Most of my life, I’ve been told, “Oh; you’re so young!”
This hasn’t been said in a good way, ironically. The tone and implication has been, “Oh; you couldn’t know what you’re talking about because of your physical age.” This is invariably accompanied by my being treated differently.
As irritating as those comments have been, I’m facing a new challenge in recent years.
At stores, the clerk is saying, “Ma’am.” To my children’s peers, I’m “So-and-so’s MOM.” When one employee refers to another, I hear, “That lady…”
Part of this is my interaction’s being in a younger crowd these days. I still hear plenty of the, “but you’re so young” from the generation just above mine. Yet, this shift in titles has outlined an important, inevitable life milestone: ageing.
Sure, I knew I would get older. I’ve been waiting for it my entire life! What I didn’t know was that I would literally lose the interest and attention of others when it happened.
I’ve tried very hard to be accepted for my intellect, talents, opinions, and friendship. But as more eyes slip over my face without glance and fewer strangers smile, I’m realizing that was all a load of fermented Botox. I think of my experiences as The Edge of Obsolete, when youth is slipping away and so is my accompanying social power.
I’m miffed, frankly.
On an attractiveness scale, I consistently pull an average number. Maybe if I dolled myself up, I’d hit higher scores -but, since I do not value beauty (supposedly), I’ve tried to live in a modest way and treat everyone by my mythical standards. I speak kindly to most and encourage thinking. I preach against starving yourself and caking on makeup. My nose wrinkles at a picture filter so heavy you’re not sure if the original subject was human.
Yet, I’d have to be blind to not notice the disinterest. I’d be ignorant to cling to my ideals, like that last bit of muscle tone clinging to my backside…
We’re giving too much power to beauty. And to those young’uns. -You know, the ones tramping all over my lawn. Kids these days.
I’m sure we’ll return to this subject another day. In the meantime: How about you? Have you experienced The Edge of Obsolete? What are your thoughts on it?
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Here’s what I wrote since last noting what I wrote:
Wednesday, May 10: “Movies and Cultural Literacy“
Friday, May 12: Friday Photo. Peace out, man.
Saturday, May 13: “Mommy, dear.” Ah, motherhood.
Sunday, May 14: A quote by Joseph Campbell that’s often attributed to Carl Jung.
Friday, May 19: Friday Photo of what happens when trampolines fly.
Sunday, May 21: Hilarious quote by Joe E. Lewis.
Monday, May 22: A continuation, somewhat on my series on atheism.
Tuesday, May 23: Shared DA Whittam’s poem.
Wednesday, May 24: This post.
If you haven’t, enter the Terrible Poetry Contest for this month!!! The deadline is this week.
©2023 Chel Owens
Chel Owens 