This all started when my sixteen year old was describing a woman she`d met.
`She was, you know, like you, she said. `Oldish`. She then laughed a bit, to make it sound like a joke. I started to think really hard, about how I viewed people `of my age` ..when I was her age. Parents, teachers, bloke in the corner shop, Yep all ancient.
I then wondered what age you had to be, for most of the population to be younger than you. Was I there yet? Hell, yes. A piece in the Economist earlier this year said that of the seven billion or so people in the world in 2011, the average person was just under 32. That`s disturbing for lots of reasons, but at least I can tell teen daughter that on a global scale--she`s positively middle aged. That`ll stop her chortling.
When it comes to my age, (37), I`m sensitive. Yeh OK, and dishonest. I put it down to anxiety about time ticking away and losing a mother way too young. But am I the only one? And never mind the rest of the world-- where do I sit age wise, I wondered, among the people who follow me on Twitter?
There was a barrage, first, with 43 year old Karen leading the attack.Then:` 41, 55, 36, 44! ` from
Diane, Geoff, Ciaran and Hefin, swiftly followed by `42, 40, 56, ` from Martin in France, Michelle-out-west and Tim.
And another `40` with multiple exclamation marks from Dave Burrows at the Shropshire Star. Cheryl in France, told me she was 41, and `running to keep in shape.` More twenties and thirties...followed, a sprinkling of fifty somethings; a 61 year old mum, and a loud and proud `62` from Nonny; none of them thinking twice about coming clean.
And it turned out that I`m not the only one who gets a bit twitchy about the topic.
The man who shall be known only as `H`, messaged me in private.`Sorry Jane,` he wrote.`Couldn`t bring myself to put it on the open market. A greying, balding, wheezing 41`. I hear you, H.
Two were heading for big milestones. Like Mike.`I`m 39 and eleven months,` he wrote.`And reflective to a certain degree.` He`s planning a party. But, he admitted, ` procrastinating about sending the invitations out. I think that sums it up quite well!`
Emma, a Shropshire businesswoman hits 30 soon--with mixed feelings. `Everyone says it`s great and that you feel better in your thirties, `she said.` I feel I haven`t reached the goals I thought I would have done when I was sixteen. I worry than I`m going to turn into a cat lady, as I haven`t found anyone yet.` That said, Emma admitted she was looking forward to her party, and to adventures that lay ahead.
If 41 year old chef Lisa is anything to go by, Emma`s got it all to look forward to. `I`m loving my age,` she tweeted, `confident in who I am, and knowing that I`ll grow in confidence as I get older. I will live life as I see fit for me.`
Enlightening. And encouraging. And then, mixed in with the `41, 55, 26 and 44` from Karen P, David, Deborah and Trace (really ??!) --and the `43--most of the time` from Mr Access Taxis, a reminder from two people who cherish every year they have.
Rich Smith`s 46. `But I make it look good,` he boasted on Twitter, then suggesting that I should perhaps list him as 20 again. That`s because Rich has clocked up 20 years since, at death`s door, he received the new liver that would save his life and give him the strength to become a British, European and World cycling champion, husband, and doting dad. He`s written a book about his story.
`When I was first diagnosed with my illness,`she told me,`amongst all the shock some of my first thoughts were that how lucky I was I had got to age 49 and managed to achieve all I had.
`When I was diagnosed, the following year was a rollercoaster until they managed to get me stable.For months I was striving to still be alive for my 50th birthday and hoping things would improve.I was just glad to be alive, but I had been referred to the transplant team, who told me I would probably only have a few good years left if I didn't take the transplant option.
`I had to take ill health retirement and I was lucky to be able to draw my work pensions early, so I suppose now I'm fairly stable. I feel like I'm enjoying my retirement while I wait for my transplant, albeit 15 years earlier than most people, but what does 'age' matter as long as you can still make the most of life?
`Since being ill,` said Kath,` I can only take one day at a time. Old age is too far away for me at the moment and I have too many hurdles in front of me to even think of it. I know my life could change in the next hour or even minutes should I get my transplant call or take a turn for the worse, so at the moment age doesn't matter, just living each day counts.`
Thanks Kath, and Rich, and everyone who gave me their `number` today. See--age does matter. But will I tell you mine? No. Not on your nelly.
http://www.kathstransplantblog.blogspot.com
http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2013/01/daily-chart-3
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ReCycled-Richard-Smith/dp/1781764891
Thankyou! Karen, Diane, Geoff, Ciaran, Hefin, Richard G; Nonny, Julie, `H`, Martin, Michelle, Lisa, Emma, Tim M; Tim P; Dave Burrows ,Shaun C; Chris, Rich, Clare B, Kath, Mike Perry,Karen P; Dave Wright, Deborah Reck, Access Taxi-man, Trace W; Seb, Helen, Ruth, Cheryl, Rich D; Tom.
COMMENTS:
@janemcintyre12 Very good again Jane :) BTW HOW old are you? #spillthebeans :)
to read Jane! Here's to ageing disgracefully;-)))))
@janemcintyre12 Just
don't think about asking for my weight missy!! Great article - loving my 40s so
far!
Weekly Blog Club @WeeklyBlogClub
Weekly Blog Club @WeeklyBlogClub
@janemcintyre12 Are
you contributing that great post to #WeeklyBlogClub,
Jane? Even though I didn't get as far as admitting my age to you?
mentioned in a blog! woo hoo!
Great blog from @janemcintyre12 (34) including your truly (36) and a host of other people who fib about their age :)
Jane McIntyre 
David Burrows 
