20 really cool things about getting older

it's been one of those weekends in which old friends have resurfaced--thanks to facebook--and older friends have reached out because my girlfriends and i are at that point in life when we know what we're doing but don't quite know what we want.

translation: your phone rings at 3 a.m. and before you know it, it's 6:30 a.m. and you still haven't gotten to the point.

making all the right moves in what is essentially the last half of your life cycle can be stressful at times, but there's still something incredibly liberating about reaching this milestone--even when you make stupid mistakes.

the recovery time is much quicker than when you were younger and even more stupid.

here are some of the reasons why:

1. you're more inclined to preface everything that comes out of your mouth with "wtf "or "at the end of the day..."
2. you aren't too vain to use those lovely aarp discounts at l.a.'s trendiest restaurants.
3. your eyes, rather than your mouth, become the windows of what's really going on inside of you--especially when you have to go there...
4. you can drop bombs of wisdom on younger folks, watch them roll their eyes and dismiss you, but it no longer bothers you because you've come to realize that they need to make their own mistakes and learn from them just like you did.
5. you no longer have to question authority because you are now the authority.
6. you no longer freak out when your man doesn't ring because you realize that life is getting even shorter so you are no longer sitting around waiting for him to do anything.
7. you have more in common with your girlfriends than ever before because you are all going through similar emotional and physical changes.
8. you really don't sweat the small stuff any more because it's like small.
9. you're more willing than ever to take risks.
10. you no longer allow yourself to be an "option" to anyone who doesn't really care about you, regardless of the way you feel about them.
11. honesty is no longer a novelty.
12. you no longer feel all that compelled to hide your toys.
13. you no longer care what people think about you're wearing.
14. you develop the strength of sampson because you have so much more to deal with.
15. you stop counting calories when it comes to a bottle of good wine.
16. you really begin to comprehend what the good times are all about.
17.getting older is the least of your worries--especially when you consider the alternative.
18. there's no more morning-after guilt.
19. you forgot to shave your legs and...? oh well!!
20. and the one question you always ask the fools you never suffered gladly--"and your point is?"

phew! that felt really good. c'mon monday. let's go!

photo credit: hot muddy fun in calistoga. who cares if you look like crap? wheeee!