Friday, April 2, 2010

I'm Not 50 - I'm 49.95, Plus Tax!

I'm not too sure how I feel about turning 50 this weekend. I was never one of those people who had a hard time with 20, 30 or 40 years of age. You know, the kind of person who says, "I was totally depressed when I left my 20's." I never had this problem; I was always very comfortable in my own skin, at all ages. This birthday, however, is different. I wouldn't say I'm depressed; that's not it. It just feels weird - in 20 years I'll be 70 - how weird is that?

One of the great things about where I'm at now is my writing career (such as it is - LOL!). Seriously, I think realizing your own mortality frees you a little; frees you to ensure you do what you love - NOW. In a sense, I've never felt more comfortable in my almost-half-a-century skin.

I'm 50 (almost) and writing YA - sounds strange, but my wonderful son, Matthew, is 20 and his lovely girlfriend, Trisha, is 29, and my brilliant daughter, Anne Marie, is 16, so I'm surrounded by YA, in a sense. I hear what they like and don't like in books, movies, etc. The four of us discuss everything YA ad nauseum (we have dissected The Twilight Saga to death!), so I still feel very young.

One of my favorite authors summed it up beautifully . . .

I have enjoyed greatly the second blooming... suddenly you find - at the age of 50, say - that a whole new life has opened before you. ~ Agatha Christie

Thank you Agatha, I couldn't have said it any better myself! Besides, I'm not turning 50, I'm turning 49.95, plus tax!

2 comments:

Cassandra Frear said...

Wonderful quote.

I'm 48 and my youngest son is finishing his last year in college. I'm beginning to experience the second bloom, too, but the last 15 months has been odd. I can't decide if it's good or not.

Congratulations on your birthday.

Talli Roland said...

Happy birthday! Hope you're having a great weekend.