[Timgt5]

Well here I am at 45 a few signs of Middle Age:

If the typical male's life at this point could be summed up in a movie title I would go with "Exxpanding Gut, Receeding Hairline" ( a parady of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)

"Classic" rock radio is now dominated by music that was popular in the 1980s (I was in high school)

I do not spring back up as fast from a deep stance as my classmates do in Karate.

I no longer find 20 something women attractive anymore, but catch myself enamored with a "cougar" or two. at the office (shhh don't tell my wife)

I still enjoy a car for its driving dynamics as opposed to how many mobile devices it can accomidate.

I still love a great guitar solo, most of today's so called rock muscians can barely hold a guitar correctly let alone play it with any feeling.

People are now calling me "Mr" and "Sir" although in Gamestop the other day a very attractive young woman did "ID" me for an M rated game, and I told her she made my day

I need an extra 10 minutes to get up in the AM

When it comes to women, I still hold the door, let them on and off the elevator first, and offer to help with any heavy burdens. The young ones seem very confused by these gestures.

I once thought station wagons were for the old, I drive one now.

The more people try to tell me that found something "new" the more I have to tell them it is simply repackaging something that already existed, live long enough and you will figure this one out yourself. "Avatar" is just basically "Fern Gully" with a 300 Million dollar animation budget.

Just remember my young friends, age, experiance and guile, beat youth, enthusiasm and a bad hair cut

[kindachaotic]

Well, here I am at "55" on the high side of middle age.

Body feels that old but not mentally & my age sounds strange to me.

Good thing about this age is it's freeing. Alot of stuff I used to worry about,

...I just don't anymore. That's about it I suppose.

Enjoyed your post Timgt5.

[splitimage]

Enjoyed your post Timgt.

At 43 I'm increasingly feeling middle aged, I just got my first pair of progressives, and they've made a huge difference in my life.

I've entered menopause with the accompanying increase in facial hair.

My awareness of age differences is somewhat exacerbated by being in school where the vast majority of the class is in their early 20's. When the prof's talk about classic examples of crime or fraud, I remember then, when most of the class has never heard of them.

My "classic rock" station plays music from the 70's 80's and 90's.

I get increasingly irritated by people checking their messages in restaurants - it's rude, and I remember a time when we were quite happily not connected 24/7. That being said, I do love my smart phone.

That being said being middle aged isn't all bad. I don't worry quite so much what people think of me anymore.

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[NoCake]

Originally Posted by Timgt5

Well here I am at 45 a few signs of Middle Age:


...When it comes to women, I still hold the door, let them on and off the elevator first, and offer to help with any heavy burdens. The young ones seem very confused by these gestures...

You're definitely middle age.

[Nicks_Nose]

I am 47, and about to experience empty nest syndrome as my oldest son leaves Canada for Texas, USA in April.

I have no clue what to do with the rest of my lfie once my sons move out. They have been my world.

Cashiers call me Ma'am instead of Miss.
I can still shake it on the dance floor...just not all night...and usually requires a motrin the day after

Where high spikey heels used to make me drool, they now make me think of foot surgery.

Where I used to have moody moments every month, now I have temperature fluctuations fifty times a day.

Where I used to worry about getting the tightest fitting clothes....now I want the loosest most comfortable clothes around

Bill Cosby's TV special called "49" where he talks about the challenges of middle age. Kinda long but very, very good and funny.

[possum220]

I like having a door opened for me and I will open it for others.
Shop assistants will insist on calling me Mrs.
I never get asked for my ID anymore.
I like programs on the ABC - A station that my parents would watch and I would groan.
I get irritated when children don't behave and glare at the parents.
The years seem to be getting shorter and shorter.
I don't like being out at night time.
Talk among my friends has changed from parties to aches and pains and who is in hospital. Or who has passed away.
I realize there is more of life behind me than in front of me.
I talk to check out assistants at the supermarkets.
I realise that youth is wasted on the young.
Wisdom does come with age.

[di meliora]

I have fewer observations because I do not see so well anymore.

[Maven]

LOL, di meliora!

I'm not middle-aged at 44, because I plan on living a lot longer than 88 (and I'm gonna be wild and free in my Depends)! Speaking of "classic" radio, I totally relate! I listen to a popular "Oldies" station. To me, Oldies music was stuff from the 50's, 60's, and sometimes 70's! Now, there's stuff from the 80's to like 10 years ago!!!

[Koko2]

I'm wider around, sprouting gray hair and can't see too well any more.

Oh, and yes, I'm older than Married With Children's Al Bundy (or the age of the actor when he began the TV series).

[possum220]

Ooh I do so hate the sprouting hairs bit.

((((Tim)))) thank you for the thread and for everyones contributions. Made me smile Really nice way to start the day

[Gaijin]

""Avatar" is just basically "Fern Gully" with a 300 Million dollar animation budget."

Which are both essentially retreads of Ursula K. LeGuin's novella, "The Word for World is Forest."

I'm 59, and don't feel sorry for you. I look back at 40-45 as being the prime of life. At least back then, SOME women would give me a glance.

[Nicks_Nose]

I am starting to get the urge to do things that I dreaded from my grandmother. Everytime I see a cute baby I want to pinch cheeks. I vowed as a child I would never pinch a cheek. My grandmother pinched hard. Now suddenly I have the urge to do it. I scare myself

[splitimage]

thanks Nicks Nose, that made me LOL.

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[nowaitaminute]

I'm 48. Still trying to figure out how to optimize on the constant flux of menopause; i.e. you can't keep masking the inevitable forever! I hoped I'm blessed w/ becoming a grandmother, can't wait. I feel like I should be teaching and helping as much as possible, before my little span of time here on earth is over. I was a caregiver for some folks and there at the end; all these petty things we can get preoccupied with..they just don't matter. Relationships matter, and the sunrise is beautiful everyday. Thanks for this thread, it's really inspiring

[justmemaybe]

I may have reached middle age, but I know find myself doing more than my kids.
I think I worry them.
IF I don't hear something right now I can just say . what? People repeat it now lol.
The best part is if I don't put my glasses on, I don't know anyone , they are a blur.
Which can be very helpful.
I can also honestly say, " I don't dye my hair" because my hairdresser does. Gotta love middle age.

[jadzea]

I have 25 years at the same job. I like being the "historian" and explaining why things are the way they are - especially the seemingly stupid things. I also like to regale my younger coworkers with stories of what it was like to live a non-electronic, untuned in life. They can't imagine life without a computer. I longed for an electric typewriter. How things have changed.

[Nicks_Nose]

I have fun telling young people about pop songs they think are NEW and they are actually remakes of songs that were hits long ago lol. The same for fashion looks. A "new" fashion look that I am reliving a second time and my mother probably a third time lol.

[LadyShadow]

Is it possible to be 32 and feel 45?

I feel so much older than I am. Its so funny about the rock station thing, I'm bopping to "Like A Prayer" on LiteFM and the Justin Beiber fan in the car next to me is staring at me like an old fart while I'm sitting in traffic.

Geez!

I love this thread, though, the FernGully/Avatar thing me LOL so much!

[justmemaybe]

Yes I think you can feel older than you are. As I feel younger than I am. Except when I feel 90 lol

Its very different for me as I just turned 47 and have a 6 year old (who will be 7 next month). I mean I just came to realize my own mortality as my grandfather died at 47 and my dad had his first heart attack at 47(he lived till he we 64). I try not to dwell on that, but several friends and aquaintances has passed recently all having fatal heart attacks, all in the 45-55 age range.
This is what middle age is for me.

[pegasus]

Great thread. Nice to know there are lots of us old buggers here!

hehe, Good thread

In my body I feel old but I act like a child many days.

[lizardlady]

At 58 I see most of y'all as youngsters!

To the poster who asked if you can feel older than you are. You sure can! When I'd been on this planet a whole lot fewer years than I have now I felt OLD. I felt OLD as a child and teen. Now I tell people I am Merlin, I'm getting younger with each passing year.

One day walking up to the glass front door at work I looked at my reflection and thought "Dear gawd I look like some middle aged woman!" Laughed at myself and thought "That's cuz you ARE one!"

I also laugh at myself when I pull into the front gate at my mom's over 55 community and have to turn the radio down because I have either rock or country music playing on the truck radio at a volume to make my ears bleed! I'm 58 and I will still rock out to the music I love.

To those struggling with menopause - this too shall pass. I was precocious about menopause - entered it at 38 and was done with it at 42. Ah, what a relief it is!

Yeppers servers and clerks call me Ma'am, but I was in my 30s when that nonsense started. I felt sooooo old the first couple of times it happened.

Last time I was asked for ID (at a store that cards if you don't look 40) I told the clerk (who didn't look older enough to sell me the beer) I could kiss him. He blushed deep red!

To me one of the best things about getting older is that I just don't give a rip about things that used to stress me out. I have no problem with acting the fool now because I just don't care if people think I'm some daft old woman. When I was a kid I acted like an old woman, someone in the house needed to act like a grown up. I've decided I'm going to be a kid for the rest of my life!

A couple of weeks ago I got the nicest compliment. A man I've done business with for years walked by and did a double take. Then he told me I was like a fine wine, I'm getting better with age. Made my day! Heck, I what I look like. I ain't no beauty queen, never was. One of my co-workers gave me an odd look when I said my wrinkles and crow feet don't bother me. I earned every last one of them. They are my badges of honor.

This might sound wierd, but I'm content with my age. Nah, I'm not pleased that various body parts don't work as well as they once did. I've developed several disabling conditions I could do without. On the other hand I like the person I've become. I'm comfortable in my own skin and head. I'd never want to go back to being the younger me if it meant having to be the miserably unhappy person I used to be.