now Im old?

My birthday was on Aug 9th, almost a month ago already, but as you'll learn later.... it's never too late. ( Im assuming that applies to posting blog posts about your month old birthday )

I turned 33 this year and yet, I don't feel any older then 26,er....maybe..... 28.

When people guess my age, it's around the 26-28 range as well. This is supposed to be a good thing, but it worries me. I'm afraid to wash my face with soap now. I'm scared that some fragile layer of false youth might finally crumble away.

A few years ago I was visiting with a friend at his fathers house. We were all sitting in the living room chatting, and at some point his father mentioned that he was 74. I was a bit surprised at this. 74 seems so old and yet, I never would have guessed that this was his age. He said he didn't feel old, so I asked him how old he felt. He said "In my head, I still feel like I'm 25. But when I look in the mirror I can't recognize myself anymore. I just see some strange old guy looking back at me. But this guy isn't me."

Sometimes I don't think I look much older then 28 either, but then again maybe my vision isn't quite what it used to be, and I'm trying not to look into mirrors as much these days. I don't want to see it happen.

I think 33 has a nice "ring" to it. I like that it's a double number, and think there must be something auspicious about any double-number age.

11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99..... you only get so many, and anything you only get so many of in life must be special.

My 11th birthday I don't completely remember. I image it was nice though, with a cake and candles and presents and singing of "happy birthday" and stuff. But..... I'm almost certain this is the year that my father bought me the Pentex K1000 kit. A silver body film SLR that came with a nice camera bag and a cleaning kit. It was a very special gift and it impacted me. There weren't loads of other 11 year olds running around with SLR's at that time.

I visited the local camera shop a lot that year, mostly to stare at all the "special effects" lenses you could buy, and dreaming of the neat things I could do with them. I only ever ponied up the cash for one, but it was the BEST one..... the Star filter. Of all the filters available, this one was a must have. It makes the biggest impact because it makes all your pics look like a dream. Everyone loves a dream, so.... everyone loves the Star filter.

My 22nd birthday I had while living in Traverse City Michigan. My girlfriend at the time threw me a kick-ass Keg-party. All my friends were there, and we all got very drunk. This would have been a stellar night had I not been such a terrible human being at the time.

At some point during the night I saw what I imagined was a friend trying to kiss my girlfriend. I got pissed and overacted in a way that embarrasses me enough not to write about it here. Lets just say it wasn't right, and I was nobody to judge anybody. Later that same night I was punched in the head by some drunk passer-by. I probably deserved it.

I never really thought about my age too much, but I suppose it naturally increases with your number. Turning 30 seems to be a big one for most people. You leave behind your 20's and are supposed to finally be somewhat settled in life. Most people dread turning 30 because the 20's are apparently where it's at.

When I turned 30 I embraced it, cause really.... what other choice do we have?

If something is going to happen, and we have no control.... we might as well.

When I turned 31, I ignored it, or tried. 31 is still 30.... just with that little one on the end.

When I turned 32 I was on the road... in India, and didn't really have time to think about it. There were more interesting things going on around me..... then me. Besides, nobody knew me all that well, so they didn't remind me.

33.

Honestly, I tried to ignore this one too. Then I thought... no... embrace it, like you did 30.

Then I thought. Who cares. Don't do either. Just let it happen. And it did. Weird.

My take on age is usually the "age ain't nothin' but a number" thing. It bothers me that so many of us, as we get older start to focus on our number and let that limit us to a specific set of things we can and cannot do. It's hard to resist.

"In the book, On Women Turning Forty, Judy Phillips, a successful realtor talks about her grandmother: "Magrew is ninety-two years old...She reads constantly, took up violin five years ago, and is physically active. Magrew went into real estate in her fifties and became a broker in her sixties with seven or eight people working for her."

Margrew took up violin five years ago? At 87? So 88 was probably pretty special I guess.

That's inspirational, and reminds me of how much time we all have to start doing the things we want to do with our lives.

Just for fun I googled "things that are good about getting older"

Here's what I got:

10 good things about getting older - by Om Paramapoonya

1. Think about how many skills you have developed, how much knowledge you have gained over the years

This is true, I know a lot more. But I mostly know more about how much more I don't really know. hmm....

2. Every year you become a little richer in friends

This isn't always true I suppose. My facebook tells me I have 452 friends, and yet I currently feel like I have less access to good friends then I did a year ago.

3. You are more at peace with yourself

Hmm... not really true either. I know more about what I can expect from myself. My moods, my attitudes, the way I'll probably do or not do things. I know more about what I'm good at and what I'm not good at, my faults and my shortcomings, but I wouldn't say Im more at peace. ( perhaps this is meant for when you're turning 66 )

4. You are smarter, sharper and stronger

a) ok, I'm smarter. But I think I actually do more stupid things because I'm smart enough to convince myself that they aren't stupid.

b) Sharper? What does that mean? I'm not wearing suits yet if that's what it's implying.

c) Dude. I was ripped in college. I worked out everyday, played racquetball 3 times a week, rode a bike to school. Snowboarded, ran, and climbed trees just to get a better view. Now It's hard to squeeze in a mere 10 minute walk from my 10 hour chair sitting spree's at work. Not getting stronger.

5. Sex is hotter

Yes. True. Yes. of course.

6. More people turn to you for advice

Yes this is true too, but is this a good thing? You really just have more opportunity to screw up other peoples live.

7. You are luckier than a lot of people to still be alive!

True-ish. although, I can't imagine that the dead people care that much anymore. If you're going to heaven.... then well.... you're probably riding around nude on your flying tiger, picking passion fruits to take back to your golden mansion. Way more lucky. If you're an atheist then you can't care, cause you don't exist anymore anyways.

8. You have more stories to share with the world

True. Perhaps too many....

9. It's never too late

Ok... um.... yes.

10. Every moment of your life is a rebirth

ok this sounds nice...Whatever.

Well...... Turning 33 is just great then.

I feel young. I look young. I'm optimistic.

Its a double number and I have 10 things I can be happy about!

Oh... I almost forgot to mention what I did on my 33rd birthday......

On the day of my birthday I went home after work. Made a quick meal then went out and got some ice cream by myself. ( I immediately regretted this because I'm worried about getting cavities, and my teeth are really sensitive these days....also... what grow man goes and gets himself ice cream cones at 10 o-clock...???? )

My back has been hurting more, so I took some painkillers for that and what I think is the beginning stages of arthritis in my hands, and I went to bed.

HA!

:)