Aging is "Facocta"

I was at a friend's apartment last night for a fondue party, and I found myself making my way from an over-sized super cozy chair to a high wrought iron bar stool. As I sat down, I said out loud, "wow, this feels great. I really needed to switch to a nice hard chair," and it hit me. I am getting old.

I started to think about all of the other subtle signs in my life that are beginning to shed light on the fact that college wasn't just a few years ago anymore. It was almost 5 years ago, and high school almost 10. And while I am only at the ripe age of 26, I am aware now that I am entering an unknown and harsh terrain called growing up.

Some of my favorite shows during the week, most are of the mindless reality TV-show genre, start at 10 or 10:30pm, and that schedule suddenly makes me angry. 10pm seems much later than it used to, and I fight heavy eyelids just to get to the conclusion of the program. I have complained several times recently that these shows should be on at 8pm which is a far more "reasonable" hour. And when I do get in bed at night now, I sigh. Not an "oh this is a comfy bed" sigh, but more of an "oh my body is aching and now it can re-gain its strength" sigh. Very scary.

I also have a new sense of impatience. And when my patience is tested I use angry Yiddish words that my Jewish grandmother frequently spews when she too feels a sense of injustice or that her time is being wasted. When the bus came late the other day, (yes people, I take the bus), I swiped my metro card, turned to my bus-friend and said emphatically, "this bus schedule is facocta." That is Yiddish for f'd up. Who says that?

Have I mentioned all of a sudden I cannot digest dairy? Yes, age has eliminated an entire level of the food pyramid for me, and now I have doctors asking me if I take calcium supplements so I don't get osteoporosis. The fact that the word "osteoporosis" came up in my annual check-up last year means lollipops after exams are no longer acceptable (my pediatrician put in a good word for me with my internal doctor a few years back), and I have to move on to a mineral supplement parting gift instead.

There is something beautiful in this growing up business though. I do get a lot more sleep than I used to, and I have no choice but to listen to my body when I am beat since now it yells instead of whispers when I am worn down. I also have a lot more empathy towards my parents, grandparents, and the old guy who calls me every day at work and asks me if we have eggplant (I work at a magazine).

Growing up and getting older also reminds me that each moment is a true gift and that I am blessed to have my health and a full life packed with love, family and friends. And although I am grateful for this day and this time, I do hope that someday they start to offer senior citizens discounts at the tanning salon. That, my friends, will never change.