find the whipped cream, only to hear your 12 year old spraying it into his mouth. Feeling grateful and grossed out for that kid.
Finding your iPhone in the walk-in closet all of the gosh darned time.
Never, ever being able to find your car because you drive a white Honda Accord, just like everyone else in the world.
Waking up in the middle of the night in sheer panic because life has gone by in the blink of an eye. “Another blink and I will be 88!” “Another blink and I will be dead”.
Threatening your boobs with implants everyday if they don’t stand up and do their job.
Loving politics more than sitcoms.
Signs of aging:
Forgetting how old you are. I told everyone I was 41 all year. I’m 43 or am i 44? I’m 43. See? I declared 39 to be my last birthday, apparently, that stuck!
Walking into the bedroom to get something and forgetting the purpose for going there. Forgetting the whipped cream you had in your hands while you walked into the bedroom on the dresser. Going back into the kitchen to cook and realizing you can’t find the freaking whipped cream! Spending a half hour trying to find the whipped cream, only to hear your 12 year old spraying it into his mouth. Feeling grateful and grossed out for that kid.
Finding your iPhone in the walk-in closet all of the gosh darned time.
Never, ever being able to find your car because you drive a white Honda Accord, just like everyone else in the world.
Waking up in the middle of the night in sheer panic because life has gone by in the blink of an eye. “Another blink and I will be 88!” “Another blink and I will be dead”.
Threatening your boobs with implants everyday if they don’t stand up and do their job.
Loving politics more than sitcoms.
Signs of aging?
Less tolerant of the cold and annoying people.
Oh you girls (((sigh) i could not keep up with you! (Hair coloring, etc.)
I stopped coloring my hair 20 years ago. I cut my own hair, bangs every month so I can see out. I would love to be more spiffy, but I must not have gotten that gene, so I am happy to have friends who rock the put-together look.
BUT I do wear red lipstick and diamonds every day.
And my diamonds are very clean!
Oh you girls (((sigh) i could not keep up with you! (Hair coloring, etc.)
I stopped coloring my hair 20 years ago. I cut my own hair, bangs every month so I can see out. I would love to be more spiffy, but I must not have gotten that gene, so I am happy to have friends who rock the put-together look.
BUT I do wear red lipstick and diamonds every day.
And my diamonds are very clean!
I think that for men it's the paunchy stomach that hangs over the belt and a slouchy posture.
Clean diamonds are the key! Especially if they are studs.