2. New Rules!
Okay, I have a confession. For several years I lied about my age. In my twenties I began to add ten years to my real age..... mostly because of professional reasons, I wanted to be taken more seriously. When I reached my fiftieth birthday I decided it was time to start telling the truth.
In fact, I began to announce my age at any opportunity I was given. I even sent out picture Christmas cards that fiftieth year... me sitting between my two sons with our respective ages penned underneath. You would not believe the uproar I started with family and friends..... "Judi!!! How could YOU!!!" I'm going.... "What???"
There is also one ladies luncheon event that stands out in my mind. I announced it was my birthday to everyone's delight and warm birthday wishes... until I declared how old I was turning. There was an audible gasp followed by speechlessness from everyone at the table. Apparently this is just not done.... revealing one's age under any circumstances, and then only under extreme duress. Needless to say it's always amusing, how people react to this age business... by both men and women by the way.
The thing is that we are always hearing and using the cliche, "age is just an attitude," but how many of us really practice the "attitude?"
Let's take the age-gap relationship for example. I could write reams about this subject but for now let us just focus on the chronological age issue. It is a very common complaint that younger men, when they approach an older woman, are often told they are much too young. In fact, I know of several instances where these men lie by adding years so they won't be turned down only on that basis. The circumstances, motivations, etc., are irrelevant. Just compare this younger man complaint with the older men complaining to younger women.... um hmm, see what I mean? How many older men do you think have told any female she is too young for him?
"Too young for what?" "Too old for what?" What harm is there in sharing a pleasant evening with someone interesting who just happens to be several years younger or older? Who is it hurting exactly??? Who cares really??? And please, we are not addressing extreme cases or borderline perversions here.
Is there a rule book somewhere that I don't know about? Where is it written that certain ages should look a certain way, behave in a certain manner and more or less accept others' criteria?? Of course we older women don't all have to emulate Cher or Susan Sarandon, but we certainly don't need to make excuses because we don't look like them either... not that one necessarily desires to.
Latest Articles