Feeling Old

This fall marks the 25th anniversary of one of my all time favorite movies; Back the the Future. It has been in my "top five" list since it came out and I can recite every line my heart...complete with tone and inflection. And it's 25!! I can remember the day I got to see it. I was at the local pool and my brother came by on his bike to tell me we'd rented it from the video store (We'd had a VCR for a whole year people! Remember when that seemed awesome?). I was so excited to see it I jumped out of the pool and came home right then. Later we recorded it off of HBO so that I could watch it over and over again. And it's 25!! I'm sure you can do the math...I was 8 the first time I saw it. I'm going to be 33 in two months.

Now if that doesn't make me feel old enough, Jeff turned 39 this week. And a few people (my brother included) asked if he was turning 40. I remember when my parents turned 40 because I was 11. My parents had a 10 year old daughter and a 14 year old son when they were Jeff's age. OMG! And we're still trying for baby #1!!

But I think the strongest "wow, I feel old" moment came today when I found out that a friend of Jeff's has colon cancer. They are the same age. Jeff said "he's the same age as when his dad got it." But his dad has lived thru it and I'm sure he will too. He's a fighter.

But seriously? This is the second friend of ours to get cancer. When did we get so old? I know you're only as old as you feel, and I've felt stuck at about 26 for the last six years. I can't be feeling arthritis in my fingers and knees yet right? (OH YES I DO) I'm still a young thing damnit!!!

And then I realize it's the perspective that really changes with time. I keep moving my definition of what "old" is whenever I get closer to it. I used to think old was 60, because I remember my grandparents being 60, retired and taking naps. Now that my parents are past that age, still working and alert LOL I think 70's the new "old". Which means what I used to think of 40 year olds now should be applied to people in their 50's. Phew, diverted it off yet again. And yet I still find myself thinking "crazy kids" when a group of teens past me by.......
Man, I am old!