The older I get the more concerned I am that I'm getting old. Not that I feel like I'm old or anything. It's just... I read a commentary in Entertainment Weekly (which, all on its own, makes me feel old) about a 31-year-old who thought she was losing touch with kids these days, and I could completely relate. (Apparently only old people play Scrabulous on Facebook. That's a telltale sign you're old.) Lately my hands have been feeling/looking old. The weather is turning them into scaly shadows of their former tiny glory that only needs pointier, sharper fingernails to be mistaken for eagle claws. I've been enjoying sour cherry jam that apparently is good for preventing gout. I've been thinking of taking a multivitamin and calcium supplements to improve my general health.
These things worry me.
Tonight I talked to my mom. My grandmother broke her arm last week in a fall, leading my grandfather to finally give the OK for both of them to go into extended care. I remember visiting them years ago and mentioning to my mom afterwards that she needed to be prepared for the next time she saw Omi because she showed signs of dementia. Now it's developed into Alzheimer's. My grandfather is 97 and tired of being alive because all his friends' children are dying. Aging hasn't looked very fun for a really long time. My aging relatives aren't those happy, smiling seniors in Depends and denture cream commercials, dancing and eating apples. While I appreciate the longevity of my family's genes, I'm concerned that, if I'm feeling old now, it will just get worse unless I take drastic measures.
I think it's time to do stupid things. I'm not sure what constitutes stupid at this point, but something has to be done. I'll welcome suggestions that don't hold a dangerously high level of risk (I want to age a little).
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