A Letter to Older Me

Dear Older Me,

I know I’ve got a few more years to go before I’m considered “old” so I’m telling you now, you’re in for the ride of your life. You will NOT grow old without a fight. It’s not that you’re in denial; you’re going to find that there’s way too much life to be lived still.

Play lots - video games, dance, paint, play with a yoyo, jump rope while singing the childhood jump rope songs, take in some homeless animals, and LAUGH!!! Create moments…seek moments where laughter is overflowing. Blow milk bubbles (of course, don’t forget to take Lactaid), lie on your back and watch the clouds. Have a picnic, find some romance. (PS…there’s no such thing as being too old for romance).

You may not like the word “no” very much but brace yourself. Not every idea will be met with thumbs up, even from your kids. But that’s okay. By then, there will be ankle locators for the elderly so they’ll keep tabs on you wherever you are.

Oh, and by the way, prepare yourself, Older Me, because you are taking that Thelma and Louise trip with your twin sis living life close to the edge. Bring plenty of extra underpants because the trip will cause leakage in great proportions from laughing so hard. Also, never leave home without enough money in your pocket to either call a cab or for bail money. Never say never to jumping out of planes, going on a safari in Africa or staying in a 5 star hotel, being treated like royalty. You deserve to be waited on hand and foot, even if they are a bit wrinkly.

You’re going to love being a Grammie. It’s going to feel like nothing you’ve ever felt before to hold your beautiful grandbabies and know that you are holding a piece of heaven here on earth. It’s okay to slip the grandbabies cookies when their parents aren’t looking and give them the wink. It will always just be your secret.

Find a place to hang your car keys. You will lose them many times before you figure that one out.

As much as you hate the thought of hot flashes and irritability, enjoy every minute of it. It will save tons on the heating bill in the winter time.

When you get the urge to do something out of the ordinary, make sure that you tell your kids what it is and where you’re going, just in case, somehow, along the way, you get lost and can’t find your way back home.

Laugh when you wear two different shoes or drop half a bagel down your cleavage….at least you will still have cleavage, even if it is tucked inside of your socks.

Sing loudly…and trust me, others will sing right along with you.

Never fear admitting you’ve forgotten something. It’s not that you’re forgetful; your brain is just taking a power nap.

Cherish your time. Most of all, love yourself and all the other things will fall right into place.

Signed,

The younger ME