Thursday, August 4, 2011

Growing Old Gracefully

Confession:  I am 26, and I am basically an old biddy. I always thought I would like to be a sweet old lady like my Grandma Helen, but given my height and cranky disposition, I will probably age more like my Great-Aunt Lola, who was a towering old broad with an alarmingly gruff voice and an unfortunate humpback.  She did make beautiful afghans, but I was terrified of her.  While I've accepted that I am more 'traditional' and 'old-fashioned' in my views and ideals, I fear that I am also becoming a little more grumpy and odd.  I read Mary Higgins Clark and the Brontes, my Netflix queue recommends British Romantic Dramas, Period Pieces Based on Literature, and Films with Strong Female Leads, and I fade fast in the heat.  I also have been known to rant about kids these days and their twilights and their abercrombies and their beibers.  But I've observed some other traits that are making me fussy and pushing me more into old lady realm:

1.  I just got a new HP laptop for my job, and I have been having trouble switching back and forth between that and my personal macbook.  It's really hard!  I forget all the shortcut keys, and I don't like it.  It makes me cranky.

2.  I am a loyal Hy-Vee shopper, but I have been getting bad customer service!  The past several times I have been there, the cashier hasn't even said hello, let alone ask me if I found everything I needed.  I haven't complained to anyone, or threatened to take my business elsewhere, but I worked in retail long enough to expect a greeting!  I think this is just a stepping stone to the nursing home, though.  I'd probably have to formally lodge a complaint, and starting paying for my items in the express lane with a check to really demonstrate my old ladyness.   

3.  I really, really, love cardigans.  I do.  And mine are mostly fun and relatively fashionable.  I don't have any with holiday appliques or knobby fabric lumps.  I am starting to button them up higher and higher though.  Soon enough, I'll be wearing a fully buttoned cardigan over a turtleneck pull-over.  I prefer to pair my many cardigans with ballet flats.  I always wear flats because they're more comfortable to teach in and I'm still overcoming my childhood trauma as an Amazon freak.  But regular ballet flats aren't cutting it anymore.  I need shoes with more support, and sturdy heels that will hold up well.  My arches aren't going to support themselves, and toe-cleavage is a definite no.

Between these new developments, my sickening affection for my pet, and the care I lavish on my houseplants, I think the tennis ball and walker combo can't be far behind.  I better learn how to knit.

No comments:

Post a Comment