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I turned 32 today. Somehow for the past three months or so, I was able to convince myself that I was going to be 31, so accepting the number 32 has been quite the process. In the past two weeks, three significant things have occurred that indicate I am getting old.
1.) I now hate the mall. I have always been obsessed with shopping for home goods, clothes, shoes, toilet paper, well, you get the picture. If it involved spending money, I was all about it. I was one of those gals that could spend the day strolling through a packed mall, drooling over the latest must-have hand bags and boots. Then I’d obsess about the items until I either owned it, or found something better. I’m fairly certain this trait is 50% of the reason my first marriage ended in divorce. However, last weekend, something happened. I was wandering in the mall looking for new shoes when I had an epiphany. I no longer enjoy the mall. It’s not fun; it’s filled with angst ridden teenagers and over priced jeans. I much prefer sitting at home and trolling Gap and Nordstrom for the comfort of my own home wearing my uniform. By uniform I mean my fave pair of worn out sweats, a white v-neck shirt and UGG boots. I paint a pretty picture, huh?
2.) I now have multiple gray hairs. Prior to last week, I had one gray hair that I could easily locate and pluck on a bi-weekly basis. It became a ritual, almost a jacked up game of hide and seek. Then out of nowhere, I spotted 2 more. Only now, they are located in a not-so-easy to pluck location. I fought with those wiry, white hairs for days and seriously could not pluck them. They stood on end, almost waving and taunting me from the crown of my head. After multiple failed attempts to wrangle those bad boys, I was on the verge of bald spot and needed to call in back up. Yes, I begged Brian to pluck them, but instead he used tweezers to curl them…ya know, kind of like curling ribbon on a present. Finally, he successfully removed them and several normal hairs thus making the impending bald spot even larger. One day later, I spotted two more. If I find another…I may go blond, or cry.
3.) I can no longer wear heels. After a long winter of rocking one of my four pairs of UGG boots, I realized that I can no longer wear heels. I pranced around in a new pair of wedges for three hours as hour four fell upon me, I was wincing in pain with every step and was completely certain my feet were bleeding…they weren’t. The following day, I had to soak my feet. Yes, soak my feet. I think I have to retrain them to be squished in a narrow place with little room to breath or I may be that girl wearing UGGS in the summer. Rest assured they will not be combined with a mini skirt.
Happy Birthday to me…can you tell I am really excited about this birthday? Yes, that was sarcasm.
Happy Birthday! I noticed a shift in my way of thinking when I hit my 30s as well. It’s like I see things differently now and it’s downright weird! Some days I wish I was just as frivolous and carefree as I was in my early 20s, but then I shudder at the thought and slip on my comfy shoes and my tie back my hair.
Happy Birthday! Just remember, its only a number.
You sound so much like me in my 30’s! I am here to tell you that next week I will be celebrating my 46th birthday….yes, I said celebrating! While I loathed my 30’s, this decade has been the best yet. I feel much more….I’m struggling for just the right word, and I’m not even sure this is the right one…..free. I’m more at peace with myself and the world around me. I don’t obsess over what I cannot control, I wear what I think looks good on me, not what the fashion magazines deem fit, I color my gray hair with a color that makes my eyes pop! I wear sensible shoes that are cute…boots are my fave during the winter! I live right behind one of the largest malls in WI and I rarely go there. I’d much rather shop from the comfort of my home, or go to Target. I don’t feel the need to have to explain myself to anyone. And, there’s nothing wrong with that. Happy Birthday Mel! Do something fun for yourself. Treat yourself to a manicure. Try a Shellac gel. It’s chip resistant for 2 weeks, and with kids who wouldn’t love that!
Hi my name is Sandy and I just love your comment and your totally right!!! Im 41 and right now Im feeling a little like Jaime but I dont understand how shes feeling it 10 years earlier, she’s got soooo much in front of her and totally young!!! So Jaime enjoy your life now because now I regret not seeing things another way before and enjoying then what I had and now I dont. Example at your age I was size 2 and from last year til now I have been gaining a few pounds and Im about size 10 now and now I see that I was thin and I never enjoyed that and alway thought I was fat. Soooo enjoy what u have and what u are because later on we see things soooo much different.
Happy birthday! Hope you have a wonderful and healthy new year. Enjoy 32 – it’s much easier than 50!
Happy Birthday! I can totally relate! I also have 4 pairs of Uggs and can no longer wear heels. I blame the Uggs though – they’ve ruined me. Once you get used to comfort – why put on anything else?! And spring is coming…what the heck are we going to wear? : )
Umm… Flip flops!
Luckily in summer it’s even easier. Bare feet work.
Oh, I only wish I were in your shoes. Being 57 is no calk walk either but thankfully, getting older or maturing doesn’t happen overnight – though sometimes it seems like it LOL. Enjoy who you are – cause like I tell my other blogging buddies – “today, you are as young as you will ever be”. So celebrate life and have a Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday and might I say…Baby Girl…you are my daughter’s age and maybe you should just feel lucky to gain wisdom so young. Malls are a crazy waste of time when you could be cooking, gray hair opens the door to all sorts of wacky colors. My previously blonde, highlighted hair was bothering me when I let it grow out to see what gray highlighted would look like. Last week I had enough and it it now sort of an auburn brown. My kids are going to die and that gives me sort of a rebel thrill.
High heels are beyond overrated. When are women going to stop forcing their feet into uncomfortable shoes so their legs look longer? Comfort is good and not a sign of old age but of maturity; they are not the same!
So…it’s all good you see…and do have a wonderful and Happy Birthday. Who’s making you a cake?
Happy Birthday and welcome to the club. :)
1) Happy Birthday!
2) I’m 23 & I guess I’m getting old too because I totally agree with you on #1 ( I hate the mall…)
Awe…Jamie! Happy birthday! The 30’s have been hard for me too. Things like waxing my upper lip are now routine. Bleh. I feel your pain and can only hope you’re getting your groove on and having fun in some fashion! Oh and of course that you’re getting spoiled with a lot of presents!