Frou grows old

I found out, through a conversation with a friend last week, that I am not turning 30 this year.

That's right. I actually thought that I will be changing the numeral in front of my age in a couple months time until my friend said, "I am the one turning 30 this year; aren't you younger than me?" I re-counted my age and damn it, she is right. I will still be in my twentys this year.

*Frou dances around a tree*

I told the Boy about my revelation. He said, "Really meh? I thought you are turning 30 this year too."

Now what is that supposed to mean???? I feel old AND I look old to others? Or is it because I am hanging around too many OLD folks (you know who you are…) so much so that I am perceived as "old" by association?

Age is such a funny thing. It matters so much to some, mean absolutely nothing to others and confuses those in between. I have paranoid girlfriends who are so concern about turning 30 that they look for significant milestones to mark their "coming to old age" - mostly by getting married. On the other end of the spectrum, I have happily single girlfriends living it up past 40s as rich, successful, well-traveled, sophisticated women who are wildly desired by (younger) men. I also have friends who are not quite sure what to do about being in their 30s (the same folks mentioned in Line 8 above) so they pretend they are still in their 20s.

As frightening as it may be, I suspect I will fall squarely into the third category when I get there. I may acquire an ailing body, fucked up metabolism, mortgages, housing loans, higher insurance coverage and (as Dailytoe would add) a desperate need for collagen, but surely my Peter Pan "age will never catch up with me" mentality will pull me through, no?

Age is just a number.

You are as old as you feel.

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

Age is not of concern unless you are cheese. Or fortified wine.

You don't stop dancing from growing old, you grow old from stopping to dance.

The best tunes are played on the oldest fiddle.

What other clichés??