Not a spring chicken?

Hourglass
Originally uploaded by Paul Andrew Photography

It's official, middle age is upon me. On Friday I pulled out several grey hairs before trundling to my first ever coffee morning- a past time for old ladies so my lovely fella informs me.

It wasn't my first grey hair removal session I must admit. And for some time now I've been noting the fine lines creeping in to my visage.

Some time ago I had a work placement in an Age Concern center. It taught me a lot about old age and dispelled a few myths. Most importantly, I took away with me a sense that old age doesn't have to be depressing. What's wrong with drinking multiple cups of tea with friends, reminiscing and listening to music that makes you feel young again. God knows I do that already!

When I left Age Concern they gave me a fantastic poem about growing old entitled 'Warning'. But I already wear a lot of purple. How am I going to mark the onset of my Autumnal years? I fear that if I don't make a statement when the time comes I will be slowly swallowed up by the whole process, not noticing it creeping up on me until it is too late and I'm just another member of the homogeneous old age group.

Of course, Age Concern and the like will be delivering a different service in 40+ years time. It'll be afternoon alcopops with a dash of  Oasis, or perhaps Prodigy for those of us who loved to dance in our youth. I guess I'll have given up with pulling out my uncoloured hairs by then. In fact, why should it bother me now? Maybe I'll let myself grow old and I'll be proud to display the signs of a long and fulfilling life. Maybe from today I will embrace my body and whatever it changes into. Maybe I will STOP pulling out the greys or wistfully picking up pots of expensive and relatively ineffectual anti-ageing creams.


or maybe I will attempt to hang on to my youth for just a little longer.....