Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Slippers in Public and Benefiber Shots. Sign Me Up!


By : Kelly Sinon

After reading a great article in The NewYork Times about what we learn in our 40's, I felt compelled to share my very vast knowledge. Stop laughing.
It struck home because well, I'm 40...ish and it's happening.
In our 40's, we're stuck in the chasm between "40 is the new 30" and magic "age-defying wrinkle cream" elixirs. I imagine I'm like a lot of 40-somethings- alternately whining about getting older and embracing wearing slippers to the store and not caring who notices.
 Also, like a lot of 40-somethings, I am finding myself an almost empty-nester, with one more left to fly the coop in a couple of years.
 Being so young when we started our family, my husband and I are rediscovering our youth. Impromptu trips to The City, sleeping late, breakfast out together, antiquing (I know...that sounds like something I'm supposed to do in the next decade or so, but when your spouse is from Connecticut, you learn to appreciate good history.)
  I imagine us growing old together in separate bathtubs, on a bluff overlooking the ocean and holding hands at sunset (minus any uncomfortable discussion of little blue pills, of course).
  I'm almost certain that it's not okay to wear slippers out in public, and in my 20's, it never would have happened, but looking down at my Ugg-slippered feet as I got out of the car on a chilly winter evening to grab dinner, I didn't care. It wasn't a conscious choice to not care. You know, like, "Oh, no. I have slippers on. Well, I just won't care about what people say." I'm saying that this barely registered on my radar. I looked down, I saw the slippers, shrugged and kept walking. Better still, I had to skip a bit to catch up to my husband. Who was also wearing slippers. This is what happens to us.
  Don't get me wrong. There are still firm boundaries. I won't leave the house without make-up on. It's not even for me. It's for you. Trust me. But I do foresee that my color palette will change as I get older. For some reason, in our youth, red lipstick, blue eye-shadow and even blue hair is a no-no, but I suspect I'll be sporting an amazing shade of periwinkle on my eyelids and tresses. I won't fight it. It's just going to happen. I am prepared for this.
 Not only that, suddenly that topic of laxatives and fiber will become commonplace game material with your friends. And it's a card game now, not a drinking game. Unless you're doing Benefiber shots.
 Obviously, I'm getting ahead of myself, but I am just so excited! Age is a hall pass to do things you wouldn't in your 20's.
  I like that my 40's have become "The Decade of So What?" I'm more comfortable with myself than I was in my 20's. I'm open to learning more and not sweating the small stuff. It seems that's the magic elixir.

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Kelly Sinon can be reached at sksinon.com