Old Age

Noah is always so concerned about whether or not I am getting old. He is always inquiring, "Mom, are you and my dad old?? Are you getting old?? Does that make you old??? Is this going to make you old?? Who is going to take care of me when you are old?"and always in such a somber tone of voice. I respond, "I am older than I was yesterday, I am older than you, and when I am old, you will be a man and able to take care of yourself. "The truth is, I am not thrilled about it either, so quickly I try to change the subject, but my mind stays fixated on the topic...why is he so worried about that now??? Do I look old to him???  Do I act old to him??? and so the questioning continues.

Then I remember a family night out to the movies and the attendant taking tickets, pats Noah on the head and says, "You are so lucky to have Grandparent's that will bring you to the movies."
Grandparents???  Really??? I'm thinking either my hearing has gone bad and I am old, or my hearing is good and I really am old.

Then I remember the time Rick picked up Noah from school. Noah came bounding down the line of cars with his friend Parker. Noah said, "See you tomorrow Parker!" Parker responds, "Hey is that your Grandpa in there?" Fortunately Noah was able to see the humor and laughed it off.

Noah was in the car with me and I could see from my rear view mirror, that he was deep in thought. A few minutes later and again in a somber voice, he says, "Mom, do you know what I really wish?" I think, "Here it goes--a game boy, a horse, a trip to Disneyland..."I say,"What do you wish, son?"and he said, "I just wish...well I wish dad could bend over."It was all I could do to contain my surprise and my laughter.   Rick is a wonderful father. He will throw baseball after baseball to Noah and he will take him golfing.  Rick has two hip replacements, sore knees, sore shoulders, sore everything--I'm sure Noah has seen how hard it is for Rick to bend over and collect the balls.

I am a Choirister in the Primary.We are talking about building Eternal Families. Sister Harris brings a picture of a "Grandma" to discuss how she is part of the family and can contribute in many ways. "What things does your Grandma do?"and there cute Camden says it direct and plain, "Grandma's have to color their hair." Well, I have been coloring my hair for a lottta years now--so does that put me in the "Old Category?"

So just when does one make that transition into "Old Agedom" (is it when you start making up your own words:) ) Is it when you iron shirts with windex instead of the spray starch? Is it when you cook the rolls with the saran wrap still covering them? Is it when the streaks in your hair are more silver than gold? Is it when you water your plants with a glass of milk instead of water? Is it when Noah's friend's parents, have parents younger than you? Is it when you qualify for the Senior Discount (or when someone asks you, will that be 2 seniors and 1 child?)  Is it when you lose more things than you find and some of those things are the rest of your sentences? Is it when the remote in your hand does not seem to "select" the item you are pushing on until it starts ringing and you realize, you are trying to use the phone to do the remote's job? Is it when you prefer Raisin Bran to Fruit Loops? Is it when  CNN becomes the new Prime Time TV show? Is it when you are tempted to cleanse your face with Downy Wrinkle Releaser instead of Sea Breeze? Is it when you do not recognize a single Name Brand of clothing, or any of the Popular Singing Groups? Is it when the students you taught, are now teachers?  Is it when you eat more Rolaids than M&M's? Is it when you start asking too many questions? If any of the previous are qualification for "Old Age," then I am definitely old.

For the sake of Noah and my own fears, I am going to color my hair and have blonde streaks put in and attribute the above to "Blondeom."

What I learned from Noah:  He does not want his parents to grow old or at least act their age.