My mom, who is 80, always tells me that she forgets how old she is until she looks in the mirror. I always felt mature beyond my years. Even as a child I fantasized being able to take care of myself well and that the only thing holding me back was that a child couldn't earn a sufficient income.

There was a kind of brief period in my mid-20s to around 40 where men were so attentive to my looks that I finally started to believe that I was physically attractive and take advantage of that. Of course, that period of time has passed.

I feel as if I have felt middle aged forever.