Saturday, April 3, 2010

Reality vs. Denial

Have you ever seen or heard something that makes you realize how old you really are? My husband and mother-in-law would be spinning in their graves if they knew what I'm about to reveal. My age. I'm 70 but feel about half that.

Today on the radio I heard an interview with Christopher Cox who is Richard Nixon's grandson and is running for congress from Suffolk County on Long Island, NY. How can that be? He has to be at least 25 years old. I can still picture his mother as a child when Nixon was Eisenhower's Vice President. Could I really be old enough to remember when Tricia Nixon married his father?

I'm also forced into reality when I see Gidget (AKA Sally Field) talking about osteoporosus. How did these people get so old while I stayed so young (at least in my mind). Can you believe Racquel Welch is 69? Margaret O'Brien, my favorite child star is 72. Dean Stockwell, another favorite child star is is 74. Even Robert Redford is 71.

How did they get so old when I didn't. I think the answer is denial. "Old" always has been and will continue to be at least 20 years older than I. I'm still middle-aged (at least in my mind). So what if I remember events from the '40's.

4 comments:

BetteJo said...

Wow! You look wonderful, I wouldn't have guessed. But things are so different now as to what people are doing at different ages. You're active in all kinds of ways - you'll stay young a long time that way!

HMK said...

I hear you!
My sons are older than I am!
There must be a connection to the science of relativity.
I don't know what it is but I think that's wherein the answer to the time puzzle lies.
BTW you do look a lot younger than you admit to.
I'm with your mother in law.
Keep quiet about your age!
Let people react to the real you they see rather than a prejudice they may have of an "older" person you tell them that you are.
You're shooting yourself in the foot.
It's your business only, not anyone else's.

Anonymous said...

The other day we were out driving on some roads where I once rode the school bus. It was so depressing to see all the changes, many new houses etc, so depressing and really made me feel those 50 plus years since the school bus days. Linda

Staci said...

I'm with BetteJo, I would've never guessed! You are truly a "youngun!" in my opinion.

I still see a 25-year old when I look in the mirror. Just try and tell me I don't!