Posts tagged with: Growing Old

Getting Old

Posted by Caren Crane Dec 30 2011, 11:02 am in Aches and Pains, Caren Crane, Excuses, Gray Hair, Growing Old, Old Age, reading, Sherlock Holmes, The Night Circus

There is a reason this blog posted in the middle of the day rather than the middle of the night (USA Eastern time, anyway): I am getting old. Not like senile, losing track of who I am old – although I can see it coming – but run-of-the-mill, life is getting away from me old. I intentionally took today off work, since it’s the last workday of the year and I had one more day to burn. Plus, I had traded days with Jo and was supposed to blog – perfect! Except…then I got sidetracked. Totally sidelined by things like:

1. Sherlock Holmes – My BFF and I had a Groupon for Indian food last night AND the added bonus of passes to our favorite art house movie theater, The Galaxy. Instead of staying home and drafting the blog as I should have done, I went out to play. Please understand, seeing Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law kick some Moriarty butt (or get their butts kicked, as sometimes happened) was an awesomely good time. The vegetable biryani, too, was incredibly delightful. Best of all was spending time with my best friend, who has been dealing with a very ill mother-in-law who lives 5 hours away and her poor husband, who is very concerned about his mama. Altogether, a delectable distraction for us both, but a distraction nonetheless.

2. Graying Hair - Why? Why do we have to worry with hiding the gray or learning to accept the gray or even learning to style the gray? It seems a harsh icing on top of the aging cake, if you ask me. I’ve been letting the gray show the past month, partly due to sheer indolence and partly due to a combination of Christmas craziness and curiosity about how much gray there is. The How Much Is There question has been answered: not enough to bother me, really, but enough that I can’t style my hair. Gray hair, for you youngsters, is not at all porous and will not “take” any hair product at all. Believe me. So, I have been a bit obsessed this week with Getting To Friday so I can color my hair. Miss Clairol and I have a date right after I post this.

3. Creaks and Moans – Some of you know that I have been battling an ongoing problem with my hip(s) and all the muscles and tendons attached to them this fall (and now winter). My brain has been screaming that I’m too young for this for months now, but the stiffness, aches and pains linger on. So, I get to do stretches and exercises as soon as I awake, during the day (which is fun to try to do at work) and before bed. It’s quite time-consuming, really. It also tends to take up time that I normally spend commenting on blogs (ours and others) and, in general, keeping up with things I’m supposed to be doing – like blogging!

4. Reading – A side effect of my recent Period Of Rest for my hip(s) has been that I have been forced to be still. Those of you who know me understand that I can be still, but I don’t care to be still for very long. In an effort to not Lose My Freaking Mind, I have watched many movies from my streaming Netflix (via Roku) and I have read many, many books. Most of you will empathize with me when I say: Reading Is Addictive. It is! I find it hard, now that my physical therapist has rendered me quasi-mobile, to give it up. I am currently reading Erin Morgenstern’s ‘The Night Circus’, which is the Most Amazing Book I have read since…yes, I’m going to say it…since George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series. If you haven’t read an excerpt or checked out her Amazing Website, run off and do that after you comment.

So, there are plenty of REASONS I can blame Old Age for this Very Tardy Post; however, there are no Excuses. Please forgive me, dear Bandita Buddies, for allowing my gray hair and Robert Downey Jr. to distract me. And while you’re at it, please do let us know what your favorite REASON for being late is. We all have one – checking on the animals, dropping off/picking up kids, phone calls from your mother – so please share. Meanwhile, I’ll be over here with Miss Clairol, temporarily covering one of my own.