Mirror, Mirror

I turned forty back in March. It was fantastic! ...I think. I was heavily medicated at the time. Although not because I was turning forty. And why is that number so significant, anyway? Just what is the very big deal? I feel no different today than I did the day I turned fifteen or twenty. To prove it I stood in front of the mirror, on the morning of the day I turned forty, naked and armed with clarity of vision and a vat of industrial grade moisturizer. In my grandmother's words, you can never be too moist.

Hmmm.

Is that really my ass? Ooo, collar bones and shoulders are very nice, this season. Those freckles are going to be classified as adorable and not skin cancer so let's move on. Breasts, two of, (honk honk) seem okay. Sublime actually, but focus dear, focus. Tummy... umm. Well, we can work on that. Wait, when did I get my mother's hands? Have my feet always been this weird? Seriously, what the hell is with my ass?

It was a long 20 minutes. Lot's of twisting and chasing my tail and ridiculous faces. I discovered some changes I didn't know had happened, some things I like, some things I will accept, others I will try very hard to change as healthily as possible, for the sake of the Me who will be 60 some day. On the whole, I like what I saw. The lines around the eyes are new, but when I smile my best smile at the me in the mirror I can see right away that I have laughed them there. 

I still don't understand why the age of forty holds such significance for some. I have been razzed and chided and generally poked for turning another year older, as humans are wont to do, but in terms of why that number seems so important, I am afraid I am still mystified. And just as likely today to buy gum whenever I find money, as I was when I was eight.

Under the category of things to change for the sake of Future Me, I know what needs to be done, I just have to make sure I do in a healthy and lasting way. The goal I have set is a realistic one: make sure I can keep up with Husband. Now that is motivating.

 And I've also made a promise to add a few more laugh lines, for good measure.