Things I Don't Miss

Many talk of aging as something to be feared, the many losses: the loss of vitality. health, the so-called good old days, etc., but seriously, us oldies need to count all the things we don't miss, shall we?

(1)Menstruation, I menstruated for 40 years.

(2)Fear of pregnancy. My last scare? I was 52, thinking I was way beyond it. See 1.

(3)Hangovers.

(4)Getting up early, going to work and pretending I didn't have a hangover. See 3.

(5)Television

(6)Landlines

(7)Stilettos - seriously, what were we thinking?

(8)Make up - nothing like painting your face before throwing yourself out the door. Not.

(9)Hairdo maintenance - the cost alone, knowing presentability for the male gaze meant my employment or not.

(10)Performing femininity see 7,8,9

(11)A household to run plus two jobs to keep it all together. Single mom. 2 kids.

(12)Dating - see 10.

(13)Being always afraid of men when I was out alone running or coming home on a quiet street or late at night. And even of the male cops patrolling - with cause. Now I feel safe for the first time in a secure building with a well-lit parking lot, a resident administrator and emergency buttons.

(14)Being always broke, money never quite stretching to needs, never mind wants.

(15)Stress about all of the above.

I'm sure there are loads more.

I'd love to hear yours.

Concessions to ( BUT outweighed by advantages of) Aging

(The Cliffs of St. Bride's, Newfoundland. September 2008)

· Decaff cappuccino at night.

· Going to bed when tired and not fighting it with caffeine.

· Eating my greens even when I don’t particularly like them

· No more stiletto heels

· No more nighties, no more slinky flowing negligees, no more baby dolls.
T-shirts and pyjama bottoms with pockets rule!

· Getting up when I damn well feel like it with no apologies.

· Reading a book in one day.
·
· Spending a whole day knitting

· No more panty hose (tights).

· Comfy bras.

· Saying no to invitations for events I don’t want to go to.

· Embracing my so-called eccentricity.

· Wearing coats,hats and gloves. No, I usen’t to. I hate excess clothing. But now I just get cold.

· Wearing special little snow gliders on my boots as falls now hurt too much.

· Writing well into the dawn hours if I damn well feel like it.

· Taking on jobs that appeal and rejecting the ones that don't.

· Not wearing makeup.

· Going to matinees.

· Seniors' Discounts (and I keep forgetting!!)

· One of the rarely discussed advantages of aging is feeling like that irresponsible child again, with the bills taken care of, less worries, a newly discovered sense of adventure and a feeling of possibility. Once one is blessed with health and a bit of cash. And I do not take either of these enablers ever for granted.

· Being surprised and thrilled (still) at my pension and OAS dropping into my bank account like magic every month. Like pocket money from a benevolent mama. And recently there was a one-time government bonus payment of nearly $1,000 to every pensioner in Newfoundland. Mein Gott! What a country!